GreenThumbWhiteApron.com

Let's Grow, Eat, Make, See, & Do Something Together!

Navigation
  • Home
  • About
    • About Brett
    • Contest Experiences
    • Blog
    • Privacy Policy
    • FAQ
    • Contact
  • Renovation
    • Kraemer House History
    • Kraemer House Renovation
    • Interior
      • First Floor
        • Kitchen
        • Pantry & Laundry Room
        • Dining Room
        • Living Room
        • First Floor Bathroom
      • Second Floor
        • Bedroom 1
        • Bedroom 2
        • Office
        • Second Floor Bathroom
      • Third Floor
        • Bedroom 3
        • Craft Room
        • Third Floor Bathroom
      • Staircase and Hall
      • Basement
    • Exterior
      • Kraemer House Exterior
      • Porches
      • Garden
      • Barns
  • Grow
    • Gardening
  • Eat
    • Cooking & Food Related
    • Recipes
  • Make
    • Crafting
  • Chickens
    • Meet The Girls!
    • Coop & Run
    • Chicken Cam (Run)
    • Chicken Cam (Coop)
You are here: Home / Popular Posts / Exploring Sicily: The Trip of a Lifetime!

Exploring Sicily: The Trip of a Lifetime!

September 5, 2014 by Brett Youmans 8 Comments

I knew I was going to love this place.  What’s not to love about a place where it’s totally acceptable to eat ice cream for breakfast?  Better yet, ice cream stuffed into a tender brioche bun.  Could I have arrived in heaven?

Gelato and Brioche | GreenThumbWhiteApron.com

I recently had an amazing opportunity to spend some time in Sicily thanks to the fine folks at Colavita Olive Oil.  Back in the spring I won their Better Than Butter contest by creating a recipe that replaced the butter in it with their delicious olive oil.  The prize was a trip to Italy.  I’ve had some amazing contest experiences but this one was extraordinary.  From the car service that met us at the airport to the return trip, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect holiday.  And, I had a year’s supply of olive oil waiting for me when I got home from the trip!  Colavita is a class act and I’m a fan for life.

Someone asked me the other day why I like Italy so much.  I’m not sure exactly what answer I stuttered out but I’ve thought about it a lot ever since and finally came up with an answer:  Simply put, it feels like home to me.  I’m not Italian but I’m fairly certain I was in a former life.  It’s a place that resonates deeply with all my senses.  I think that’s why I had a difficult time assembling the photos for this post.  Seeing them in a one dimensional form is no substitute for the experience of actually being there and I’m afraid the photographs don’t do my experience justice.  But if photographs proved to be a substitute, no one would ever travel.  Right?

On our drive from the airport to the hotel, this was the view and I knew this place was going to be something special.

Exploring Sicily:  A Trip of a Lifetime!

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.  If the mainland of Italy is shaped like a boot, Sicily is located off of the tip of the boot’s toe.  We based ourselves out of Palermo, Sicily’s capital city.  It’s one of those places that you can pretend to be one of the locals and get lost in the beautiful streets and residential neighborhoods.  There didn’t seem to be a lot of tourists and I loved that.  And, fewer people spoke English than in other foreign cities I’ve visited which made me love it even more because it made me try harder to communicate.  It’s amazing that a smile and a few words of Italian work like magic.

And even though my Italian is limited, I certainly didn’t go hungry.  In fact in about 90% of the pictures of me, I’m stuffing my face with some amazing deliciousness eating something.

Brett Youmans | GreenThumbWhiteApron.com

Some of the greatest scenes in Sicily unfold just as the sun rises over the city.  Sicily is known for their amazing open air markets and they did not disappoint.

Sicilian Market | GreenThumbWhiteApron.com

The markets are a bustling maze of energetic chaos.  In one stall you might see a fish monger carving up a 300-pound swordfish into neat little steaks and in another, perfect eggplants wait to be inspected by the locals looking for the best deal.

Exploring Sicily:  A Trip of a Lifetime!

The city of Segesta is located in the northwestern part of Sicily and was the political center of the Elymian people, one of three indigenous ethnic groups of Sicily.  On a beautiful hillside just outside Segesta lies an unusually well preserved Doric temple that was built in the late 5th century BC.

Exploring Sicily:  A Trip of a Lifetime!

Marsala is a lovely seaport city located in the province of Trapani.  It’s located on westernmost point of the island and is best known for the famed Marsala wine.  We had the pleasure of being treated to a tour and tasting at the stunning Florio Vineyards.  They credit the mineral-rich soil, abundance of golden sunshine, and ocean-kissed breezes for the amazing quality of the products they offer.

Marsala | GreenThumbWhiteApron.com

Upon leaving Marsala, we got to explore some of the oldest salt marshes in Europe.  There we saw the windmills that were once used to drain water from the basins.  Large pools are carved into the sea bed that allow the sea water of the lagoon to enter. The water is then pumped into shallower and shallower beds, and with each placement it is allowed to evaporate, leaving a residue of salt in an mineral-rich environment.  When the salt has reached its shallowest bed and the evaporation is complete, it is collected by salt workers, in the same way for centuries.

Exploring Sicily:  A Trip of a Lifetime!

Monreale is a town and commune in the province of Palermo.  It’s located on Monte Caputo which overlooks the very fertile valley called La Conca d’oro or “the golden shell,” famed for its orange, olive, and almond trees.  The 12th-century architecture of Palermo Cathedral boasts incredible mosaics that represent a complete cycle of the Old and New Testaments.

Exploring Sicily:  A Trip of a Lifetime!

Exploring Sicily:  A Trip of a Lifetime!

Cathedral of Monreale | GreenThumbWhiteApron.com

We visited the picturesque fishing village of Cefalù on our last day on the island.  It’s probably a good thing that we waited until the end because we probably would have just stayed there.  Our time there was far too brief and I am already looking forward to returning.

picturesque fishing village of Cefalù | GreenThumbWhiteApron.com

One thing I remember most besides the amazing gastronomic pleasures and stunning sights was the people.  I would find myself watching and wondering.  The pace seemed slower.  More relaxed.  Hospitable.  Unpretentious.

Exploring Sicily:  A Trip of a Lifetime!

Sicilian Child Eating a Gelato | GreenThumbWhiteApron.com

Sicilian Market | GreenThumbWhiteApron.com

This is but a glimpse of our time there.  We also took a cooking class in Corleone, explored one of the world’s oldest botanical gardens, ate pistachio pesto and lots of caponata, and strolled along the streets like a local.  If you ever get the chance to visit this part of the world, I highly recommend it.  Who knows, you might just find me back there again in the near future eating a gelato and practicing my Italian!

 

The post Exploring Sicily:  The Trip of a Lifetime! first appeared on GreenThumbWhiteApron.com.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Filed Under: Popular Posts, Travel Tagged With: Corleone, Gelato, Italy, Marsala, Monreale, Palermo, Segesta, Sicily, Travel

« How Does Your Garden Grow? | September, 2014
A Taste of Sicily: Pasta Alla Norma »

Comments

  1. Pat says

    September 5, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    Love the pics, Brett. Although I never made it to Sicily, I just LOVE Italy.

    Reply
    • Brett Youmans says

      September 5, 2014 at 4:07 pm

      Sicily was on my bucket list and I always thought it was another country! Some of the residents there consider themselves Sicilian and not Italian so they’re a little confused too! 😉 I too love Italy and this trip to the island of Sicily was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

      Reply
      • Christine says

        September 17, 2014 at 12:40 pm

        Hi Brett…Sicilians have thought themselves to be Sicilians and not Italians for a very long time. Some Italians say they are Italians too. I see the differences yet I see the similarities. But I suppose I would go with what the Sicilians prefer to be. I am Italian, my father’s family is from Sicily and my mother’s family is from Naples.

        I love love love your article about Sicily, your pictures capture the essence of my thoughts of Sicily…I am also interested in what your recipes is that won you the trip. I adore the simplicity and the succinctness in the way you write. Would love to know more about you and read more of your articles.

        Reply
  2. Julie Beckwith says

    September 5, 2014 at 10:25 pm

    Beautiful pictures! Makes me want to hop on the next flight to Italy, I’ve always wanted to take a trip there. Thanks for sharing your amazing experience!

    Reply
  3. Valerie Szlatenyi says

    September 6, 2014 at 5:15 pm

    Thank you for the tour. I love the Palermo Cathedral. I’m an Icon writer (painter) so I probably would have spent a few hours there. I would like to see it some time.

    Reply
  4. Lynn says

    September 6, 2014 at 11:57 pm

    Retirement! It’s not too early!

    Reply
  5. Marcy says

    March 7, 2015 at 2:09 pm

    Hi admin, i found this post on 23 spot in google’s search results.
    I’m sure that your low rankings are caused by high bounce rate.
    This is very important ranking factor. One of the
    biggest reason for high bounce rate is due to visitors hitting the back button. The higher your bounce rate the further down the search results your posts and pages will end up,
    so having reasonably low bounce rate is important for
    increasing your rankings naturally. There is very useful wp plugin which can help you.
    Just search in google for:
    Seyiny’s Bounce Plugin

    Reply
  6. Annabelle says

    September 12, 2016 at 9:44 pm

    If you are interested in topic: earn online income website – you should
    read about Bucksflooder first

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Valerie Szlatenyi Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Chicken Cam
Welcome to Green Thumb White Apron! I’m Brett — avid gardener, recipe developer, crafter, renovator, traveler—and I love to share. Join me as we grow, eat, make, see, and do something. Together! read more →
  • Connect
  • Subscribe
  • Search
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
eNewsletter

Subscribe For Email Updates

Foodgawker

my foodgawker gallery

Dwellinggawker

my dwellinggawker gallery

Craftgawker

my craftgawker gallery

Tastespotting

my photos on tastespotting

Healthy Aperture

my healthy aperture gallery

HomeTalk

Bloglovin

Follow on Bloglovin

CCC Blog Network

CCC Blog Network

Categories

  • Connect
  • Subscribe
  • Search
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
eNewsletter

Subscribe For Email Updates

Popular Posts

Beets are one of the first things I get planted in the garden every year. Depending on the variety, they’re ready from seed to table in about 60 days. While we mostly associate this versatile vegetable with its deeply hued taproot, did you know the leaves are also edible? As they grow to maturity in the garden, I enjoy clipping the leaves for fresh crisp salads and quick stir-fry dishes. GreenThumbWhiteApron.com
Garden Salad Gin & Tonic | GreenThumbWhiteApron.com
Cucumber tendril climbing up a rusted metal trellis. GreenThumbWhiteApron.com
Photo of jelly jars filled with Lavender-Strawberry Jam Spritzer Cocktail. We make strawberry jam every year and always have it on hand so it seemed natural to use it as a sweeter in this cocktail. When mixed together with a bit of lavender syrup, vanilla infused vodka, and club soda, you’ve got something quite special. GreenThumbWhiteApron.com
Strawberry blossoms are an indication of a heavy crop this year.
Perfect Steamed Eggs! The only sure-fire trick is to use old eggs. As eggs age, they gradually lose moisture through the pores in their shell and the air pocket at the tip expands. The pH of the whites also changes, going from a low pH to a relatively high pH, which makes them adhere less strongly to the shell. Farm-fresh eggs will always be tricky to age. Ideally, buy your eggs a week or two before you plan to boil them and let them age in the fridge.

© 2021 · McQ Web Design · Admin