Tag: Sicily 2025

In the corner of the Plaza Italia there stands a multipurpose theater, dedicated to Giuseppe Garibaldi. From Wikipedia, Giuseppe (4 July 1807 – 2 June 1882) “was an Italian general, revolutionary and republican. He contributed to Italian Unification (Risorgimento) and the creation of the Kingdom of Italy. He is considered to be one of Italy’s “fathers of the fatherland.”

The Garibaldi Hotel, our digs for the next three nights before heading south to the Agrigento region

We saw the smoke leaving the airport up ahead of us. The closer we got to our hotel the closer the fire was. It looked like it must have been goi g for close to twenty or thirty minutes when we passed by it. Roads yet to be closed off and people pouring out into the street taking pictures. I could see flames inside on the top floor. If you look down the street where the ladder is leaning against the building, we took this from outside our hotel on the street.

We are taken back by the geological landscape. Beautiful, green mountainous crop ups of terrain with a Florida flora feel and look. Caribbean blue Mediterranean water. Beautiful from the highway. Resisting taking pics with all the telephone poles and wires everywhere.

The drive from the airport to here revealed a working man’s town, graffiti on buildings lining the streets and the ever present motorbikes zipping in and out of fast moving cars. Off in the distance we saw smoke and the closer we got to it, the more I wanted to ask, Is that where we’re staying?

We could see the flames inside the building on the top floor. Not a 1/4 mile later we stopped at our hotel. Garabaldi Hotel, entrance from the side with stairs hugging the building. Go down into the basement floor and once signed in, up to our room. Quiet except for the helicopters overhead filming the building fire practically overhead and the alley with the Italians shouting back and forth and the italian rap music.

We slept this afternoon after a day and a half of travel. Pinch me we’re here.

Boy does my bum hurt. It’s the worst part of traveling to Europe.

Flying over France, Paris, Berlin, Milan, The Alps, I’m awestruck that we are here. Memories from our last Italy trip come flooding back. I feel so grateful for the opportunity to do it again but this time retracing sort of the migration of my mother’s family from Sicily to America. It’s a big POND! How in the world? Why? And what incredible strength and courage to make this trek by boat.

Hopefully, we will get a glimpse of where my ancestors came from, taste the food and be filled with the wonder of it all.

Bomboloni Donuts – Pistachio and Nutella, cannolis and croissants. All the pastries chased with cafe cups of coffee. What’s your favorite?

Gotta check the spelling. Don’t have to check for taste. Oh man, this and a Latte Macchiato . Delicious and a great start to our trip.

Better early than rushed or worse. Shoving off from MCO Orlando at 2:14.