Sicily tour 2010, it’s a wrap!
Marsala – Trapani – Erice
(Photos are at the end of the post.)
Our last three days in the Trapani region in northwestern Sicily were lovely. One highlight was visiting a family-owned olive estate; the harvest had begun so we got to watch the olive oil making process, taste the fresh oil, and then sat down to a homemade dinner at their villa. We also visited a honey producer, and tasted the range of honeys that the bees make, depending on what is in flower – from the delicate, light-colored acacia or orange-blossom to the intense dark chestnut honey. And of course, we visited a Marsala wine-maker, Pellegrino, learned about their process, tasted wines, and had lunch up high in a former storage tower turned restaurant, with a great view of the town and the water. We spent an afternoon strolling the romantic streets of the mountaintop village of Erice – gorgeous views of land and sea on all sides, narrow pedestrian streets lined with shops and cafes and paved in meticulously placed little stones.
Monday night we had our final dinner together at the hotel, and said goodbye. Very early Tuesday morning (5am!) the first group of us headed to the Palermo airport, with others heading out at various times during the day with different destinations. A truly wonderful 10 days. Am glad I brought a lot of goodies home with me, so I can keep enjoying Sicily for a while yet!
Hand-picked olives being rinsed before the oil is extracted.
Olive oil doesn't get any fresher than this!
Our Sicilian guide Gioacchino holding a honeycomb up for the honey-producer.
Fresh honey!
Me in Erice.
Our little bus by the market in Trapani.