Off to the Vineyard

Today was an unexpected adventure. On our way to the beach, our cousin Giovanni, took us on a different route and we were amazed when we saw a beautiful array of fresh grapevines on the mountain before us, our cousin’s very own vineyard. We picked the fresh, juicy grapes right off the vine and ate them. Giovanni showed us the difference between grapes

for wine and grapes to eat.

The red, bitter grapes that have seeds are used to make wine. The green, seedless grapes are as sweet as a dessert… they are hands down the best grapes I have ever eaten.

He also explained to us the meticulous irrigation system that he set up himself. It consists of a tube that takes water from a nearby artificial lake (which he created) and connects to each row of grapes to water them. The grapes are given 6 liters of water every hour to ensure that they mature at a steady pace. A few days ago, he drew the vineyard on paper for me to visualize how the grapes were watered, but when I got to see it in person, I was blown away by the intricacy of the irrigation system. It’s genius! I appreciate that Giovanni shared his passion with us and I look forward to returning to the vineyard soon.

-Jennifer xoxo

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

About Us

There is an ancient tale of a virtuous Roman woman, who lost everything -- her husband, his fortune, and many thought her dignity. One day, she attended a noble gathering with her two sons. Surrounded by abundance and splendor, she walked into the room with her head held high. All in the room were astounded by her grace and poise, as though nothing had changed. In an attempt to shame her, another woman asked, gesturing to her ears and neck, "Signora, where are your jewels?" The unadorned woman could hear the footfalls of whispers throughout the room. She smiled to the lady and, without hesitation, turned to her sons, announcing proudly, "These are my jewels."

Like the noble Roman woman who understood where true treasures lie, our nonno (grandfather) and father have dubbed us their tre gioielli, their three jewels. We are three sisters, Valerie, Stephanie, and Jennifer, documenting our Sicilian experiences, our musings, our lists, our snapshots, and our thoughts. So here it is: our blog to share with you the little joys we discover in Sicilia, the land of lemons and brioche, mountains and the Mediterranean, golden sands and, as always, our love.

Valerie, Stephanie, and Jennifer - xoxo