Back to Sicily

It has been an uncertain 2022. But one thing I am certain about is that I miss travel. When we booked the Italy trip in August of last year, on a whim with our friends, it took a while for it to sink in. Rarely do we do things like this, especially trips that cost this much money.

Forgive the back of the head, but when you must stop and take a shot, the hair-do becomes irrelevant.

We flew to Rome, took a train to Bari and spent a couple of days with Joel and Sherry there. It was so cool to watch Joel as he uncovered his family’s heritage. Knowing that he will be going through the process that Len just completed is exciting yet exhausting. So much is ahead of him, but I know he’ll be excited when he learns who he is and his Italian heritage.

From there, we are return to Sicily - to Castellemmare del Golfo - and to the place that feels like home. Since we’ve been here before, we know where we can cut costs. Our Airbnb was a little disappointing. The cats, the trash, the home that looked nothing like the photos almost made us leave, but we did like being within walking distance of the town. So we stayed. We cranked the heater up as high as it would go, switched the gas eyes on high, and wrapped ourselves in blankets and sweaters. The cold tile floors, framed by the even more frigid tile walls, made me shiver. We were home.

We walked the cobblestone streets in the historic downtown. Most shops and restaurants are closed during January; some vacant buildings are being renovated. Stopping by an ideal location just beyond the bridge, I tell the man who is leading the renovation - who happens to be from New Jersey - that I would love to live here. It will be a bakery by fall, and he told me that if I want anything on this stretch of land, it will cost lots of money. He swishes his fingers together on both hands while lifting them high. “Money. Lots of money.” I’ll continue to dream.

“The most beautiful place in the world.”