“I’ve been expecting you.” That’s what Father Pino Puglisi said to his assassins when they came to kill him in cold blood on his birthday September 15, 1993. When they confessed, his killers said he looked them in the eyes peacefully. They turned themselves in because they were haunted by his smile. “Who kills a…
Tag: Palermo
The Florios Of Sicily Novel
I’m reading The Florios of Sicily. It’s hard to put down! I recommend it. Pictured here is the site of “the accident.” I’ll say no more so as not to give anything away. Only that I went swimming here at Le Calette dell’Arenella in July, so it was pretty neat to know exactly the scene…
NY Times Travel Publishes 36 Hours In Palermo
This weekend’s New York Times Travel features “36 Hours in Palermo” (A New edition, since the last one that was published in 2015). It offers ideas for some off-the-beaten-path things to see and do in a city that I love and that I spend a lot of time in each year (I even wrote and…
Kingdom of Sicily 1130 – 1266: A New Treatise To Know
Congratulations Louis Mendola and Jacqueline Alio on their latest treatise, Kingdom of Sicily 1130-1266! I am in awe of the detailed research that was completed to write this book that will be a consistent reference for me for years to come as I continue to transmit how the history of Sicily offers humanity endless lessons…
A New Film Version Of The Leopard
Back at the end of May, when I was in Palermo, I was fortunate to witness the filming of a new version of Il Gattopardo (or The Leopard), the novel by Giuseppe Tomaso di Lampedusa for Netflix. The Visconti original from 1963 with Burt Lancaster as the nobile Prince Don Fabrizio, will be hard to…
A Fishing Boat In Porticello Inspires Me To Remember
Commercial fishing boat in Porticello (Palermo Province), the village where my grandfather was born and lived before emigrating to the United States in April 1913 My grandfather was 17 years old when he emigrated. First, like many from Porticello, he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked as a marble mason. Eventually, he settled in…
A Cannoli Moment In Palermo
There are spots on tomorrow’s Cannoli Crawl, and still time to sign up! There is also availabilty on Saturday, April 8th’s tour. Register at link in bio or at https://cannolicrawl.com. Join me in New York City to know why this beautiful pastry from Palermo, pictured, is, well, the model for a memorable moment. *Stuffed upon…
Stupendous Mountain Walk On The Sea Near Palermo
Riserva Naturale Orientata Capo Gallo is another magnificent corner of Sicily. It is an accessible hike along the coast, west of Palermo. Go there to take in outstanding visits of mountains meeting the sea with the islands of Ustica and Isola delle Femmine in the distance. Thank you to my guide Salvo for having shared…
We’ll Find A Villa In Sicily For You
Making plans for a family vacation in June at Capo Zafferano. This is the view from a villa we toured today. We’ll take it!
Allow Me To Open Your Doors To Sicily
The doors to Sicily are opening! Join me in 2022 for a small group tour. I want you to delight in *feeling* Sicily. Come meet me next weekend at the New York Travel and Adventure Show. Get your complimentary tickets and learn more from our March 2022 e-newsletter.