We sneaked back to Sicily for a holiday a little while ago. Here’s a list of the best ten things I enjoyed doing again:
UNO
Laughing at my husband who had forgotten how to drive a manual car, and how to stay on the right-hand side of the road, and how to keep cool when a vehicle with a windscreen made of polythene bags and rosary beads came at him on the wrong side of the road, via the pavement.
DUE
Walking around in a T-shirt because it was 30 degrees centigrade. And recklessly not bothering to take a cardigan with me.
TRE
Eating an arancina and panelle, sitting in the street overlooking the beach.
QUATTRO
Drinking far more coffee than was good for me, all over the place, and knowing it would be fabulous every time. (Why does coffee in England taste like what I scrape of the bottom of the saucepan after I’ve burnt a curry?)
CINQUE
Watching everyone being really kind and paying attention to my little boy, trying to make him laugh, and generally appreciating that children are important and good company.
SEI
Eating a pistachio and olive oil ice-cream at my friend’s bar while having a really good catch up and a laugh together. And then a cup of coffee. And another ice-cream.
SETTE
Taking my shoes off and walking along the beach on the pebbles with a view of the fishermen’s boats, the blue sky and the craggy coastline.
OTTO
Shouting really loudly in public without feeling self conscious about it. Actually, one of my friends out-did me in a restaurant, loudly intruducing our table to the waiter by saying “We’re all family here. This lady is English, this (indicating Hubby) is her husband, and I am her lover. And these (indicating friends ranging from 12 to 45 years of age) are our children.”
NOVE
Throwing open all the windows of my lovely, beautiful, wonderful Sicilian villa and standing on the balconies in the sunshine; and looking out over the lemon orchard; and walking up and down my long marble staircase with loads of room; and sauntering across my airy sitting room; and sitting at my big kitchen table having breakfast; and sleeping in my lovely, huge walnut super-king size bed. (Yes, in case you were wondering, our home in England is too small to swing a cat.)
DIECI
Having a hilarious dinner party with my two best friends and all their families. The table groaned with roast chicken and chips, panelle made from chick peas and parsely, spleen sandwiches, potato croquettes and Italian beer. Hubby thought I looked particularly beautiful that night, through his neer goggles…
Uncle Pasquale was there too. We just found him in our hand luggage when we unzipped it on the way from the airport. We were so happy! He did all the dishes after we finished eating!
Well, there you go. I thought sicily was mostly about the history and the culture for me, but I realised what I wanted most was to enjoy great food with family and dear friends.
What I miss most about Sicily is the Sicilians.
The Dangerously Truthful Diary of a Sicilian Housewife 
Great post. Love nove best. I can almost smell the air.
LikeLiked by 1 person
10 reasons to move back to Sicily. No. 5 (“Why does coffee in England taste like what I scrape of the bottom of the saucepan after I’ve burnt a curry?”) says it all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁 The situation is so desperate that my husband has already registered a company and is making plans to import decent coffee and open a café of his own!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this beautiful observation of the things that matter in life no matter where on earth you are. You have painted a lovely image of this beautiful island I hope to visit one day. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Veronica, you do make me laugh! Wonderful that you took time to visit your hubby’s family and friends in Sicily. Are you going back for Christmas? How are you getting on with your job in England? I was in Oxfordshire in August to visit my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren. They live in a village there. Also spent a week in Venice on the way home. I loved watching people come in to a cafe and order a macchiato and were out in less than two minutes. I, on the other hand, lapped up the atmosphere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We still don’t know about Christmas, but we’ll probably go in February half term instead. After ten Christmas’s with the Sicilians we think my Mum deserves a go now!
The job and everything are going well, thanks. Hubby is opening a company to import Sicilian foods to the UK which we’re very excited about.
Aw, those lovely caffe macchiatos! My lovely hubby makes me one every morning. But I adore the atmosphere in Italian bars and there’s no substitute, is there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is why we are going back for the 3rd year in a row – just love the Sicilians, their food, their drink, their friendliness, their etc etc etc
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cultural differences. I had heavily to insist to receive an automatic gear car at Catania, but they had one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Love that cup!
LikeLike
I really enjoyed reading this post – Thank you! I’ve never been to Sicily and must make the effort to visit.
Regarding British coffee – I blame Costa. Who actually enjoys that weak cold drink they call coffee?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree. It’s the worst coffee of all and it’s taking over the country!
I am sad to say lots of small independent cafés serve diabolical coffee too – I wish it were otherwise 😒
LikeLike
I’m with you, Veronica. For me, being there is all about being with my family. There is nothing like a big, noisey Italian family!
Un abbraccio forte!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes! Although occasionally one needs to hide from them as well!! 😉
Abbracci e baci xxx
LikeLike
I loved reading this post – your photos are lovely, too – made me want t to be there…now!
Marianna
LikeLiked by 2 people
I fell in love with panelle and am determined to try to make it. So freaking good. This is a lovely nod to Sicily.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good luck with them! The Godmother makes them and she says they’re not too hard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I looked it up and seems pretty easy. Going to try them with almond flour though for health reasons and baked instead of fried. Hoping it works.
LikeLike
Baked sounds really difficult, but let me know how you do it if it works, please!
LikeLike
In fact, you miss all the things that are most important in life? I hear the longing in your written voice and wonder what on earth inspired you to leave all that to come to this rude and rain-swept land – can it only have been money?
LikeLiked by 1 person
My son’s school fell down while he was in it and the council didn’t have any money to rebuild it, so the children had to do school in the evenings and weekends at another school’s building in a neighbouring town, and then spend normal school hours with me. So I had to give up working completely in order for my son to receive a third rate education while he was falling asleep.
Sicily is great for holidays but you have to think about real life when you have a child, and plan your life around giving them a fair start in life.
LikeLike
I remember you writing about it. And so you have to be right, I guess. There’s never Paradise without something…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh I’m headed here on Thursday and cannot wait to eat my face off! I really love reading travel articles that have some personality, it’s a nice change from the usual robotic stuff you see all over the place 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Have a great time, and buon appetito! 😀
LikeLike
Thank you so much for this delightfully written blog! I love how you refer to folks as Mr Cake, etc, and share the tiniest details about life here.
LikeLiked by 1 person