Sciacca Beach

This is the beach where you can find pieces of red-orange corral (if you are lucky), interesting rocks and a lot of sea glass. The beach is an easy walk from the Porto where we usually stay.

And a bathing beauty.

Arriving in Sciacca

 Back at Porto for a few days.

And a nighttime variation.

La Scala dei Turchi

Just past Agrigento was at La Scala dei Turchi (Turkish Stairs). We picked a picnic spot on the flat rocks with a good view and cooled off for a while. 

Of course I drew a bit while Joey walked over to the stairs.

Catania

Entry: Bernie 

Bus ride from Milazzo to our overnight in Catania then rent a car and on to Sciacca. 

Etna. A quiet day.  

An afternoon in Catania… and another rough drawing. 

Milazzo

Entry: Bernie 

We stayed overnight in Milazzo Porto at a lovely modern Amma B&B. The decor and color was striking!

Leaving Alicudi

Entry: Bernie

Our stay here is over. Mulli is being unloaded down at the port.

We had a great adventure here. It is truly an amazingly unique place. Never change.

Thank you Michaela for making our time here so easy and of course thank you Fabrizio for letting us enjoy your beautiful house up there on the mountainside.

Tomato Salad with Oregano

Entry: Bernie 

We liked this salad that Silvio served so much that Joey recreated it just got us! Got it Dead on. 

Tomato Salad with oregano and red onion.

Pronzo

Entry: Bernie 

Drawing done from memory of our lunch with Silvio and his extended family. Still needs to be inked.

Tonno Recipe

Entry: Joey 

This recipe for Tonno con Spaghetti came out wonderfully.  There's so many variations out there but I would make this exact version again. 

Maybe try it with fresh tuna if I had it adding a bit more olive oil.  People sub parsley for basil, capers for olives, and they add juice from the lemon in addition to zest but I think that's too lemony. Add lots of black pepper at the end but be careful with the salt.  

• Spaghetti for 2
• 2 cans solid Tuna packed in olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon of finely chopped basil
• Lemon zest from one lemon
• 2 tablespoon of chopped black Sicilian olives
• Chili Pepper flakes to taste
• 4 Garlic Cloves chopped fine
• 4 fillets of Anchovies
• Olive oil
• Salt & pepper to your taste.
• Pasta water 

While the pasta is boiling in salted water, take a frying pan and pour in it 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil, 4 anchovies fillets with a bit of the oil, garlic, olives, and hot pepper flakes to taste.  Sauté until garlic is roasted not burnt and anchovies have dissolved. 

Add the tuna with some of the oil and lemon zest into the pan. Mix the well and remove from stove.  

Spoon spaghetti on top of tuna adding pasta water to make desired sauciness. Add basil and mix well.  Salt and pepper to taste accounting for salt already in the fish. 

Buona Mangiata

Statue

Never had time to inquire as to the origin or meaning of this statute that is just up from the port on the Dark Blue Trail stairs.

Chiesa di S. Bartolo

Up the Light Blue Trail of stairs to the Gray to the Dark Blue to Bartolo. 

Some areas are cemented and some not at all. 

The stairs are intense but the vistas are marvelous!

Ha! Ha! “Mare” sharp right and a long way down!

Came across a new casa being built. What a site they will have! Must have delivered the materials by helicopter!

Stopped to rest and do some drawing.

Then onward to Bartolo. 

The church we were told is no longer in use but a photo through a window shows it ready and waiting. A pause in time. 

A few rough drawings yet to be inked. 

A pose for the camera to prove I was really here. 

The view from above the church at the islands beyond.

Looking up the mountain from Chiesa de Bartolo you can see this little house at the top. Kind of dreamlike. I had to sketch it.  

Now to walk the stairway back down…