Photo Journal : Travel Adventures In Sicily

I am very excited to share some of the highlights of my adventures in Sicily with you. Sicily is an Italian island with more than 3,000 years of history. Once home to a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate, a Norman kingdom, and more. It is a magical place of well-preserved ruins, elegant architecture, and gastronomic delights, influenced by all these different cultures.

 

When I’m traveling I feel my connection to the energy of the Universe in a really big way.  I don’t know what is coming each day but I trust the Universe is there guiding and supporting me to an exciting experience.

Traveling is a great metaphor for life, enjoying the journey whatever shows up.

On this trip, most of the time the plans I made worked out. But one evening as we were heading toward the Agriturismo (farm) we reserved to stay for a few days, the GPS sent us down an unpaved, bumpy, cow path.  It was scary, out there in the country, in the dark with no idea what to do or which way to go.  I took a few breaths, calmed down and turned around. Eventually we made it to the farm.

Even though it was challenging, that’s okay, that’s part of the adventure. This experience confirms what Abraham says “Everything is always working out for me”

Our trip started in Palermo, the capitol.  We spent the morning enjoying the beautiful foods and local culture at the busy Ballaro Market.

One of the most interesting things in the market was a man cooking octopus for a delicious octopus or seafood salad.

Not far from the market is the 16th Century Fontana Pretoria, a fountain decorated with statues of animals, sea monsters and gods.

There were many cathedrals.  One that I really enjoyed was Chiesa de San Giovanni degli Eremiti. It’s a church notable for its brilliant red domes, which show the Arab influences in Sicily at the time of its reconstruction in the in the 12th century. It’s a UNECO World Heritage site.

After Palermo we spent a few days a the Agriturismo La Casa Di Bacco, a working vineyard.  Since it  was harvest season we got to see them collecting the grapes and pressing it into wine.

In Agrigento we visited the Valley of the Temples a large archaeological site, also a UNESCO World Heritage site.  It’s a blend of cultural environment and natural landscape.  There are many ruins showing outstanding examples of Greek art and architecture.

One of my favorite dishes was Pasta con le Sarde (Pasta with Sardines), made with pasta, sardines, anchovy, wild fennel, saffron, pine nuts, raisins and breadcrumbs  It’s the national dish of Sicily.  They offered a gluten-free option in most restaurants.

We went to Amodeo’s Olive Oil Experience and learned about making pure olive oil with great taste and high amounts of polyphenols and antioxidants. It was a fun day with lots of delicious tastings. We experienced picking in the olive groves with a very special tool.

The final stop was Castellamare di Golfo, spending the day out on the water, swimming and enjoying the beautiful scenery.  And more great food for dinner.

I found while traveling I could eat whatever I wanted, including coffee, cannolis, wine and even some gluten with no negative effects.  It confirms what Ayurvedic physicians say “the body’s emotions are even more crucial to health than an ideal diet, for the digestive fire of an emotionally healthy person can turn poison into nectar.” Not that I was eating poison but I can see feeling happy and having fun is one of the best things I can do for my body.

I am fully committed to staying connected to the ever present energy of joy, love and  inspiration within me and around me to feel strong, flexible and energized.  It’s the truth of who we are. We may not stay connected all the time but the more often we turn into it, the easier it is to feel free and bring light into the world.

I’m so glad you came on this journey with me. I hope you feel inspired from seeing and hearing about this ancient place.

Have a great day and now I’m going to make one of my favorite dish from the trip, Eggplant Caponata.  I’ll post it on the blog in  a few days.