Sicily... A Mediterranean Experience

When I think about Sicily I find it difficult to say that it's simply an island of Italy, a simple stretch of its culture... Now, it's true that Sicilians, the southern in general, often represent the Italian abroad... and allow me... not always appropriately... Who around the world, for instance, doesn't know about "The Mafia", people wearing a "coppola", playing the mandolin, speaking with a thick accent and threatening to kill their own mothers for not keeping their mouths shut... while eating spaghetti....
A friend of mine was once asked to give a lecture about Italian culture and history to a class of American kids... As a magician he carried their young minds across the ocean through the acts of the Roman Empire, Michelangelo inventions, Caravaggio's paintings, the intricate story of The Betrothed, the culinary art... In my mind I pictured these kids listening attentively, ruptured by the words... almost bewitched, as it were... so understand my disappointment in finding out that at the end of the lecture the only question was: "Dude, do you know any mafia men?"

Sicily represents a separate culture in the Italian culture, so strong to influence the idea other populations have of the entire country it belongs to...
But who are we kidding... this image, is our fault, we have exported it, and even if it doesn't correspond to reality there something true about it especially here in Sicily: the strong sense of the family, the honor and respect, the strong attachment to their culture and traditions... all of these make of Sicily an appendix of Italian culture, something that lives on its own a jewel of the boot shaped country...
It's one of the main touristic destinations in Europe, and even if I spent only three days here, I was able to take a mouthful of its tasty beauty...
It's a perfect combination of culture and natural beauty, dominated by different populations along the years, from Greeks, to Romans, then Arabs, each colonization left a trace that it' s still possible to perceive today.
It's for this reason that the Cathedral of Monreale becomes a masterpiece with its impressive glass mosaic, covering the whole interior... or Mozia, a Phoenician island linked to the main land by a road build in the 4th century BCE and even though the waters have concealed most of this ancient treasure it's still possible to wade the sea bed and step on these big paving stones laid by the Romans 4 centuries before Christ...
But Sicily it's not only history, you'll be astounded in The Zingaro national reserve... a mountain chain with steep cliffs and adorned by several little bays, a 7 km long trail which links all the "celette" (bays), each one differs from the other and beautiful in its own way, so amazing to be difficult to describe... Small creeks, with crystal blue water, natural swimming pools, reachable only by foot by following a trail hidden among aloe vera plants and palm trees...
A day here starts well if you sink your teeth in a cannolo (a tube-shaped shell of fried pasta dough, filled with a sweet and creamy ricotta cheese), which goes well with your espresso but if you really want to follow the tradition then a coffee flavored Granita Siciliana with whipped cream on top can be a valid substitute to your coffee... don't be judgmental... few things are as good as this... and when lunch time kicks in don't forget to taste an "Arancino", a deep fried rice ball coated with breadcrumbs and filled with ragù, mozzarella cheese and/or peas (they have originated in Sicily in the 10th century)..
Here in Sicily you can take in a full breath of mediterranean air, explore the past, enjoy the present or simply let its crystal blue waters wave you stress away...

Pictures here.....

Thanks to Erika, Stefy, Enrico, Mimma, Simo, Nico and Lele

France: Mirages of deserts….

France… what does this fascinating country bring back to your mind?

Maybe sipping a café au lait seated at a round steel table steeped next to a wall in an narrow rue… or the image of people walking by with their baguettes under their arms…

An elegant men walking by dressed in pastel colours wearing a beret in the most natural way you’ve ever seen?

Yes! That’s France… but there’s also a different side of this country, a bucolic experience in the nature…..

Bordeaux is a out of time city hiding in the south of France few Kilometers away from the Atlantic coast… a day here will be enough to experience the life of the city, explore its history and taste its flavor… but as dawn approaches, sit in your car, roll down the windows, put on some music and drive toward Dune du Pyla and get ready for a new experience….

If you like deserts then you’re probably familiar with the concept of mirages… a luxuriant pool of water surrounded by palm and tropical trees, appearing in front of your eyes, like out of nothing, a refreshing break from the constant heat of the desert… well, here in France you can experience that… But the other way around….

Imagine a huge spread of pine trees, a green and intricate desert, made of wild vegetation originating in the inland and spreading out to the coast, then, like out of nothing, like a mirage, a sand wall materialize right in front of you, blocking the view of the world behind it, climbing up is the only choice, but once on top something spectacular opens up for you:

Sand dunes, delineate with their smooth hilly profiles a small tongue of coast that seems to come out of nowhere… white sand modeled by the gentle breathe form the highest dunes in Europe.

Reaching up on the highest point your eyes would experience a breathtaking view of the forest eastward and of the rough Atlantic ocean westward…

While the sun make his way down in the water and the sky explode in a pinkish glow, you can take your pick nick basket, open a bottle of Bordeaux wine, few snacks and enjoy the show…

The next day brought us to S. Emillion, a town part of UNESCO heritage, here you can actually taste the real France, the narrow roads, romantic settings, vineyards and countless of wine shops where you can go tasting and buy some bottles to bring home with you…That’s what we did… but none of the bottles got home, we enjoyed them with a large selection of cheeses, baguettes, lavender honey while picnicking in a beautiful park……

Pictures

Thanks to Sanna, Bruna, Kriistina and Massimo

Blowing ashes in London....

London can never let you down, mainly because can meet so many tastes that it's almost impossible not finding your match.... but I've been here many times so there's not much left to say, but if you're going then I suggest to stop by in one of my favourite places... we're talking about the coffee place/restaurant at the Modern Tate Gallery (last floor), sip your Illy coffee, while you enjoy a 360° view of London from the Tower Bridge to the City, Saint Paul and the Millennium Bridge....


Nothing can ruin a week end in the capital of Europe.... except the Volcano in Iceland which made his voice heard on Sunday morning and forced all Italian northern airports to close... yes my flight was cancelled, my only option was to get a flight to Rome, spend a night at the train station with other five desperate people who like me had to wait a 6 o'clock train the next morning... but eventually after two sleepless nights, few busses, a plane, a train and another bus... I got to work.... No need to say how productive that day was....

Thanks Erika, Bea and my dear friends in London

Lanzarote: 3.. 2.. 1.. Landing On The Moon

The fourth largest island of the Canaries, the less touristic one but surely a mix of unexpected scenarios that easily make you fall in love with this little piece of land chilling in the cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean and only 200 km away from mysterious Morocco.

This island can satisfy the taste of different travelers, starting from the white beaches and turquoise water of the southern coast, like Playa Blanca or El Papagayo both evoking a tropical setting but with an European taste, you'll find shops, clubs, restaurants and lounge bars.... but if you're looking for something less touristic and more nature oriented, the northern part can be the answer to your requests...

Straight roads run from south to north passing through the wine region (La Geria) where each vine grows in volcanic lapilli protected from the constant wind by low curved walls composing an interesting and unique design.

Few kilometers away toward the western coast rests the Timanfaya national park, driving in this area will give you a hint of what walking on the moon is like, the eruption of the 1800 has covered the area with lava... the destructive force of the many volcanoes left a vegetation free area, the grey/reddish colors shines under the sun, and the clouds shades passing quickly on the smooth hills and craters offer a unique view but also, reminds you how powerful nature can be....

Going northward you'll be able to spot small villages here and there, they stand as shining white oasis in the flat prairies, among cactus gardens and aloe vera plantations... the prettiest one is for sure Harieta: a little white town among palm trees, you can have papas Arrugadas with mojos here sitting under a shiny bougainvilleas in the town centre....

But don't miss the pescados which is absolutely delicious and not expensive at all!!!!

If you're not claustrophobic, then have a tour of the volcanic caves, Cueva de los Verdes, will bring you in underground tunnels, to a natural and evocative space where once a month symphonic concerts take place.....

If you like a quiet place to rest your head at night, choose Campo Caleta in Arrieta, you'll wake up hearing the waves and the swimming pool is a nice treat at dawn while the sun slides behind the hills... perhaps enjoying a glass of white Malvasia.....

Traduzione qui per gli amici italiani!

Pictures here!

Thanks Sanna, Simona, Emanuele and Matteo

Venice... floating to you!

Immagine a place where the sound of traffic is banned, where streets become "Calle" which form an intricate labirinth , where floating to your destination is a normal day activity, where markets are made of caracteristic boats docked to the canals shores, where people come hoping to find that romance missing through the buildings and streets of their own city or maybe just to take a deep breath on the Bridge Of Sighs while the sun slowly melts into the water, immagine a city which hide behind a mask once every year....

it's a symbol, a place that has provided inspiration for artits and writers with its 118 islands and

453 bridges: meet Venice!

Every visit offer something new, a fresh experience to take home, a jump into an immaginary tale....

Thanks Reb, it was fun meeting you and your friend after such a long time!

Costa Rica.... Truly Enriching!

White sand, crystal blue water, palm trees gently leaning on the water, the sound of waves breaking on the shore and the warmth of the pulsing sun up above your head... but wait! A phone rings.... rings... and rings... in a moment an unpleasant letter "e" with its satellite saying "Internet explorer" stands between you and the palm tree, you look better and catch sight o a trash bin and countless folders crowding up your view... and then… there you are, reality kicks in: you've been staring at your tropical island windows desktop! You’re not on a paradise island but it's only a cloudy Monday morning in your office...... Has this ever happened to you? No...!? You're not a day dreamer? Well, whatever is the case, all the above can be found in Costa Rica, a strip of mountainous and volcanic terrain linking Nicaragua to Panama, a jewel right in the heart of Central America!
Being embraced by the warm Caribbean sea and the tumultuous Pacific Ocean this is a land that strikes you with the lush, green beauty of the countryside. It seems that everywhere you look, you see palm trees, banana plants, and sugarcane as well as coffee plantations and many kinds of exotic plants, bushes, and flowers. It’s a precious holder and preserver of many species of birds and animals… I read in a book that despite covering less than 0.03% of the earth’s surface, Costa Rica is home to 5% of all the plant and animal species known to exist… Impressive isn’t it!
The heart of the country in San José.. the capital. A city encircled by mountains and volcanoes, but that, in my opinion, has forgotten the colonial and exotic taste to make room to modernity resulting in the turning of old theatres into food malls, shopping centres around every corner, but I guess that’s the price we have to pay to progress…
San Jose is a must stop even because those who want to switch from the Pacific to the Caribbean coast or vice versa have to drive thorough the capital.
But it’s when you hop on a bus or a car and drive away from S. José that you can really taste the true colours of Costa Rica!
The Caribbean cost is absolutely stunning and the Rain forest National parks are preservers of many animal specie such as butterflies, whose vivid colours make you fall on your knees in amazement.... Walking along the trails or wading the rivers you observe the aggressive and intricate vegetation, the beauty of the colourful flowers, or the stunning beach hidden behind the next palm tree and you can’t help but respectfully stop and ponder how no human made creation will ever reach such a spectacular splendour…

Take a look yourself!

Another German story...

Another cloudy vacation in Germany.... Frankfurt and Seleters
What's more exciting than picking up your bags and hop on a plane?
No planning, no forethoughts, just a handbag, few friends and a destination!
This is how this short holiday came together.
German countryside can really be relaxing with its green valleys and hills, and the small towns you enconter throughout your journey really have that old northern flavour.... But the city, Frankfurt in particolar, is modern, the river donates to thecity a romantic outlook, and having a pint in one of the many pubs wih outdoor seating is a rewarding experience....

Picture here...

Thanks to Arianna, Barbara, Mary, Sam & Katia, Mark & Sandra for the hospitality