seesicily

Sun, sun, sun! Summer has arrived in Sicily!

Il Porto Vecchio di Cefalu 03 Nov 13

The skies are dark, it’s raining and I’m feeling cold here in Amsterdam! I’m back from spending 3 weeks in Sicily where the daily temperatures ranged from 22C-30C and the sun shone every single day. Don’t believe me? Here are a few photos I took last Sunday in sunny Cefalu. Yes people really are sunbathing and swimming in the sea, and this is in November!

And if you ever wondered what a sea urchin looks like inside....!

Considered by many as a delicious delicacy, I tentatively tasted a tiny, tiny spoonful - if you like the taste of mussels / clams etc then you'll probably like the taste of sea urchins, though many insist that sea urchins have their very own unique flavour which is impossible to describe!

Come to Sicily and try eating them raw with a sq**rt of lemon and a chunk of fresh bread or cooked with pasta as Spaghetti ai Ricci, a Sicilian speciality not to be missed!

Finally La Festa del San Salvatore culminates in a fantastic firework display which is well worth the wait until 1.15 in the morning!

San Salvatore is the patron saint of Cefalu and after whom the magnificent Norman cathedral is named. During the festival there are processions, daily canon fire (which literally makes you jump out of your skin if you're nearby!) and plenty of live entertainment. On the last evening the streets of Cefalu are full of locals and holidaymakers, eating, drinking and just enjoying the atmosphere. The impressive religious procession bringing San Salvatore back to his resting place in the Duomo San Salvatore is not to be missed.

Pretty lights decorate the lovely town of Cefalu for La Festa del San Salvatore which takes place every year from 02-06 August.

seesicily's cover photo

........ and this!

Just one cornetto (a sicilian croissant!), a juicy peach and an espresso ......... breakfast sicilian style while sitting on my balcony with this as my view! Perfetto!

Back in Cefalu! Yea! Just bought some locally grown sweet black cherries and delicious dark red strawberries! Can't wait to buy some juicy peaches and apricots that are ripe and soft and oh soooo moreish! How I love the variety of summer fruits here in Sicily!

May is a great time of the year to visit Sicily! The days are becoming increasingly warmer, giving a taste of the summer heat to come. The beaches are blissfully uncrowded and a dip in the sea becomes a tempting possibility as the water too begins to heat up!

Yes it does rain in Sicily……… fortunately…… for without it, how else would grape vines, olive trees, orange and lemon groves, tomatoes, aubergines, melons and all the other varieties of fruits and vegetables flourish all over the island? But the rain rarely lasts and before long the sky is blue, the sun is shining and the island of Sicily is bright, colourful and as beautiful as ever.

Looking forward to a nice bowl of pasta with homemade passata from locally grown tomatoes and olive oil like you've never tasted before together with freshly baked bread to mop up any leftover sauce. Yum! Oh yes and a glass of Nero D'Avola to wash it all down!
Buon pranzo!

Spending Easter in Sicily, in the beautiful town of Cefalu is a real treat! Plenty of warm sunshine, a fresh sea wind to clear the head and lungs and a nice combination of the religious as well as the festive side of Easter!

The former includes the Solenne Processione (Solemn Procession) del Venerdi Santo which takes place on the evening of Good Friday. It winds its way through the streets of Cefalu behind the sacred images of the dead Christ lying on an ornate throne and Mary Our Lady in Sorrow surrounded with stunning flowers. Locals line the streets of Cefalu, and watch in respectful awe as the voice of the priest leading the procession, captivates even the yongest child and the lanterns carried by many of the participants lend a mystical glow to the night. It is a moving experience and serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of Easter!

Celebration time begins on Easter Sunday when family members get together for ultra long lunches followed by the ubiquitous passegiata. On Easter Monday, weather permitting, families and/or friends traditionally head into the countryside for a day of eating and drinking in the fresh air! Not to be missed are the delicious Colomba di Pasqua (Easter dove) a type of panettone as well as of course, the more traditional chocolate Easter eggs!

Looking out at the grim wet cold day outside and it's hard to believe that only last week I was enjoying warm rays of sun on my face in sunny Sicily. Bright blue skies provided a great backdrop for the snow tipped mountains in the distance and the fresh sea air helped to chase away those winter blues as I walked along the deserted sandy beach of Cefalu. Unspoilt and natural, this is how I love it best!

Un Felice Anno a Tutti!
Spero che il vostro 2012 sia sano e prospero, e pieno di gioia, pace, amore and soddisfazione!

At 8am this morning you would have seen me happily cruising along the beautiful beach of Cefalu on my little motorino, the early morning sun on my face, the wind in my hair ..........doh........ I was wearing a helmet!....... and a healthy breakfast of succulent, juicy, sweet peaches and nectarines waiting for me in my apartment!! Another perfect start to the day!

Sun is shining, church bells are ringing, coffee is brewing - a perfect start to Sunday morning here in my apartment in Cefalu!

It's well and truly warmed up here in Cefalu and at this moment the sun is shining, birds are twittering away (in Sicilian of course!) and I can hear the sound of the sea lapping at the rocks nearby .....................................................................hmmm and I'm here sitting at my laptop trying to work (internet on a go slow this morning!)........ something not quite right about that!!!!!

I switched off the laptop, got changed and headed for the beach and within minutes I had dived into the cool acquamarine water. AAAAAhhh!!.... did I say cool more like very cold………….. at first…… but then as my body became acclimatised, it was just the most wonderful experience. My first swim of the year but certainly not my last!!

Yesterday while I sat at my computer hour after hour, the sun shone into my apartment. I smelt the heat in the air as a warm breeze rustled the papers in front of me. The sound of the sea beckoned me and as hard as I tried to ignore it the more the thoughts of the sun on my skin and the feel of cool water refreshing my body took over until I could resist no more!!

Here I am in Cefalu and it's a sunny 26C! Such a lovely time of year to be here - great weather, uncrowded beaches, fantastic deals on self-catering apartments & villas and sightseeing without the crowds! What's not to love?

This time next week I'll be back in Cefalu where apparently summer has already arrived - can't wait to feel the sun on my skin. Looking forward to seeing some more apartments and villas, eating lots of gelati and seeing all my friends!

Thirty years ago, I came to Cefalu, a picturesque town on the North coast of Sicily and fell in love! During the intervening years, I have travelled to many truly stunning places around the world but my heart remains true to Cefalu! Why? Well to quote an American lady I met here back in February, "What's not to love?"