Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, Italy
Breakfast terrace is populated with a tour group from Buffalo. We so enjoy their company- they’ve promised to include us on their next trip!!
Destination: Castellamare del Golfo ( Charles’ paternal family origin) GPS shoots out a 3 1/2 hr journey through Sicily’s heartland. Terrain is dessert like- no plants, trees, animals or people for miles. Yet Italian traffic control has deemed it necessary to cone off one side of this two lane highway. We watch our arrival time get later ,then even later as an upturned vehicle diverts us to the seaside town roads. He is zig- zagging left and right through minuscule pathways. We miss a turn- 30 minutes vanish as we try to reset.
My Formula One driver Giancarlo( his identity here), despite all obstacles confronted- manages to get us there with minutes to spare.
My Formula One driver Giancarlo( his identity here), despite all obstacles confronted- manages to get us there with minutes to spare.
Francesco Farina, our young entrepreneur leads us through his Olive Garden and winery. We then have a tasting at his grandparents’ home- a table laden with homemade antipasto.
Our group is made up of 2 German gals, 5 NJ people. John Frats turns out to be from my NY neighborhood - we have numerous connections including my cousin Frank (Raos)-we reminisce about East Harlem and marvel how we have met here- far off the beaten track.
Ah but the night is still young- we must now drive to Trapani- where the entire town has strutted out in their best for the evening. We find our hotel but not a parking space. Finally, blocks away an open blue line EasyPark app.
Our group is made up of 2 German gals, 5 NJ people. John Frats turns out to be from my NY neighborhood - we have numerous connections including my cousin Frank (Raos)-we reminisce about East Harlem and marvel how we have met here- far off the beaten track.
Ah but the night is still young- we must now drive to Trapani- where the entire town has strutted out in their best for the evening. We find our hotel but not a parking space. Finally, blocks away an open blue line EasyPark app.
We call it an early night after a walk into the town’s central core. We’d forgotten our adapter at the last hotel and secure one from a local vendor. Delighted to be able to charge our phones, we plug in. Bop shhhhhhh- the top of the adapter becomes a projectile across the room , we are plunged into darkness. Charles finds help to restore . We head to bed wondering- where will we go to buy an adapter!!!
“Essere in gamba” to be in the leg-you are very intelligent”
Dotti
2024-09-23
I love your adventures!!! You two are amazing and you don’t let anything get in your way! Can’t wait for your next stop-hope your excursion is a little easier. ENJOY!!!! ❤️
Anthony
2024-09-23
Sounds like you needed some maintenance in your hotel room. There used to be some people who would promise to be there right away on the phone!
Anna
2024-09-23
Your description of the road travel is both hysterical and frightening!! I love that you have met great people along the way and what a surprise to meet someone from your old neighborhood. The world is indeed small:)
Siobhan
2024-09-23
I’ll say it again Mary Ann - you should have written/be writing a travel guide book! I love reading your narratives. Glad that despite the few hiccups, you are having a great time. Looking forward to hearing more. 😊 (Why does this not surprise me? 😂 “met a group from Buffalo. We so enjoy their company- they’ve promised to include us on their next trip!!”
Annie
2024-09-23
Charles has become your own personal Mario Andretti! I can't imagine how he manages to navigate those Italian roads.... treacherous turns and fast moving cars!!! It always amazes me whenever we are far from home and "happen" to meet someone from the old neighborhood. (I don't think that I remember John Frats.)
SUSAN
2024-09-24
WHATA GREAT AUTOR YOU ARE...THE DETAILS ETC REMIND ME OF A BOOK..YOU SHOULD BE WRITING. SOUNDS GREAT. MY GOOD FRIEN FROMNJ IS THERE NOT SURE HER AGENDA SHE OGOT THE THE 17TH HAVE UN ENJOY
Michael
2024-09-24
Cracking up at the charger, I’m sure you’ve solved for it by now but that’s hysterical
Stephen
2024-09-27
What an adventure!!!