Corinna B's World Goes To Panarea

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Panarea</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Aeolian Island where the jet set go to escape the rest of the jetset.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Or something like that.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The Corinna B's World Glam Italia Tour spent some time here this summer. Panarea is very glamorous, and completely and utterly lovely.</span><br /><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMwTQgVFf1VQ9_9YN-8az2oxUZeO3UBaY0W4ABLi4hxcK2R7Sszn-nKOnE4qoJi_HpDlzYJOzht7LkxviKGXmzUvrNVU2h9IzagN7WmYBjQGp1AkLwUwc_CXd4h7xTwWXToQMqmTXSlQ/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMwTQgVFf1VQ9_9YN-8az2oxUZeO3UBaY0W4ABLi4hxcK2R7Sszn-nKOnE4qoJi_HpDlzYJOzht7LkxviKGXmzUvrNVU2h9IzagN7WmYBjQGp1AkLwUwc_CXd4h7xTwWXToQMqmTXSlQ/s1600/IMG_0505.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the main harbor in Panarea</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This delicious island off of the north coast of Sicily has become the chicest summer spot in the Mediterranean. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But it’s not about out-doing the neighbors, or about flashy displays of wealth. It’s not the club scene of Ibiza, and you’ll probably (<i>hopefully</i>!) never see Lindsay or Paris here.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NTCyjncZtunifX1zuSB9bvU_d0zQCSviSfmL4fTraPsIjr2O2EbX8soczqsiNFLY3mcz0UwTppxajNN1KCBidNbx6gw9o69c3cnxJMddi9O8Z7d4Lcq8XtRNToPXzt4c-0pc4QbdnIo/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0NTCyjncZtunifX1zuSB9bvU_d0zQCSviSfmL4fTraPsIjr2O2EbX8soczqsiNFLY3mcz0UwTppxajNN1KCBidNbx6gw9o69c3cnxJMddi9O8Z7d4Lcq8XtRNToPXzt4c-0pc4QbdnIo/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there are beautiful walkways everywhere</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRqVjuO2S5mUFxvbZyV7uiG7Nh6cz6luKMIRoqL8BelaFPx-OuIZNbAvf9y0HOTNu46M2MqBXM-xoXs8uOhnu6NMzmJNp5Z3SINNakMluk0J4FEy6lX3XvsHDj_iC2r8aMzUAx52KRBo/s1600/IMG_0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRqVjuO2S5mUFxvbZyV7uiG7Nh6cz6luKMIRoqL8BelaFPx-OuIZNbAvf9y0HOTNu46M2MqBXM-xoXs8uOhnu6NMzmJNp5Z3SINNakMluk0J4FEy6lX3XvsHDj_iC2r8aMzUAx52KRBo/s1600/IMG_0545.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">everywhere you look the colors are vibrant</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Home owners include Borghese’s and Bulgari’s and Visconti’s.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfOdTTCSbETHKIunG7p-YWtdKivgkf-aee4at79tphkH00bPNYCErVg75EISBjcRFCyWSZYKydyfhEn-ifZk9TfcRt6zo-knKqBo0Sc698UKDFkeK9F05Wire8G8X40oXzEtDohlASSo/s1600/IMG_0524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfOdTTCSbETHKIunG7p-YWtdKivgkf-aee4at79tphkH00bPNYCErVg75EISBjcRFCyWSZYKydyfhEn-ifZk9TfcRt6zo-knKqBo0Sc698UKDFkeK9F05Wire8G8X40oXzEtDohlASSo/s1600/IMG_0524.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Panarea is a safe haven from overbuilt vacation destinations. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYzRzNvL1aLYj3xDsGebc3S6B87ArheT3gnMbAx6B6NM8-NpRikaRqmgrUGYRyufjM4DAbnQlqUO2x0kuh6QT_31sXClnrPXA-ZnZV-Qeo6p8l3qyPl-I69FtO9DGuDRzDtEaEpwXtT8/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYzRzNvL1aLYj3xDsGebc3S6B87ArheT3gnMbAx6B6NM8-NpRikaRqmgrUGYRyufjM4DAbnQlqUO2x0kuh6QT_31sXClnrPXA-ZnZV-Qeo6p8l3qyPl-I69FtO9DGuDRzDtEaEpwXtT8/s1600/IMG_0527.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">If anything it is underbuilt. Beautiful private homes on streets with no street lights, no cars and no pretense, heady with frangipani and lemons, hibiscus flowers and wild cacti, it’s an island that you get around on on foot, the locals frequently navigating the winding cobblestoned paths barefoot.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLnKiGEd4IRsyQZrbyu6D8HN6YzwfMTN7ffbC3MWEdVX3x2maX-BxHEONdCvI2iua0yEDaixmIXM4V5NXtLz7KpC-guamzDajloENo4YJp7NEajAngvJljpiEtlZmR3iBXcGM9ef2hn0/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLnKiGEd4IRsyQZrbyu6D8HN6YzwfMTN7ffbC3MWEdVX3x2maX-BxHEONdCvI2iua0yEDaixmIXM4V5NXtLz7KpC-guamzDajloENo4YJp7NEajAngvJljpiEtlZmR3iBXcGM9ef2hn0/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my bikini matches the door....</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEVU6Rp-VI60UatT6_IXgRLqXMujicZf1g4sJw2DesARuihnJEVXZdQw1hgfB7DLvTfXImGMUuio6FuUMEJSgznlfiHb4wvq-H5wX4Tfp74khUnxoWt9b5Qd-3cvep4kRtxe7Nb-MzRw/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXEVU6Rp-VI60UatT6_IXgRLqXMujicZf1g4sJw2DesARuihnJEVXZdQw1hgfB7DLvTfXImGMUuio6FuUMEJSgznlfiHb4wvq-H5wX4Tfp74khUnxoWt9b5Qd-3cvep4kRtxe7Nb-MzRw/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Little hamlets such as San Pietro, Ditella and Drauto have the island’s few shops. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFiKFihy1IeZy-Rnz8t4GVcRThrxn28C2ci9eUSBwR0Jzd4yS3jqyflsx0vJ7k-24U8301Ul4Ze58Raz2J9GcXlofRgmUOlGpBod6BvU-yz1zD3O2TEQeofQwLTctQUsq5N9QOOCXPYU/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFiKFihy1IeZy-Rnz8t4GVcRThrxn28C2ci9eUSBwR0Jzd4yS3jqyflsx0vJ7k-24U8301Ul4Ze58Raz2J9GcXlofRgmUOlGpBod6BvU-yz1zD3O2TEQeofQwLTctQUsq5N9QOOCXPYU/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Here you can buy the highly coveted custom made leather sandals with colored straps that wind up the leg, or the batik fashions found at the Raya boutique. There are no designer shops here, although major designers name products after the island.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNYomIylyVmceruMy0HkRnJfKr2qVO2yjbcq0EUm0UCBTY6mIPhhHhbC2yRE5A5oINw6J7h_cD-AF34BSXR7lR3gwunr9IKLkyj1w-sR4YNaGwq3C1frgcZsEUYyzAv1MT_S69-dTCjQ/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNYomIylyVmceruMy0HkRnJfKr2qVO2yjbcq0EUm0UCBTY6mIPhhHhbC2yRE5A5oINw6J7h_cD-AF34BSXR7lR3gwunr9IKLkyj1w-sR4YNaGwq3C1frgcZsEUYyzAv1MT_S69-dTCjQ/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">world famous sandal shop Moda Mare makes you sandals while you wait</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOiLBsVzKDT5TPfi4mbK3Lx-hYGWH-qbz5rBxeun3fcab-SEYYdRb1wrKaEhK9JvYS-4SBCKEtOtV3nrvxXwseCd5kkkyDEUS7hqqOky3MZF5FyC8X9H5QxvQlSkryK_4FoSyDWVCLO8/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOiLBsVzKDT5TPfi4mbK3Lx-hYGWH-qbz5rBxeun3fcab-SEYYdRb1wrKaEhK9JvYS-4SBCKEtOtV3nrvxXwseCd5kkkyDEUS7hqqOky3MZF5FyC8X9H5QxvQlSkryK_4FoSyDWVCLO8/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">You may however see some pretty fabulous designers visiting the island. Dolce and Gabbana come over from their home on nearby Stromboli, Giorgio Armani finds his way there from his home on Pantilleria on his super yacht. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7kKVeiA9wyM6cdEt8bXcnvVJFegYDkdqslfKGsqakeBZ7-VzHYNIvk6egNO_rSXRr4XuxcLuCfbYyUVdeI2ih9IvzdngtbLkdO40p9opMiTmwy3S8CikesYKDHPAL8yh0Z4yAzjBl0I/s1600/IMG_0548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7kKVeiA9wyM6cdEt8bXcnvVJFegYDkdqslfKGsqakeBZ7-VzHYNIvk6egNO_rSXRr4XuxcLuCfbYyUVdeI2ih9IvzdngtbLkdO40p9opMiTmwy3S8CikesYKDHPAL8yh0Z4yAzjBl0I/s1600/IMG_0548.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Princess Caroline comes by on her yacht Pacha III, and there are invariably a handful of mega models and actresses arriving as guests of other yacht owners pulling in for the evening.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Panarea is charming, and very, very quiet.</span><br /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuUhMvwApL6SCubl9L2LoEB2KsW0Q732ehakpehN1_m7385yycTKM7X_zd7b8SyFeWMkx2uviZvYcPK7aM-mPyS7afFrlz0xvHuAopWQ2OspVI4pUagTp1vdrDOVqbcEc4oJqI7dUO7Q/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuUhMvwApL6SCubl9L2LoEB2KsW0Q732ehakpehN1_m7385yycTKM7X_zd7b8SyFeWMkx2uviZvYcPK7aM-mPyS7afFrlz0xvHuAopWQ2OspVI4pUagTp1vdrDOVqbcEc4oJqI7dUO7Q/s1600/IMG_0525.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It is surrounded by the bluest water I have ever seen, anywhere in the world. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMkH6RtKLzgdF-we2R7E0AWLUa1lFd2hZsZG3Qn2kXHr5lZDEF2m7QpR_FUEaBZbuOQPzIcpVfc1Naqb3Ctu-LboGjf-UBw5dpJgS-Bb0vx8LKVPuKS4573NLtfFJPgv0YszEiZQ3JP0/s1600/IMG_0499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMkH6RtKLzgdF-we2R7E0AWLUa1lFd2hZsZG3Qn2kXHr5lZDEF2m7QpR_FUEaBZbuOQPzIcpVfc1Naqb3Ctu-LboGjf-UBw5dpJgS-Bb0vx8LKVPuKS4573NLtfFJPgv0YszEiZQ3JP0/s1600/IMG_0499.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the ocean around Panarea is the bluest I have ever seen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv-x7S7G9XOmuwk1twYstJz-xvK6UtnP5r-DDH8x24zsGxvMEW0_9nZ1WPm7huaZL9-8ZusV4OA1YpO5jAM-9lu-lBj4aPWsJ2LBcohpluz4HJBf4L2c6BL8uBAAvWKV-nXWowyNx4JY/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv-x7S7G9XOmuwk1twYstJz-xvK6UtnP5r-DDH8x24zsGxvMEW0_9nZ1WPm7huaZL9-8ZusV4OA1YpO5jAM-9lu-lBj4aPWsJ2LBcohpluz4HJBf4L2c6BL8uBAAvWKV-nXWowyNx4JY/s1600/IMG_0500.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the best way to swim here is off a boat</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">There are not  very many beaches, and they are a considerable hike to get to, but if you have access to a boat, swimming off of the coast of Panarea is one of the most glorious experiences ever. The water even feels soft and luxurious and the views are just breathtaking.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0E2zeYGIaD2_BqUbKZUV1b55wnkuphMqRriyHMqIoj1d1qdF4yeOXIGU_-F9qWU3Zjq1axo18rynfB5eQbeUUA_Y0BBvog5Bg3PBHtfjSnwbA508cI-Xdt43G8EgQ9-VY_BZazAHnWQ/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0E2zeYGIaD2_BqUbKZUV1b55wnkuphMqRriyHMqIoj1d1qdF4yeOXIGU_-F9qWU3Zjq1axo18rynfB5eQbeUUA_Y0BBvog5Bg3PBHtfjSnwbA508cI-Xdt43G8EgQ9-VY_BZazAHnWQ/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" title="Panarea-Corinna-B's-World-Glam-Italia-Tour" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Panarea feels like a decadent secret hideaway, the loveliest of escapes.</span></div><div><br /></div></div>

Corinna B's World Goes To Panarea

Panarea The Aeolian Island where the jet set go to escape the rest of the jetset. Or something like that. The Corinna B's World Glam Ita...

Read more »

Casa Cuseni, Taormina

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Ever since I took my first step onto Sicilian soil I have been obsessed with the place.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It is magnificent, mysterious and beautiful. Overwhelmingly beautiful.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">But with a secret darkness to it.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I just can't get enough.</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6XXSKpuWxbXiUrqLZcD2SlwQq0-d-yQ9Qxw2qMurhJEGjDLx-3X8-kirsNRN6fCsvtCBkahzN_35VD-OWIl1QYmAwDJxNs1j7tDW8CjYeryxPPuaRGK4wwIkJLo0dCCHhev0aJkQfyc/s1600/cuseni+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6XXSKpuWxbXiUrqLZcD2SlwQq0-d-yQ9Qxw2qMurhJEGjDLx-3X8-kirsNRN6fCsvtCBkahzN_35VD-OWIl1QYmAwDJxNs1j7tDW8CjYeryxPPuaRGK4wwIkJLo0dCCHhev0aJkQfyc/s1600/cuseni+5.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As such, I read books about Sicily, books set in Sicily, fiction, non fiction - anything I can get my hands on.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One of the absolute treasures I found was a book called "<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786707941/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0786707941&linkCode=as2&tag=corswo-20&linkId=NYFIC4Z57FAHZTQR%22%3EA%20House%20in%20Sicily%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=corswo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0786707941%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><i>A House In Sicily</i></a>" by Daphne Phelps.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This is an autobiography that takes place in lovely Taormina, overlooking the Ionian Sea. A picturesque little town that holds a piece of my heart, or that maybe I'm holding in my heart. Not sure which.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Daphne lived in dreary old England, damp and grey, then inherited a magnificent home built by her uncle in sun drenched Taormina.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">She moves to Sicily, and this is her story of life at <a href="http://www.casacuseni.com/en/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Casa Cuseni. </span></a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxkSuTDYMaQ-oEFky25TVjzmCoD3W70gWcSa1cMNPp-589F4h_C3zmtsUpe1Qp1qsmt0E0eQkKkFj_paM25aQ4-gcRxENCg_yu3ASo-cIlTvgrBu51Q3qQmH1cVNYbb5-hOBWTvxHhRA/s1600/cuseni+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxkSuTDYMaQ-oEFky25TVjzmCoD3W70gWcSa1cMNPp-589F4h_C3zmtsUpe1Qp1qsmt0E0eQkKkFj_paM25aQ4-gcRxENCg_yu3ASo-cIlTvgrBu51Q3qQmH1cVNYbb5-hOBWTvxHhRA/s1600/cuseni+1.jpg" title="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view from the terrace of Casa Cuseni at night</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Writers and artists drop by and stay for weeks and months.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">She tackles the trials and tribulations of life in this little mountain town, at the same time basking in the glory of living in a place more beautiful than words can describe.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JQfGut4uNQwpa4ybgXauOxAEGFucdUV-mccKhLBONP4QurV1n7fOGU72Q3T0rYX7QUzAhwGtDDf4mtTHLDSoT6b7Xhqh93oXEE5Y6UNuTiQkH9my1AbckJQyg8MORU7cWaqHMIlxLYk/s1600/cuseni+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JQfGut4uNQwpa4ybgXauOxAEGFucdUV-mccKhLBONP4QurV1n7fOGU72Q3T0rYX7QUzAhwGtDDf4mtTHLDSoT6b7Xhqh93oXEE5Y6UNuTiQkH9my1AbckJQyg8MORU7cWaqHMIlxLYk/s1600/cuseni+2.jpg" title="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casa Cuseni,Taormina Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Great reading for lovers of <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767900383/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0767900383&linkCode=as2&tag=corswo-20&linkId=IFA5C7TRM4B2COJX%22%3EUnder%20the%20Tuscan%20Sun:%20At%20Home%20in%20Italy%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=corswo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0767900383%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Under The Tuscan Sun</a></i> and </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679731148/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0679731148&linkCode=as2&tag=corswo-20&linkId=GTQSPE73MV7MOSMG%22%3EA%20Year%20in%20Provence%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=corswo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0679731148%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">A Year In Provence</a></i>.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Her home, Casa Cuseni, remains the star of the story, it's beauty the perpetual subtext.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyqqtELalrekoWsE1_vpdmIg3LLSEjKnPQA8vYYQT8a400Fk6NWeusEnM4GR9AVU708Lp4iV9tMQkmCos6M_fiXNej4R_mybg6W1A9LGZ5RgShkerFtwObJbf1kK6TpNyHdDJMTg4OCc/s1600/cuseni+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina" border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyqqtELalrekoWsE1_vpdmIg3LLSEjKnPQA8vYYQT8a400Fk6NWeusEnM4GR9AVU708Lp4iV9tMQkmCos6M_fiXNej4R_mybg6W1A9LGZ5RgShkerFtwObJbf1kK6TpNyHdDJMTg4OCc/s1600/cuseni+4.jpg" title="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casa Cuseni, Taormina Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Returning to Taormina this year I was determined to find </span><br /><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i><a href="http://www.casacuseni.com/en/" target="_blank">Casa Cuseni</a>. </i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Which was actually really easy.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Daphne died in 2005 and willed the house to her nieces who preferred the rain in Britain to the sun in Sicily, and opted to sell it instead of relocating.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I would give almost anything to move there and own that home! I still cannot believe they let it go.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The new owners have made it into a bed and breakfast, and were more than happy to let me come visit, and look around.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCEfdlD9cH_QOe0y4LyWM1JoGm8j9kc5KXPd2-nTTDQuZkGZWl8gPVRNYhso7sOoOkMdOiHw3QR3HwTM_h8Uzsuf1BDQZKcY_pkJrxVrHus-YSGw432ubFImBOT0Aj-JMJQJI90Hzqc0/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina-Corinna-B's-World" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHCEfdlD9cH_QOe0y4LyWM1JoGm8j9kc5KXPd2-nTTDQuZkGZWl8gPVRNYhso7sOoOkMdOiHw3QR3HwTM_h8Uzsuf1BDQZKcY_pkJrxVrHus-YSGw432ubFImBOT0Aj-JMJQJI90Hzqc0/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG" title="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina-Corinna-B's-World" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the blue door at Casa Cuseni</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Casa Cuseni is truly magnificent.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Much of it has been kept as it was in the book.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Daphne's treasures are still there, along with her passports and personal papers.</span></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVWeYcRm5cgoB0TfCmZK-kKemSoGr07G3qNEfD7haS_p4IW26fST0sU5yWdk2nTmswlfjagE7a95QiRGxcct95O75I1CkiTxfOhseAYPKV_pApz1rwUuOMcn_h4NAI51KEKDlUULPGJY/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina-Corinna-B's-World" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVWeYcRm5cgoB0TfCmZK-kKemSoGr07G3qNEfD7haS_p4IW26fST0sU5yWdk2nTmswlfjagE7a95QiRGxcct95O75I1CkiTxfOhseAYPKV_pApz1rwUuOMcn_h4NAI51KEKDlUULPGJY/s1600/IMG_0333.JPG" title="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina-Corinna-B's-World" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salvatore at Casa Cuseni</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My host for the day, <i>Salvatore Spadro</i>, showed me many of the belongings she talks about in her book. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">We strolled through the art filled rooms and the gardens, Salvatore filling me in on the history behind every room, every piece of art, every corner of the beautiful gardens.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We sat on the terrace taking in the view, while he told me more stories.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjUj8YhVC1x5-RShWOBEK4Yeoe52YvuL_EQ3MoN2ZNKHfA8yWOKKFfxCxpgLnBzKesQKyNFDDLSqW9jBR5M1GUtNxKkzRlLwtAqB-9_LjNMo-pQ54IEMiFMTiSyx7-aZT7pnO0j8LLKc/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina-Corinna-B's-World" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjUj8YhVC1x5-RShWOBEK4Yeoe52YvuL_EQ3MoN2ZNKHfA8yWOKKFfxCxpgLnBzKesQKyNFDDLSqW9jBR5M1GUtNxKkzRlLwtAqB-9_LjNMo-pQ54IEMiFMTiSyx7-aZT7pnO0j8LLKc/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" title="Casa-Cuseni-Taormina-Corinna-B's-World" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for a glass of wine on the terrace at Casa Cuseni</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It was just magical.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">When we were about to leave he asked if I would like to see the Picassos.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Picasso had stayed at Casa Cuseni, and left the works he painted while he was there.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I still can't quite believe I was able to spend quality time with Picassos that don't live in any museum, that aren't featured in any coffee table books. That pretty much no one else sees.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">If you are planning to <b>travel Sicily</b>, look into staying at Casa Cuseni in Taormina for a few days.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">There are only 6 bedrooms, so they do book out a long time in advance, but you can email them directly ( casacuseni@gmail.com) and see what openings they do have. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Check out the Casa Cuseni website <a href="http://www.casacuseni.com/en/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: blue;">here</span></i></a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">If you enjoy reading books about people relocating to glorious homes in Italy and building a life there (my favorite subject!), pick up a copy of <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786707941/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0786707941&linkCode=as2&tag=corswo-20&linkId=NYFIC4Z57FAHZTQR%22%3EA%20House%20in%20Sicily%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=corswo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0786707941%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">A House In Italy</a> by Daphne Phelps<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786707941/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0786707941&linkCode=as2&tag=corswo-20&linkId=NYFIC4Z57FAHZTQR%22%3EA%20House%20in%20Sicily%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=corswo-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0786707941%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"> here.</a></span><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=corswo-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0786707941&asins=0786707941&linkId=2DDZI2PGAHNFIFC2&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p><p></iframe><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=corswo-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0767900383&asins=0767900383&linkId=OFBYOEHWHFWJWEEY&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p><p></iframe><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=corswo-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0679731148&asins=0679731148&linkId=CQB2JGHQFYS4AYU7&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p><p></iframe></div></div>

Casa Cuseni, Taormina

Ever since I took my first step onto Sicilian soil I have been obsessed with the place. It is magnificent, mysterious and beautiful. Overwhe...

Read more »

Sicilitudine

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sicilitudine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">… and I am happy to think that I now carry in my soul a picture of Sicily, that unique and beautiful island, which is clear, authentic and complete…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal">Goethe<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiRob1KX29Q28VNufnA7klJdFAOsFC1L2r_5npB_6FbzN4Fnt5vA2hrcph8-6qadllQjXiHmQrlKqofMUB7RRKrdQi8Bda3uGLeczJITmjWSoJtqQEAT_E7wUWSE-v4aZf9NG2sM8JDM/s1600/DSC02375+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Giardini-Naxos-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiRob1KX29Q28VNufnA7klJdFAOsFC1L2r_5npB_6FbzN4Fnt5vA2hrcph8-6qadllQjXiHmQrlKqofMUB7RRKrdQi8Bda3uGLeczJITmjWSoJtqQEAT_E7wUWSE-v4aZf9NG2sM8JDM/s1600/DSC02375+-+Copy.JPG" title="Giardini-Naxos-Sicily" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giardini Naxos, Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">From the first step I took on this hauntingly beautiful island, from my very first breath, I was completely enamored of her. And there has not been one day in my life since then that she hasn’t crept into my thoughts. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkizLPIA7Cmeilw9HGBkK9_niRCaCDu3Uentl-tob91zAzsjXXCGXXRqaCbCZBFbPGFxMLbEacggN3659MjUQmZWII6E1nCAYO2ajisXGS4VGxJxzUMyJM82CgtRJul-dkSukBQm5yiY/s1600/sicily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sicily-Corinna-B's-World-Sicilitudine" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkizLPIA7Cmeilw9HGBkK9_niRCaCDu3Uentl-tob91zAzsjXXCGXXRqaCbCZBFbPGFxMLbEacggN3659MjUQmZWII6E1nCAYO2ajisXGS4VGxJxzUMyJM82CgtRJul-dkSukBQm5yiY/s1600/sicily.jpg" title="Sicily-Corinna-B's-World-Sicilitudine" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taormina, Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The screensaver on the inside of my eyelids runs a slideshow of spectacular Sicilian vistas when I go to sleep, and sometimes the all encompassing <i>need</i> to get back there defies reason and dominates all thought.</span><o:p></o:p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSvDJEkQg7fk8ftVQ3bZutO0HRY7-sWQegoZE3ClADPyMMQ-Z6MZXy31Pn7c8hvlt1TjjQIk-Qam1I9lIBjO1ympCde2Wi7pePzQUXh04G7TouGsWgGW8S-tm40YXn828zJAO9ZZZJvU/s1600/DSC02656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Castelmola-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSvDJEkQg7fk8ftVQ3bZutO0HRY7-sWQegoZE3ClADPyMMQ-Z6MZXy31Pn7c8hvlt1TjjQIk-Qam1I9lIBjO1ympCde2Wi7pePzQUXh04G7TouGsWgGW8S-tm40YXn828zJAO9ZZZJvU/s1600/DSC02656.JPG" title="Castelmola-Sicily" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castelmola, Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">This largest island in the Mediterranean is truly unique. It is like a giant mosaic made up of thousands of vibrant and exceptionally hued tiles, impossible to put together, yet alone each is magnificent, complex, and exceptional.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcLNIFle-X13X9Z3wRJT31deVT_1rLu5qcJS6Qc6gnU33C8QpgzkstkYJq-RQEWCwe4civ9tgolk-dfFAShoCFAlOl4D6GSTbeV923_I1or_HLLRxLZzsPi_aLlB6Djv9pdVfTnAVRtY/s1600/DSC02257+-+Copy+-+Copy+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Taormina-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKcLNIFle-X13X9Z3wRJT31deVT_1rLu5qcJS6Qc6gnU33C8QpgzkstkYJq-RQEWCwe4civ9tgolk-dfFAShoCFAlOl4D6GSTbeV923_I1or_HLLRxLZzsPi_aLlB6Djv9pdVfTnAVRtY/s1600/DSC02257+-+Copy+-+Copy+-+Copy.JPG" title="Taormina-Sicily" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taormina, Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDOBCtT0S15Mr665kk7O4uUjeXhXQy3YFmPRBhFbrYtRbLxxOWT1_cWA-xxce17qH9qp3XHbUPprNQ0-AMO2X08usUcsiKnfSog91pUGFvYo5VDyaVB8ka1TLKo-v_VNoWKa26zrcZYU/s1600/DSC02628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="View-from-Forza-D'Agro'-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDOBCtT0S15Mr665kk7O4uUjeXhXQy3YFmPRBhFbrYtRbLxxOWT1_cWA-xxce17qH9qp3XHbUPprNQ0-AMO2X08usUcsiKnfSog91pUGFvYo5VDyaVB8ka1TLKo-v_VNoWKa26zrcZYU/s1600/DSC02628.JPG" title="View-from-Forza-D'Agro'-Sicily" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Forza D'Agro, Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Visually astounding, her shores are lapped by the bluest of seas – the Mediterranean, the Ionian and the Tyrrhenian. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigavbVBRmMA4Y01_q-cGHCVyrO8r99evLyjIQ1Cs9nKRFruLNSeqA0fSwN7KL1QZhuUH5r55nDndBJe2hyphenhyphenZp8M1NTKjOTjcBGIKhuVEPj4RUyqmEWeXwC1UukV25gV_LXabHmGhl4GJfk/s1600/DSC02363+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lido-Copacabana-Letojanni-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigavbVBRmMA4Y01_q-cGHCVyrO8r99evLyjIQ1Cs9nKRFruLNSeqA0fSwN7KL1QZhuUH5r55nDndBJe2hyphenhyphenZp8M1NTKjOTjcBGIKhuVEPj4RUyqmEWeXwC1UukV25gV_LXabHmGhl4GJfk/s1600/DSC02363+-+Copy.JPG" title="Lido-Copacabana-Letojanni-Sicily" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lida copacabana, Letojanni, Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5CxvWeqppXg3FVrCXTrb61onvlBGoX1lZrjkBMJvgA9B2uCX_31LMctKTy-ytcDJeBsIZOT7BzG02nV7Jrd0LkI3quaikWPGB0KrUanW7LuSt74AT6YSva9m1q2iJA4-dO82RTHxg3A/s1600/DSC02433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5CxvWeqppXg3FVrCXTrb61onvlBGoX1lZrjkBMJvgA9B2uCX_31LMctKTy-ytcDJeBsIZOT7BzG02nV7Jrd0LkI3quaikWPGB0KrUanW7LuSt74AT6YSva9m1q2iJA4-dO82RTHxg3A/s1600/DSC02433.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> The architecture and the cuisine have been layered by a history of being conquered. The Greeks, the Carthaginians, Roman, Arabs, Norman and Spaniards all ruled Sicily over the millennia and left their mark, their flavor, their influence, weaving a rich and brilliant tapestry that is equally beautiful and brutal.</span><o:p></o:p><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuuNhTFmryJI9XgO7yTlcXGMu3xcT7HhkaC_Zumfn5ZD6IJOnhKduGdn2iy4eJzBvgMFPpMXfZdoaIl6hKkxQcEDXVGYmqEuOHU7XacNgR-WgeoNRlUVMrfcJqmXRODjxFcg7gnOlehw/s1600/DSC02406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apollo's-Temple-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjuuNhTFmryJI9XgO7yTlcXGMu3xcT7HhkaC_Zumfn5ZD6IJOnhKduGdn2iy4eJzBvgMFPpMXfZdoaIl6hKkxQcEDXVGYmqEuOHU7XacNgR-WgeoNRlUVMrfcJqmXRODjxFcg7gnOlehw/s1600/DSC02406.JPG" title="Apollo's-Temple-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp52FTvLEL8pIiSPOAtQrberlPPuMPR3tAyaxQnx5oLlCbSO0Ol2_JXto0rZ3lQ-GX0cDKH1vqrm_V6U9sVSkoSJNHXYMMu1GfBjWLohqrzajwprzYGNvmJ6qTWsfyYJs738rntZl8mY/s1600/DSC02407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBp52FTvLEL8pIiSPOAtQrberlPPuMPR3tAyaxQnx5oLlCbSO0Ol2_JXto0rZ3lQ-GX0cDKH1vqrm_V6U9sVSkoSJNHXYMMu1GfBjWLohqrzajwprzYGNvmJ6qTWsfyYJs738rntZl8mY/s1600/DSC02407.JPG" title="Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ortygia. Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Sicilians have a hard history. The rich were magnificently rich while the poor toiled in abject poverty. They were repeatedly heavily taxed to pay for someone else’s wars, throughout time their men drafted to fight the ruling country’s battles. Although since the unification they are Italian, they are first and foremost and to their collective core, Sicilian. As a people they have pride and resilience, are at times stoic, in some ways isolated from the mainland, theirs is a Sicilitudine </span><o:p></o:p><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0FhRCDVn3_bkUlvUIL7Xe-7ZYz3V07rzsCsHiuwG1pVX67tk89X32H55YglcX1I_ZE5tVAbernV4YrP8W4X9jpHio6Ntx00_yvaYbjeoUnZyJBwQ-P3IJu7H-2iVdIyKjo5htntOSu0/s1600/DSC02663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Castelmola-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0FhRCDVn3_bkUlvUIL7Xe-7ZYz3V07rzsCsHiuwG1pVX67tk89X32H55YglcX1I_ZE5tVAbernV4YrP8W4X9jpHio6Ntx00_yvaYbjeoUnZyJBwQ-P3IJu7H-2iVdIyKjo5htntOSu0/s1600/DSC02663.JPG" title="Castelmola-Sicily" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Castelmola, Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Yet invariably Sicilians smile the deepest of smiles.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">At times more North Africa than Southern Italy, Sicily is maddeningly beautiful, a culinary dream, it is mysterious and moody, incredibly sexy, and feels vaguely dangerous with it’s rumbling volcano and it’s air of mystery.</span><o:p></o:p><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzsy4HoQ4_z9t9X1qWAk-kXI_nthcUOkq7hJ1PMAO0mrtNHfRMNYEqUKLBYgyQgIbs-O8RWdIVbVWe9SiQ7JF1-9qdmulB11dFc_iYk02CbinQ0wu_5n7YkODdXy8BKr4n25XX5twAH0/s1600/DSC02667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mt-Etna-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzsy4HoQ4_z9t9X1qWAk-kXI_nthcUOkq7hJ1PMAO0mrtNHfRMNYEqUKLBYgyQgIbs-O8RWdIVbVWe9SiQ7JF1-9qdmulB11dFc_iYk02CbinQ0wu_5n7YkODdXy8BKr4n25XX5twAH0/s1600/DSC02667.JPG" title="Mt-Etna-Sicily" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Sicily is everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">To take on this magical island all you need is a good map and a sense of adventure…</span><o:p></o:p></div></div>

Sicilitudine

Sicilitudine … and I am happy to think that I now carry in my soul a picture of Sicily, that unique and beautiful island, which is clear, au...

Read more »

Sunday Morning In Ortygia, The Glam Italia Tour

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>"To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything"</i></span><br />~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, The Italian Journey (1786-1788)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I'm not quite sure what Goethe was up to here.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Sicily and Italy were not unified until 1861.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">And each stands alone, completely magnificent.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But I love the quote.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Sicily is my obsession. Since the very first time I ever set foot on this magical island I have not gone one day without thinking about it. It is always on my mind.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Despite the incredibly long travel day to get here from Phoenix, it was the logical place to start the Glam Italia Tour. (as in start our beach time before our waistlines have a chance to register that we are eating pasta...) </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sunday morning in Ortygia</span></i></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ortygia is a little island connected to the city of Siracusa.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The history here is astounding.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjP01iNHZxbiGb85AjS6lPGSerlGy2BCvLxx9cUyjVr-CmuRp12WZRdxVjTW6QOgMMuFM31tQMygMiPJajwj62rUoXhrkHQj-sxcC89kig9SFDRF6T6Hier9cjMNt1S2cpeUSwNuruCY/s1600/DSC02406+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apollo's-Temple-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdjP01iNHZxbiGb85AjS6lPGSerlGy2BCvLxx9cUyjVr-CmuRp12WZRdxVjTW6QOgMMuFM31tQMygMiPJajwj62rUoXhrkHQj-sxcC89kig9SFDRF6T6Hier9cjMNt1S2cpeUSwNuruCY/s1600/DSC02406+-+Copy.JPG" title="Apollo's-Temple-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><br />The remains of Apollo's temple, built in 732 BC are surrounded by apartments built over the centuries. Some incredibly old, some rebuilt after WWII. Can you imagine looking out your bedroom window at this??<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaPaocsb8odKVKcaiGzFCxk0JLT45WwoLa-OjXYHjm7lj07a1m9bHEWgTHTiZBQQp4YAoJZS4arALqx22E98xhJDC9QzXL9dkqtlwsBn6kDoz6w5B_SGVDktA6urEMC-xAzFTIIQr9is/s1600/DSC02397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apollo's-Temple-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaPaocsb8odKVKcaiGzFCxk0JLT45WwoLa-OjXYHjm7lj07a1m9bHEWgTHTiZBQQp4YAoJZS4arALqx22E98xhJDC9QzXL9dkqtlwsBn6kDoz6w5B_SGVDktA6urEMC-xAzFTIIQr9is/s1600/DSC02397.JPG" title="Apollo's-Temple-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m89rlQzkZLIk_oNugpyhpXVGRs9_Hki4lXKwmu66CuSVY9exlMhUoajRgunEGs5UP1ZRNadaCGtFbW2hxuilX1rKeYwnZ3p4UftAvjmFtKLErc-zqruJF7ypreOlD11FGtVQ7cF0Eio/s1600/DSC02400+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Apollo's-Temple-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3m89rlQzkZLIk_oNugpyhpXVGRs9_Hki4lXKwmu66CuSVY9exlMhUoajRgunEGs5UP1ZRNadaCGtFbW2hxuilX1rKeYwnZ3p4UftAvjmFtKLErc-zqruJF7ypreOlD11FGtVQ7cF0Eio/s1600/DSC02400+-+Copy.JPG" title="Apollo's-Temple-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Waiting outside church on Ortygia, Sicily. I just loved her pants. I want a pair!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-agRCYdL1AbLFqaz3thqoEOuwELbcfRiUkSnyZD2p0xacJiwZhFprNuufwTh-MsWAqYlSOz0drWCDX0JklOSETOUFX2xb8x7FomJYVdBl81SWnrIXFuiZNBXURAivqZOvX5w8Ya3ypsA/s1600/DSC02404+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Church-Attire-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-agRCYdL1AbLFqaz3thqoEOuwELbcfRiUkSnyZD2p0xacJiwZhFprNuufwTh-MsWAqYlSOz0drWCDX0JklOSETOUFX2xb8x7FomJYVdBl81SWnrIXFuiZNBXURAivqZOvX5w8Ya3ypsA/s1600/DSC02404+-+Copy.JPG" title="Church-Attire-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><br />Walking through the streets of Ortygia<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2l9nlWze1ueg52D83hO4-4oQneKH1_l3xFv-R6ejYg0r-egkYyWt_XyDLCKHhgYHLh_9iFVED6dLQWQn1L_smHIs_tDLeBAD0GB17V9hzNRuwezVtbzpf_A4yVXcFgJ8yNLfOF-FrWY/s1600/DSC02442+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ2l9nlWze1ueg52D83hO4-4oQneKH1_l3xFv-R6ejYg0r-egkYyWt_XyDLCKHhgYHLh_9iFVED6dLQWQn1L_smHIs_tDLeBAD0GB17V9hzNRuwezVtbzpf_A4yVXcFgJ8yNLfOF-FrWY/s1600/DSC02442+-+Copy.JPG" title="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionN1qEPjcKMUHYzZ706VSFzWqk975viqB6waaDRb_vi0ciLmkqsNHPxJxpHPItPxlbzUFUvs6zsRqg-2wx98nkJ7db_Wn1kd4U5JGBN9bVPvhdcZTyd_I7zv5jhG-qpnn74cvmFVifEk/s1600/DSC02441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionN1qEPjcKMUHYzZ706VSFzWqk975viqB6waaDRb_vi0ciLmkqsNHPxJxpHPItPxlbzUFUvs6zsRqg-2wx98nkJ7db_Wn1kd4U5JGBN9bVPvhdcZTyd_I7zv5jhG-qpnn74cvmFVifEk/s1600/DSC02441.JPG" title="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbHLpPFXY3362-F542w4GpDpbhm1qlJsmTY05o90MhZBr39DCit6VDXwVt_K4EOOMjsZ2X-KIRenVtw-Qy-8a0UqBQhLdUuLL68hpWg9oh8tJ0L4GzBIAnvCdSoh3Vg6mV_0W4Fs4goY/s1600/DSC02408+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbHLpPFXY3362-F542w4GpDpbhm1qlJsmTY05o90MhZBr39DCit6VDXwVt_K4EOOMjsZ2X-KIRenVtw-Qy-8a0UqBQhLdUuLL68hpWg9oh8tJ0L4GzBIAnvCdSoh3Vg6mV_0W4Fs4goY/s1600/DSC02408+-+Copy.JPG" title="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqo-C9EfdqHUCz1qy4bf1EGgQTgVs6CuvOPHGyjJZw27a2umg-kA0h9ywGTQe_XfV_xJiHp8uIXvgbuL03HSo_UI1jRxhi3wgTvjVXZpzJpL8KAtUkXi7RXfEgecLzRAZhwcy5L7aY68I/s1600/DSC02448+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqo-C9EfdqHUCz1qy4bf1EGgQTgVs6CuvOPHGyjJZw27a2umg-kA0h9ywGTQe_XfV_xJiHp8uIXvgbuL03HSo_UI1jRxhi3wgTvjVXZpzJpL8KAtUkXi7RXfEgecLzRAZhwcy5L7aY68I/s1600/DSC02448+-+Copy.JPG" title="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fR1IB54qvzntoG2xQY25_kcJHcfxW6J8BoS2WDSZkGIYGCioYwK4hyphenhyphenEpcXYff5SfHlPvmsvHXXVTdUpNsi0J2YlZFDNlkxb0YZ1DfQMTGNehCbBU7RjY1c8Y7xdJSRXyVjQNxkzedMU/s1600/DSC02479+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fR1IB54qvzntoG2xQY25_kcJHcfxW6J8BoS2WDSZkGIYGCioYwK4hyphenhyphenEpcXYff5SfHlPvmsvHXXVTdUpNsi0J2YlZFDNlkxb0YZ1DfQMTGNehCbBU7RjY1c8Y7xdJSRXyVjQNxkzedMU/s1600/DSC02479+-+Copy.JPG" title="The-Streets-Of-Ortygia-Sicily" /></a></div><br />Locals catching some sunshine on the breakwater outside the walls of Ortygia<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOynHvOmCHpUpC5fn8E16jHUyCQvUt4TQUvwatkyLvUKF5evMEVptlISeG9WiBhekMqK6Vq7HPxbYUUdMhxy6ltwMXtkj-avhJ9bAgXGyShXDORUzxH3sst214Q6TANePvzm7qxbU3vs/s1600/DSC02430+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sunbathing-In-Ortygia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOynHvOmCHpUpC5fn8E16jHUyCQvUt4TQUvwatkyLvUKF5evMEVptlISeG9WiBhekMqK6Vq7HPxbYUUdMhxy6ltwMXtkj-avhJ9bAgXGyShXDORUzxH3sst214Q6TANePvzm7qxbU3vs/s1600/DSC02430+-+Copy.JPG" title="Sunbathing-In-Ortygia" /></a></div><br /><br />This little boy sat on the steps of the Duomo in the spectacular Piazza Del Duomo, in the searingly bright sunshine, playing the sounds of the soul of Sicily.<br />The Duomo is a must see. The original Siculi built a temple to the deities here, the in the 5th century BC The Greeks built a temple around it, and since then in has been added to over the centuries. The current facade is Baroque, but as you walk through you see thousands of years of history<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sRfE0_YMVMYJiaK97WJq05k86_HSG8IZVp4NLJQmrJvHXa3YLve3dD1Fo6gsJgidj19cmtzMNCrxIqOUNisfnLIvLaChpcVyk0OSuaslWS72xCM7Tvd1PxR2u_S4BXmkW8kyh9ZjI1Q/s1600/DSC02458+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Boy-On-Duomo-Steps-Duomo-Ortygia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sRfE0_YMVMYJiaK97WJq05k86_HSG8IZVp4NLJQmrJvHXa3YLve3dD1Fo6gsJgidj19cmtzMNCrxIqOUNisfnLIvLaChpcVyk0OSuaslWS72xCM7Tvd1PxR2u_S4BXmkW8kyh9ZjI1Q/s1600/DSC02458+-+Copy.JPG" title="Boy-On-Duomo-Steps-Duomo-Ortygia" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>These columns were built in the 5th century BC. Running your fingers over their crenellations you feel 2500 years of history beneath your skin.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKMuM58aNZAXND2zdpsFgRYRG8_GNk_esWSwc7n1xhL8eSvKINhwHJUP5Hy0DuZqdfBnrqlZQZbov3ci2Sd7xeGxY6kAu4wNS_hrBIB2P89A6twxzxMDxSKoWuIKH2QFLmfg7_6ipTm4/s1600/DSC02462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="5th-Century-BC-Columns-Inside-Duomo-Ortygia" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOKMuM58aNZAXND2zdpsFgRYRG8_GNk_esWSwc7n1xhL8eSvKINhwHJUP5Hy0DuZqdfBnrqlZQZbov3ci2Sd7xeGxY6kAu4wNS_hrBIB2P89A6twxzxMDxSKoWuIKH2QFLmfg7_6ipTm4/s1600/DSC02462.JPG" title="5th-Century-BC-Columns-Inside-Duomo-Ortygia" /></a></div><br /></div>

Sunday Morning In Ortygia, The Glam Italia Tour

"To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything" ~ Johann Wo...

Read more »

My Sicilian Obsession ~ Forza d'Agro'

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">When I was first planning the Sicilian leg of my most recent Italian adventure, all my Italiani were raving to me about how fantastic Sicily is, and how it is the best place in the world, the best food in the world, and how it has the best people in the world.<br /><br />Now, allowing for the fact that with their sexy accents I would happily listen to them recite the phone book, front to back, all day long, I was always delighted to hear them wax lyrical about the little island at the toe of the boot.<br /><i>"Cor-eeen-ahhh, you weel loff eet"</i><br /><i><br /></i>But just as Americans get passionately patriotic over the stars and bars, I assumed my Italians were just attaching an equal patriotic fervor to their fashion, their food and their Sicily. I knew I'd love the place, but had no idea how hard I would<i><b> absolutely fall in love </b></i>with it.<br />And how my Italiani have laughed at me over that one.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Nell'Azzurita</span></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIhYArAJ10SJjd1M_p3fYlB9E7u-vrXp05gWhBams-0CQXfystroMawLOn3TgTSafeq4HW56u4Zq_jAYMVdKzOJzGEVkTxvxvFvG21qGoAu9bJJ3PkBCFji60PtgU2P_dFVoloIeMFpw/s1600/forza+d+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIhYArAJ10SJjd1M_p3fYlB9E7u-vrXp05gWhBams-0CQXfystroMawLOn3TgTSafeq4HW56u4Zq_jAYMVdKzOJzGEVkTxvxvFvG21qGoAu9bJJ3PkBCFji60PtgU2P_dFVoloIeMFpw/s640/forza+d+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forza d'Agro', Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Anyway, one of the fabulous little places I found by accident while in Sicily, was the lovely little <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forza_d'Agr%C3%B2">Forza D'Agro'.</a><br />Situated on the coast between Taormina and Messina, Forza D'Agro' is not typically found in tourist books. (which generally means I'm going to love it).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxZmzmJJwX_pCoFm7NtKTQuXG1wdjGdtIQCg9dCCrrHeUJlTzO88abN6IsFYQkDrcBkWxrtNyMf_xr386KJiH7yP2kcXNdYuJmwK86zXW7xZXe5fEZP5KEr76WE_q4Xq5C8yHZYVRSGs/s1600/girasole.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxZmzmJJwX_pCoFm7NtKTQuXG1wdjGdtIQCg9dCCrrHeUJlTzO88abN6IsFYQkDrcBkWxrtNyMf_xr386KJiH7yP2kcXNdYuJmwK86zXW7xZXe5fEZP5KEr76WE_q4Xq5C8yHZYVRSGs/s320/girasole.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">starting the day with cappuccino at Il Girasole</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />I only found out about it because a couple of locals were helping me plan out my day over toes-in-the-sand breakfast cappuccino.<br /><br /><br />They totally shanghai'd everything I was planning on doing, and instead came up with all kinds of fantastic places to go see, experience and eat at. (remember, Sicilians are incredibly warm, fun loving, friendly people). And they love to give you the inside scoop on the best local places to hit. No doubt owned by family members, but you are welcomed with open arms, and I adore that.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The drive along the coast from Taormina/Mazzeo/Letojanni to Forza d'Agro' is gorgeous and easy. Which is just great because the drive up the hill is like the drive up the hill to Ravello. On acid. Super steep hairpin bends that double back on themselves, perfect if you're fearless and if you're driving a stick shift. By the time you've reached the top you have earned a robust glass of local Sicilian wine.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKu0qdxq0sIpM0vjYEiH8MwgUaxJa1OuL54z31B4SGV8pXeLe6045vyMC35G539_UkcXP2xJKfD1HEjUZJ8EvygaQIjDrppLsZQHMT8aukhQlmRMaAb8Rljw-rtTEcDfewdO8hoVcyyM/s1600/DSC02625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKu0qdxq0sIpM0vjYEiH8MwgUaxJa1OuL54z31B4SGV8pXeLe6045vyMC35G539_UkcXP2xJKfD1HEjUZJ8EvygaQIjDrppLsZQHMT8aukhQlmRMaAb8Rljw-rtTEcDfewdO8hoVcyyM/s640/DSC02625.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ionian from Forza d'Agro', Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><br />With ancient buildings and stone paved lanes that are impassable by car, this little town has become the backdrop for many movies over the years, in fact you'll recognize parts of Forza d'Agro' from The Godfather.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmwQcpcddNcuei0I_r0dx5qQTSghjd4Hnnp37hj__OgCgltpxcIgi3uQ2kxpH8yUVeOXHNQrFw-EWfwqactRYGTZ2XZfUyO1yF_CpmNw79527ifES8Axtka3LICFD21XwqZaKx18edTw/s1600/Forza_d_Agro_Cathedrale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmwQcpcddNcuei0I_r0dx5qQTSghjd4Hnnp37hj__OgCgltpxcIgi3uQ2kxpH8yUVeOXHNQrFw-EWfwqactRYGTZ2XZfUyO1yF_CpmNw79527ifES8Axtka3LICFD21XwqZaKx18edTw/s640/Forza_d_Agro_Cathedrale.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cathedral Forza d'Agro'</td></tr></tbody></table><br />This entire area has such a rich and wild history, from the Sicani to the Siculi, the Greeks to the Romans, The Byzantines to the Spanish and however many others along the way, so many have come and conquered and left their mark, creating a society and a land that is just completely intriguing and complex.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStIvZOHA4fZmDf69EzcIvWNY4sf8dZJvf_cepOCBlAoP-hF_vFySJ89dN9SRBwRBsIyHetAiTvWrOLDwc1BHCyj6YQI9GtoxNJZeSJ_Od5WxkFBdcjHsbaX-PgRnrRD1eoD4DJfGvuKg/s1600/DSC02607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStIvZOHA4fZmDf69EzcIvWNY4sf8dZJvf_cepOCBlAoP-hF_vFySJ89dN9SRBwRBsIyHetAiTvWrOLDwc1BHCyj6YQI9GtoxNJZeSJ_Od5WxkFBdcjHsbaX-PgRnrRD1eoD4DJfGvuKg/s640/DSC02607.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forza d'Agro' Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5vycd87SuGq-LAP8w5RkHAETBqB6IT5UwhVv-FCxhrpzDJBGDy7P_fDaN8WWHptriIvqNX8goEa2Se1VjXPY57rFRossdXFyNkXTOs87KyFxQCqkAIVEpouKJ48aKPWrT65MHars6uI/s1600/DSC02604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5vycd87SuGq-LAP8w5RkHAETBqB6IT5UwhVv-FCxhrpzDJBGDy7P_fDaN8WWHptriIvqNX8goEa2Se1VjXPY57rFRossdXFyNkXTOs87KyFxQCqkAIVEpouKJ48aKPWrT65MHars6uI/s640/DSC02604.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forza d'Agro' Sicily</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As you can see we got all kinds of weather that day. It started out gorgeous, some rain came through briefly, and then the sun came back out.<br />Forza d'Agro' is tiny and doesn't take much time to have a good look around. There are so many lovely little towns all the way along the coast to stop and visit, all with staggering views across the Ionian Sea, amazing little local eateries, artisan stores and plenty of interesting things to see and do, most of them far from the madding crowds.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07gZqmnDE70xY2A5xJZ6EpX1kG3uw9dDleZt-XM6UxgPDrIKlRIA58oiTSj83c0NxG8DsqZ0Bs2wKri_riB0ZzIvu5cYEpG5jl0vMZ0m9S7eGI8tNDki7V_lIG-yQIa9CkVZbaGjHAoA/s1600/forza.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07gZqmnDE70xY2A5xJZ6EpX1kG3uw9dDleZt-XM6UxgPDrIKlRIA58oiTSj83c0NxG8DsqZ0Bs2wKri_riB0ZzIvu5cYEpG5jl0vMZ0m9S7eGI8tNDki7V_lIG-yQIa9CkVZbaGjHAoA/s400/forza.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ciao from the top of the world. Well the top of the path anyway ;)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>

My Sicilian Obsession ~ Forza d'Agro'

When I was first planning the Sicilian leg of my most recent Italian adventure, all my Italiani were raving to me about how fantastic Sicily...

Read more »