Cannot believe we have not updated our blog!

Traffic jam in Sicily

When my friend Linda began asking about our blog update,  I did think, yeah I should get on that.  But when my brother Paul and wife Suzanne face booked me to ask if we were lost, I had to do something immediately.  We had not one, but three readers!

Dona and Ange

Entrance to Andrea's farm

Sicilian drums and tambourines

Trecastagni, band member

The winter was spent again in Marina di Ragusa, southern Sicily.  Beautiful place, great cruiser community and pleasant surroundings.  So nice it seems that we were incapable of posting any updates.
Really it just means that we had nothing of great interest to say, impart or share.

But I did learn how to play the ukulele (still learning), sing (still learning) and actually play in-front of a crowd of people (fortunately they were all drinking.)   But I could never have done any of it without my ukulele partner, Nichola.   We were (and still are) the Ukulele Girls.  If you want to hear any of our 'recordings' let me know and I'll send you the u-tube link.

Sandra, blending in at the farm

Branko went to Croatia in February. Visiting with his lovely family and to pick up his Croatian passport!  He is now a Canadian and a Croatian, two and a half years later, but thanks to his cousin D he got it. He still plays his guitar and has redecorated the pilot house into his music studio.  Nice sounds and he's singing too ;-)

Picnic in the trunk

A few picnics with Dona and George were made during the early spring.   Once we went to Palazzolo Acreide (close to where I worked picking olives) and picnicked from the trunk of the jeep.  Beautiful town with an even more scenic drive to and from Ragusa.  Past farms, old stone buildings, winding roads and undulating hills full of spring colours.  By accident we found a lake/quarry called Santa Rosalia, George decided that we had to come back again for a picnic.  So we did about a month later.

Mysterious found lake

Santa Rosalia, great conversation

Palazzolo Acreide

We left Marina di Ragusa on May 1st.   Motor sailed to Syracuse with the new crew on board, Rosie and Wylie (The Pupinaros.)  Anchored in the south bay, lovely and quiet.  Next day we set sail for Riposto and was stopped by the Guardia near Catania.  We were literally 'pulled over' about 8 miles from shore.  We had to supply all our boat paperwork and passports via a fishing net as we bobbed along beside the huge Guardia vessel.  An hour later we were on our way and arrived in Riposto early evening.

Land ho!

In Riposto we have been industrious.  Washed ropes, fixed bimini/dodger, cleaned the bilge and wandered around town.  Since we did nothing all winter long, it was high time to clean off that Sahara sand.  But we have also been squired around by Dona and George, going on Sunday drives to villages around Mount Etna.   As Dona says ' eating our way through Sicily' cause that's the way George rolls.

Mount Etna

Dona, Brank, George and Granita

Festas of garlic (OK there are 3 saints involved) but I still say its the garlic festival!  Check out the pictures and you decide.  George heard from someone who told someone about this festival, so he decided we had to go.  

The real reason for the festa

Trecastagni is the town on the side of Etna, that hosted the 3 saints festival. Not only was the procession amazing, complete with brass bands, huge icons, good looking women, singing and huge yellow candles but the kiosks were brimming with all things delicious.  Donuts filled with anchovies, cheese of every kind (even something that tasted like old cheddar), BBQ with fillings of pickled and fresh vegetables (and meat too) and garlic, garlic, garlic.

Donuts stuffed with anchovies

The 3 saints

Andrea's cat

Meat Kiosk, Trecastagni

We will remain close to Riposto this summer and keep you updated.  Two friends have already booked in with us, Tara in June/July and Kathy (our regular visitor) for July/August.  Just a week or two at a time, so lots of space for anyone else who wants to see Sicily.

This is Linda, in Canada

I forgot to mention Andrea!  

Who you ask?  The universe works in mysterious ways;  because of my friend Linda visiting us in October and wondering about organic vegetables and fruit, we not only found a farmer close by, but he delivered fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs and raw milk to us every Monday morning.  He did not have everything at this farm, but whatever we asked for he found from other organic farmers.
Plus he invited us to his farm for a lunch, Sicilian style.

My lunch at Andrea's

FYI, Andrea and his wife will be opening their farm up next spring for anyone who would like to stay and eat healthy.  Beautiful surroundings about 5 miles from the sea.
Linda did begin the process, but Florencia continued the search by sitting on the beach, watching a fish jump and speaking to a stranger beside her;  who knew someone who knew Andrea, and the rest is history.

Andrea's farm

Lilluzza, Andrea and Florencia