I wasn't going to........

.....tell you about our lunch with Giusseppe and Mimma because it would just be a lunch and we've spoken about other lunches. However, this one really shows a difference in the eating habits of the sea-loving Sicilians and us "landlubbers."

As it happened, we didn't have to brave the congested highways to get to our restaurant. Apparently everyone who was going somewhere was already there. The roads looked like 2:00 p.m. on Christmas Day in the States. Maybe ten cars in the 30 minute drive.

Due to unexpected circumstances (completely different, boring, story) we rode, again, with Giusseppe and Mimma to a restaurant which had its own parking facility. Thank goodness because the roads in Capo Mulini (excuse me, road...only one here, no kidding. It goes in a circle through this little town on the sea) were bumper to bumper with people hunting for a parking place in order to get to the beach.

Inside the restaurant it was very difficult to find anything except seafood on the menu....... antipasti, pasta, main dishes, all seafood. Bob wanted a salad and we had to ask for that to be specially made, when it came it had lettuce and radicchio with olive oil.......that's all. I found an antipasto with cheese, prosciutto and olives for me then ordered shrimp for my main meal.

The restaurant, as most in Sicily, has its own before-meal appetizers the waiter brings to your table; bread (always in Sicily) and the house specialty, sea urchin. There were about 12 sea urchins turned upside down on the plate and I really felt that if I tried to eat one I would be sick. You know, that one food that just turns your stomach to even think of it? (I must preface this with letting you know that neither Bob nor I like Sushi but at least Bob has tried it. For me, it's just the thought of it that makes me refuse though our kids say it's delicious).

Not to be impolite, because we were the guests, Bob and I watched as Mimma showed us how to eat these sea urchins. Scrape the sides with a spoon then scoop out the insides with a piece of your bread. I was able to talk myself into trying this new dish, "Be a gracious guest, be brave. After all how bad can it be."................ I won't tell you the taste because that became terrifically insignificant, unimportant and forgotten when Bob said, "Hon, look." There, on his plate, the sea urchin was moving!!!!!!!!! A-a-a-ack!!! IT WAS ALIVE!!! It was "walking" off the plate. That was just WAY too much for me. I was finished with being gracious. I quietly (after exclaiming, "E viva!!") set my plate aside and ate bread. (for any of you who speak Italian, I know the grammar is wrong but I wasn't thinking of grammar at the time)

The rest of the meal was uneventful and maybe I redeemed myself a bit by eating a bit of all the other foods presented but, I really had no appetite for seafood after that. From now on I may just eat all my seafood at Long John Silvers.

August in Sicily

August in Sicily, well, actually in all of Italy, is vacation month. Those who can, rent an apartment (no houses available here) as close to the beach as they can get and spend as much time as possible there. Many shop owners close for the entire month, businessmen take month-long vacations. It is the season of the beach. (Please, oh, please, double click on that photo. You need to see it larger to get the full effect)

Roberto and Valentina have rented a place near the beach in Giardini Naxos and invited us to come visit them for the day. So yesterday Giusseppe, Mimma, Bob and I loaded our "beach gear" and drove up to see them. The drive is usually 30 minutes long but as Giusseppe explained, those who are rich stay at the beach, those of us who are poor have to drive there every day for holiday (don't you believe him, Giusseppe is the one who put Roberto into his business......and Tony in his......and probably Mariella in hers, too). The road was congested all the way as people lemming-ed to the beaches lining Sicily.

Driving with Giusseppe and Mimma is always an experience. They are around 70 years old and have been driving since forever, therefore the whole road belongs to them......an idea shared by most Sicilian drivers. Once they find the town (of wherever they're going) they never can remember exactly how to get to the destination so we drive round and round until something looks familiar. We've driven around for as much as a half hour, made calls to people and stopped in the middle of the road holding up traffic while trying to decide whether to turn left, right or just go straight. However.....we (they) have never turned away defeated, we eventually find the right place.

Having finally found the beach apartment, Roberto wanted to show us around. He's considering buying it and, I believe, wants to get all the input he can before making the final decision. This apartment (as far as apartments go) is nice for a vacation place. They are on the top floor which means there are two levels, the apartment and a rooftop patio with outdoor kitchen and grill. Very nice. Looking from one balcony you can see the sea, look the other way at night and you can watch lava flow down Etna's mountain (beautiful sight to see).

The beach you saw pictured above is, I understand, typical of Sicilian beaches in August. Not only do the Sicilians gravitate to their beaches, but it seems half of Italy arrives to share the shore. Bob, as always, was the official picture taker and took several of the people sharing space on the beach. Pick out your nine square foot area and put up your umbrella, beach chairs and slather on the "crema del sole" (by the way, people in Sicily use coverage in the single digits such as 5 or 8, Americans really do need the higher numbers----but I've not met a Sicilian who's had skin cancer......interesting).

We had a good time. Visited. Swam (this is us just getting out of the water: me, Viviana, Mimma, and Valentina). Took photos. And went back to the apartment exhausted but ready for Valentina's great Italian lunch. Afterward we played cards for a bit (Bob played "chess" with four-year-old Fabio) and were ready to come home. A very nice day. I do, though have two more photos I want to show you. We have come to care greatly for this family and are proud that they have such beautiful and gracious children, Viviana, 10, and Fabio, 4-almost 5)

Today and tomorrow is a "great Italian holiday" where everyone celebrates from the evening of one to the evening of the next. Our friend Giusseppe Calanna explained that it's kind of like the special picnic night and the true celebrations begin at midnight with a multitude of fireworks everywhere in Sicily. Giusseppe and Mimmi invited us to dinner and dancing tonight in Aci Tretsi at their favorite place. They are spending the night to celebrate but we would drive separately to be able to come home when we were ready. We begged off, not wanting to join the crowds on the highways late at night but Bob and I will brave the congested roads tomorrow to meet them in Capo Mulini for a seafood lunch (pranza, which is their main meal). For those of you we got to talk to when in the States, it's the same seafood place where we ate just before beginning our journey to Missouri and Michigan. We'll be eating octopus, clams, squid, oysters, fish.....all of it in one gigantic meal----then roll ourselves home.

Summer in the States

A month in the States and we didn't get everything done we wanted, didn't get to see everyone we wanted, and didn't have enough time at all.







First stop was Joplin to see Mike, Chris and their three beautiful children. My how they've grown. Besides being beautiful (and handsome) they are smart and happy. What more could you ask for. They came for a visit to our hotel room and we all went for a swim (except for Bob who was the official picture taker). Another day Logan went with us out and about and we stopped at "The Falls" to enjoy the scenery and look for wiggly things in the puddles.




We planned to go to the zoo in Springfield but rainy weather moved our plans to Bass Pro Shop then on to Lambert's for lunch. If any one of you do not know about Lambert's Restaurant, they are known for throwing hot rolls to the customers ("Home of the Throwed Rolls"). The kids were having so much fun signaling for rolls that we had to start holding their hands down when the guy came around. Logan was trying to get someone to throw him rolls for several days afterward. It was a nice day, even without the zoo and as you can see.....a very tired family somehow found its way home.



We also got to see their new house. They had just agreed to buy it and now, already, are living there. It's a very nice house. Five bedrooms. Plenty of room for Grandma and Grandpa to stay when they come to visit.


While in Joplin we spent some time with Madyline (Bob's mom). We tried to see her every day that we were in town. I wish we lived closer and could see her more often. It's sad to try to help her recall each one of the children when she sees them so seldom.


From Joplin we traveled up to Kansas City to see Ken, Lynette and Sophia. That 'Fia is a doll. She loves people and took to us right away-----she also took to the lady at the restaurant whom she had never seen before. That's okay, though, as long as she lets me give her lots of hugs, she can like other people, too.



We had a great time swimming in the apartment pool. Sophia loves the water. In fact, she would walk around the house with her legs through the float/boat that she loves to sit in at the pool. We meant to visit Ken's restaurant and sample some of the great food that he makes but time just didn't allow.






While we were there 'Fia had her second birthday and birthday party. What fun. She also loves helium-filled balloons and walked around with as many as she could gather at the party. When one would float away, she grabbed both sides of her face (Macauley Caulkin-style) and said with great emphasis, "Oh, no!" What a cutie.





After leaving Missouri, we drove to see the Craig family in Michigan stopping along the way (it's a long trip) to shop at the outlet mall. It's always my favorite place to stop. Just right for stretching the legs (and the pocket book).

David and Jessica have just bought a new house, too, and we got to see it (well, of course.... stay in it). They have both worked really hard getting rooms done. Of course, when they redo a room, they strip floors and walls and pretty much start it all over. Looks great when they're done but it's a lot of work, I know.


I expected to walk in the door and be handed a paintbrush, or at least a scraper but Jae took some time off to just hang with Mom and Dad and we relaxed for our last week in the States. A walk downtown in their quaint little suburb of Rockford led us to toy stores, ice cream shops and people setting up for a blues concert. What a nice place to live.




Another couple of days found us at the beach ( no matter whether in Sicily or Michigan, we love the beach) where we watched the ships, played in the sand and explored the dunes. The water was a bit too cold for our taste but we got in a few times. Watching Grant play and playing with him was the best part of the beach trips.




Michigan has the Tigers......and...... they have the Whitecaps minor league team. We went to a game and had a great time. Such excitement and enthusiasm for a minor league team. I'm told there were over 7,000 people there. Grant had a good time watching the ball game, playing on the playground boucy toys and eating this cotton candy. We had fun watching him stuff it into his mouth.

We had a wonderful time with all the grandkids, playing, reading stories, etc. but it was time for us to come back to the reality of our temporary home in Sicily and the two dogs under the care of a sitter who were patiently waiting for our return.

And now, dear friends and family, we are back in Sicily. We plan to enjoy, very much, this last year we are here. You will see more of our travels and travails and soon be seeing the fun and frustration of trying to get out of this place to move back to the States. I hear it's a real bear getting out of here. Harder than getting in.....and we had to have an FBI background check for that.