We are near one of the worlds active volcanoes. Our host recommended Paolo as a driver and guide, and with the promise of Lew and John going climbing up the side of the mountain, Elaine and I drove along, the plan was to be dropped off for some shopping, cappuccino, and perhaps a little down …
Author Archives: Judith Lavezzi
Andiamo to the Ancients
One main goal of being here was to more extensively visit Sicily, tasting it’s rich culture, enjoying its history and seeing its fabled beauty. Oh yes – the food too. We’ve done all four today. If we work hard, we can get out of the house by 10:30, although that is not what we did. …
Land of Crazy Drivers
Taormina was on our itinerary, and we took off, with a route in hand. The problem begins with getting out of here, where we are staying. It is not unusual to see scrapes on cars in Sicily, I’ve noted. Lots of cars have those horizontal scratches that tell you they’ve gotten too close to something. …
Sicily and its sweet center.
We are at our nearly last place of accommodation. Sicily. We took a spectacular ferry and drive. The island of Sicily is quite beautiful, as we were told. But, since we are doing some comparisons here – this place, this B&B is unlike anyplace we have stayed before. Acireale, near Catania, feels much like a …
Chianalea — cats, pirates and fishing.
We leave Scilla in the morning, probably before you will read this. Brother Bill is safely back to his routine in Cleveland, Robert and Elizabeth are probably in Venice, and the remaining four of us soldier onward south. This small fishing village connects through to the larger Scilla (pronounced Sheila). Lew just took this photo, …
Trulli – We truly do!
Leaving the amazing Matera yesterday, having peeked, poked, prodded and photographed everything that stood motionless. It was a short drive of slightly over an hour and a half to bring us through the Puglia countryside. Puglia’s whole look is different than the patchwork quilt of Bettola, or the hilly vineyards and plots of tomatoes of …
Matera Ciao, Bella!
We leave in the morning, after a short visit of about 36 hours. During our short time, we have left a moderate amount of money on food, a tour or two, some gratuities towards random musicians, staff, blind people, and church lights. It’s the way of it, right? We’ve walked a decent amount of steps, …
7000 years old?
This place is one of the three oldest inhabited places in the world, and it feels like it’s got some time yet to spend. It is crazy, stoney, very filled with young folks, many stories up and down, with great dramatic landscapes, and the Passion of Christ was filmed here. (Not that I’ve seen it-but …
Finished with a Festa
We leave in the morning, Monday at 7 AM, to drive ten hours to our next destination. Elaine is finally feeling better; John is with us, whole; Bill is good, and has forgotten nothing; Robert and Elizabeth are peeling off to go to Florence. That is the surface, but not the essence, of course. We …
Sweetly does that Bell ring
It is Saturday evening here in Soglio, frazione of Orero, in the former Irish pub, next to the Church of St. Michael of Soglio. So, friends, we are making progress. By this I mean that I have no accidents to report-well- other than John accidentally falling through an 800year old hole in the floor of …