Luniquely Maggie: Travel~ Our trip to Sicily

Hard to imagine that we were sitting on the beach in Sicily a month and a half ago. We went there just before the tourist season began. It was a little chilly, but the plane ticket prices were just right.

Sicily is so beautiful. The rocky coastline on the west side is where stayed, in the Old City of Trapani. We rented a three bedroom apartment with a kitchen and it was perfect! It was in a good location, and fairly cheap. Lots of shops, markets and the much needed gelato nearby. The only downside was the construction on a building next to ours.
It started in the morning before I wanted to wake up.

Outside our balcony...not so beautiful, but it was just right.

Glad we got to enjoy some beautiful artichokes while there!

Fresh artichokes for 1,50 euro / kilo. Wish I had snapped a pick of the guy selling them from a tow behind trailer.
So fresh. So yummy. So cheap!

Thankfully our kids like artichokes (at least the older two). We all ate one for dinner. Dipped in butter of course.

some ruins in Trapani

Briosche~

Gelato in Sweet Bread.... Sicilian's have it right. Yeah!

Great entertainment as we're walking down the street.

We rented a car for two days. We went to Marsala!

In Italy, you can normally order wine by the liter, but we got sparkling 'champagne'. So a bottle it was. This was the first time we ever ordered an entire bottle at a meal. This was our splurge meal for the vacation. We were the only ones there (just before the season started). You never know what you're gonna get when you follow signs down many roads to get to a place. But we got very lucky this time.

Great people (our kids).

Great food.

Great Sunshine.

Great view.

(the four pictures above are from right in front of this restaurant)

He ate the whole fish.

not the bones or the head, but he did eat the eyes.

Shortly after our amazing lunch,

we toured the Florio wine-cellar (Florio/Corvo) and it was very interesting. I love making Chicken Marsala and cook with the 'Fine' Marsala wine, but I never tried Marsala wine to drink.

It was fascinating to try the others types and it is really great tasting.

'Fine' Marsala is what you'll typically see in stores and for my taste, not something that I would drink. The other types, Superiore, or Virgine are great, and are generally served as apertifs. I bought one that was aged for over 14 years....very sweet, and delicious.

wine tasting afterwards...

we came prepared.

the kids had snacks and games to play

our wine tasting with the kids...notice the guy just behind me. ha.

the kids did great. i'm pretty sure luna's asking for a sip there.

happy with my Marsala purchases.....

some ruins near Trapani (in Segesta)

An unfinished Temple

the boys were being loud in the car and would not be quiet...so we told them to walk along the car....
at first it was fun...

in the end....Elee didn't like it so much.

San Vito lo Capo (beach)

(San Vito lo Capo)

wow.

The sandy beach we were at (pictures above) is the sandy strip you see in this picture. We would definitely go back there and stay near that beach. San Vito lo Capo!

After the ruins and a day at the beach, we drove to Erice. An old town on a hill just outside of Trapani. A very long and windy road to get there too. We got there late, so all the shops were closed or were about to close.

We didn't buy anything except for some coffee and 'babycino's. Only these actually had coffee in them. At least they were in espresso size cups.

End of our adventurous and long day...coming down the hill of Erice.

Back to having no car....one of our many icecream trips.

Mid-day cappucino stop...babycino for the kids. This time 'solo caldo leche'. I'm probably saying that wrong, but it's supposed to be 'only hot milk'. It took me the entire week to realize that 'caldo' means 'hot' and not 'cold' like we say in English, or 'kalt' like they say in German. Languages....pshh.