After my first week in Milan, I toured the south of Italy for two weeks, and then have spent the subsequent week...
South Italy Tour
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Sicily Articles
Taormina Lemons
On a narrow, stair-stepped passage in the "centro storico" - historic district - of Taormina, there was a small shop...
The Essential
"The essential is invisible to the eyes." Painted graffiti on a wall in Palermo.
Eating the South
In Italy, one can go 100 kilometers and find a very different food culture. There are dishes and combinations found in...
These Old Shoes
These old shoes have been through a Venetian deluge in San Marco Square, and foot-swelling heat in the Roman Forum....
Straits of Messina
Haven't you always heard of "the straits of Messina"? Today I took a train from Taormina, about halfway down the east...
Ancient Theater of Taormina
It's the layering of history, so pervasive throughout Italy, that stuns me every time I make a turn and come upon some...
Taormina to See
Along the eastern shore of the large island of Sicily, south of Messina, in view of Mt. Etna to the west, lies...
American Pie
Sitting in a hotel lobby using the wifi network. Italian game show on the TV next to me. Don McClean singing "American...
Monreale Mosaic
Hardly a long drive as-the-crow-flies from Palermo, but a long time through traffic, Monreale is southwest from...
Cefalù Journal Snippets
8 May - In the "centro storico" - historic center - of this little seacoast town east of Palermo, on the north shore...
Markets of Palermo
Palermo is renowned for its old street markets, some of which have been in the same spot as early as the 10th century!...
On the Streets of Palermo
"Contrasts". That word describes Palermo best of all. (Probably in more ways than I've yet discovered.) Contrasts in...
Unpolished Palermo
In short, I love Palermo, and look forward another visit. It offers plenty of dazzling sights to wow any visitor. But...
“Palermitani” – Citizens of Palermo
Traveling here in Sicily, I've most enjoyed Palermo because of the people I've met, "just plain folks" going about...
Skewered Veal Guts
Veal guts were caught in my teeth. Coming back from a day trip up the hill to Monreale, I got off the bus at Piazza...
Technical Limitations
In pushing myself to "pack light, pack light, pack light"... in wanting to ease any worry about leaving my laptop...
Palermo is “Gritty”
Journal entry from my lunch table: "In piccolo Trattoria Tira Casciuni a Palermo. Stare qui in Sicilia, in Italia, e...
In Sicilia!
Stepping outside the doors at the airport in Palermo, Sicily, I smelled the salty, sea air. Riding a bus from the...
Heading South
Always an exercise in "packing light", I keep removing things from my one-and-only carry-on bag for two weeks in the...