One aspect I particularly enjoy on Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) trips is interacting with the local people. Whether it is at a panettone tasting, cooking with a chef, eating lunch with the family of the captain who discovered the satyr or talking further with a local guide, there is an appreciation and further understanding for, on this trip, the Sicilian way of life. Of course, Sergio, our guide has been very straight-forward about his own life and family too.

Today we visited a couple who live between 2 towns. They are really out in the countryside! Plenty of land, cows and they host many groups. With the wife we had a lesson and made our own empanadas. Mine was with rice and peas and fun to make! Another person in our group demonstrated for me how to crimp the edge. Always good to learn something new each day!

Then the husband, demonstrated how he builds a dry stone wall. It is quite a task and others are learning from him how to make the walls. An advantage of these walls is water runs through them. Unlike cement between rocks and creating a wall and holding water back, these dry stone walls allow water to flow. He was building a wall to be level with the top box of his almond-breaking machine. That machine is a step in his almond milk-making process.

Our lunch was delicious! So much food: veal, pork, cheese, salami, mushrooms, potatoes, salad, wine, our empanadas, tiramisu and I am sure I forgot something!

When we have opportunities such as this one, I often bring a gift. As I might have mentioned in an earlier post, I am glad I did not bring prickly pear jam. They cultivate prickly pear so the last thing they would need is that jam! I did bring an Arizona postcard with an Italian message I wrote on the card plus a refrigerator magnet of Saguaro National Park near where I live. I always hope the local people find the gifts interesting.

Later in the day we had our “Don’t judge a book by its cover” discovery in Ibla. What’s behind the door? And behind the man at the door?

PLUS, he is a Maestro of Piano in Ibla!!! He performed for us and the piano music was beautiful, especially “Santa Lucia” piece.

We had time to wander through numerous rooms. Each room was like a museum!

It was a great day and some of us finished our evening off with gelato!

Extra note: accessing euros in Sicily, or really anyplace in Europe! Use your debit card, know your PIN number, and use at a bank or a Postoffice ATM. See photo below of one. Do not use a kiosk that states ATM on it. You chance paying higher fees to access your money.

But, even at the bank and post office machines, follow the instructions. They will ask that you remove your card and your money within 30 seconds… so simply be aware!

You need cash for toilet use or to buy something at a coffee bar to then use their toilet. Larger purchases, a credit card is fine.