Two Days at the Beach
April 11 & 12
Before I leave “downtown” Sciacca, I do a little grocery shopping, as my next accommodation will have a kitchen. I go to this salumeria that I’ve been walking by for the past few days and make a total haul: mortadella, prosciutto, provolone cheese, olives & fresh ricotta . . total: 12 Euros! I pick up a few pastries and then decide to wait to see how equipped this kitchen is before I go crazy. I haven’t done a real food shop in 3 weeks and I could definitely go crazy!!
I drive out of town (just 10 minutes away) and find my way to this cute little place called Le Cupole Case Vacanze. I’m checked in by Adriana’s father who speaks little English, but he manages to impart lots of info on me nonetheless. However, it turns out there is no shopping around there and I’ll have to go back to “the city” – so I do. It’s after 3pm now and all the shops are closed for afternoon nap time (I swear, I don’t know how these places stay in business they are closed so much) and I’m starving. Mom – this is the one time, I had to opt for tasteless, lousy pizza-focaccia thing for lunch and downed it with a lemon soda. Then I go back to veggie shop a couple of blocks down from the salumeria and actually find I like what’s there. The “older” man that runs the place is so sweet and he keeps suggesting things . . I don’t have enough Italian to explain it will only be for 2 days & I have limited kitchen tools. I pick up some big bottles of water at the bar and some olive oil & salt from the Tipiche Prodici of Sicily and I’m set!
I return to Le Cupole and that’s where I stay for the next 36 hours – why leave – really? I befriend a little kitty - who is literally starving - by feeding him some of my haul. Honestly, this cat ate as well as I did for the next 2 days – prosciutto, mortadella & plates of fresh ricotta. When I left, he followed me to the car, looking at me as if he was saying, “please don’t leave me, I’ll starve without you”. I hope that’s not the case.
I have this great little table on the patio that looks out onto the ocean so the next day I write almost all day and move pictures around to get them ready for postings. I decide I need to talk a walk at least, so I decide to go down to the beach. It’s deserted except for a family of 4 that are just about to leave. As I start to climb down the little hill, the man comes over & offers his hand to help me down. Sicilian men are so gracious!
I do a nice, long meditation looking out on the Mediterranean and just smile at the blue sky & blue water – magnificent. Two guys come down and start to set up their equipment for wind surfing. I’ve only seen this from afar, so I decide it’s pretty interesting to watch, so I stay & watch for about an hour. Heck, what else do I have to do?
On the way down & on the way back, I spot this cool villa that’s closed up & obviously vacant.It had a great rooftop deck that I'm sure an incredible view of the coast leading up to Sciacca & the turquoise Mediterranean sea. I can’t help but snap a few pictures, thinking it would make a fine little renovation project for Scott & me to have in Sicily. Yeah, right! Check it out anyway – I think it has potential.
I think about going into Sciacca for dinner, but I have stuff I can make and besides, who wants to shower & get dressed when you can stay here on the patio?? I make some sausage that I bought but it’s really salty so the cat gets most of that. I settle for veggies, bread and more salumi – works for me! I unwrap a pastry parcel that Adriana & her family brought to me earlier. They are Easter treats and very colorful – and very delicious! Check out the pictures and you'll see this confetti sprinkle covered thing was like a big block of good sugar cookie (and I come to find out about 4 days later that it has a hard boiled egg in the middle – so out it goes!). There were also these two egg shaped “cakes” covered in a sort of fondant. One was almond, one was pistachio, both were molto deliciosa!! Sorry you weren’t here Mom – these were YOUR type of goodies.
I write until the sun goes down, the wind's whipping up & it’s getting cold on my litle patio. I turn in early. Tomorrow will start with a visit to the temples at Selinunte – but tonight, I’m re-charging my batteries at the beach!
