Amuninni! (Let's Go!)

It's been five years since our first Sicilian adventure and we all agreed it was high time for another eventful summer in La Bella Sicilia! If you want to know more about why we are writing this blog and what we hope to share with you, check out the "About Us" post. For now, let the blogging begin!

Palermo, 2007

We are big fans of lists (it may just be the OCD in us), so you will certainly see a lot of them. Just keep in mind that we only have 25 days to explore our beautiful second home and it may be impossible to capture all the nuances of Sicilian life. Thus, lists will serve us well here.

Top 10 things we are most excited for:

1. Family. It never seems to stop growing! Every day we are introduced to members of our family, which means lots of kisses... a kiss on one cheek and then the other. Italian style. Because two kisses are better than one, of course.
2. The Sicilian dialect. When we think of Sunday dinners at our Nonno and Nonna's house, we think of pasta and meatballs, cousins, and a mix of Sicilian and English dialogue. It is a familiar sound and reminds us that a part of our heritage is embedded in the language.
3. Brioche con granita (lemon ice served in a sweet roll) and tiramisù gelato, among other savory desserts. Che buono!
4. The calm and crystal blue waters of the Mediterranean.
5. Campagna (the countryside). Picture this: all the family seated at a long wooden table, ready for an evening bbq. And rows and rows of olive, almond, and fig trees, as well as vineyards and huge mountains in the background. It's like living in a postcard.
6. Strolls in the piazza. After eating almost a pound of pasta every day, this is a must!
7. Balconies. Little old men and women waving to each other and calling out across the way, laundry drying on the line, and potted plants growing in the sun -- probably as far from the suburbs as you can get.
8. Music. What words can we use to describe our appreciation for the harmonious blend of the accordian and rich Sicilian voices? When we figure it out, we'll let you know.
9. Il Caretto. A traditional Sicilian horse-drawn cart, adorned with colorful figurines and conventional scenes carved in the wood.
10. The markets. On Friday mornings, there is no need for an alarm clock; we wake up to the vendors shouting in Italian, "Fresh fruit! Fresh fish!" But we don't mind because there is nothing like the hubbub of an Italian mercato!

Until tomorrow, ragazzi!
xoxo i tre gioielli