Summer Adventures - Sicily and Puglia

Helene and I near our boyfriend at The Resort Fontes Episcopi in Aragona Sicily

The street art of Sicily in Palermo

Marian and I in our new Puglian Scarves

Making Cuddriruni - A Sicilian Bialy

Chef Maddalena Terrana - An amazing Chef and wonderful teacher at the Resort Fontes Episcopi

Helen, Karen, Robin, and Maxanne at the fish market

Robin, Kathy, Helene and Vicki at the pool

My dear friend, Monica on the streets in Puglia

Ellen, Eileen, Lisa, Johanna, Monica, Me, Marian, Bob, Peter and Janice.

Chef Ric and our chef for lunch in Agrigento

So excited to be making Cuddriruni in at wood fired oven.

At the fish market in Catania

Chef Ric and our guide, Gianluca in Bari

My dear lifelong friend, Monica.

Tasting different varieties of Focaccia with our wonderful host and Chef - Sant'Angelo Muxaro

Chef friends, Maddelena Terrana and Our host, Ric Orlando

I am so obsessed with this legend and Sicilian Pottery

Our guide, Alberto. Such a wonderful man.

L'ORO del LAGO - A Sicilian Olive Oil - Delicious

Making Orecchiette (pronounced o-rek-kyet-teh) on Arco Basso Street in Bari

Fish Market Shoppers - Karen, Helene, Jeanine K, Helen, Robin, Sandy, and Jeanine M.

Valley of the Temples - Agrigento, Sicily

Chef Ric told me that the airport finally delivered my luggage after 3 days!!

I'm ONE HAPPY BAKER!!

Johanna and Chef Ric

Chef Ric making Orecchietta

Beautiful produce in the Palermo Street Market

Having fun at the Resort Fontes Episcopi

My dear friends, Jeanine M. and Jeanine K.

Le Donna di Sicilia - Karen, Sandy, Jeanine K, Maxanne, Alberto, Me, Maddelena, Robin, Chef Ric, Helen, Jeanine M. Vicki and Helene

So wonderful making Caciocavallo Cheese

Fresh Oysters in the Palermo Market

Fresh Juice - Blood Orange and Pomegranate

Gorgeous Fresh EVERYTHING

I wish I could take home these tomatoes

Funghi - Gorgeous mushrooms

We made our own Cavatelli

My luggage strewn with the tags from staying at the airport for 3 days finally arrived at my hotel

2 sisters, Sandy and Helene, at the sister store, Sorrelle Mazzullo in Taormina.

Robin's Truck Stop Potato Chips

Sandy's new hat

Alberto at the Valley of the Temples

Lunch made in this lovely kitchen

I love the tiled walls

Street art

L'Oro Lago Olive Oil - So delicious

I'm fascinated by these kitchens

Tasting Focaccia - Can't stop eating!!

Yes, I'm obsessed with Smart Cars

Mafia depicted in the Bread Art Festival - San Biagio Platini

Making Cuddriruni

Tasting the delicious Extra Virgin Olive Oil from L'orro del Lago

Such a tall man dedicated to making such delicious cheese

Delicious Eggplant Capponata

Fava Bean Salad

Olives everywhere

I can't get enough olives

Alberto is somehow taller than usual

My dear friend, Karen

One of my favorite dishes - Spaghetti a la vongole (Spaghetti with White Clam Sauce)

INCREDIBLE - Fried baby squid

Helene, Jeanine K, Helen, Karen, Chef Ric, Sandy, Vicki, and Robin dipping their feet in the water of Spiaggia di Mondello

Napolitano Margherita Pizza

I could eat pizza everyday at every meal

Sweet, gentle Alberto - The best guide

Fruit truck

Such green and fresh veggies.

Fish everywhere

I love these street market stalls.

Chef Ric, Alberto and Sacha enjoying our meal

In Sicily they say, "Love is love, it's not chickpea soup!!" Think about that!!

My room at the Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa in Palermo

Sicilian Spleen Sandwich - Pane ca meusa - DELICIOUS!!

Octopus Salad

Stigghiola - lamb, goat, or chicken intestines that are skewered or wrapped around onions or leeks. A squeeze of lemon juice and SO TASTY

I could spend all hours of everyday walking around the market

A dry martini with Chef Ric and Sacha

The view from our rooftop aperitivo

Stigghiole

Stigghiole

Quick selfie

That's me ready to make mozzarella

Making cheese - No better way to spend my day!!

Making Caciocavallo Cheese

Tasting fresh Mozzarella

The store owner of Panettone made in Castelbuono at the FIASCONARO store

Ancient place to bring your laundry and clean your clothes

Ok, another selfie

I love the markets

I would love to decorate my house in these veggies

My family asked me to take photos with ME in them

Chef Ric and I have a coffee

Such a smooth iced coffee.

Laura Massoni and Chef Ric having lunch

Museo internazionale delle marionette Antonio Pasqualino

Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum

Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum

Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum

My friends, the Jeanines. (K & M)

Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum

Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum

Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum

Antonio Pasqualino International Puppet Museum

Trani - Puglia

Monica and I in Trani - Beautiful

Lunch!!

JR Hotels Grande Albergo delle Nazioni Bari

My view in Bari

My room with a view

Meeting my new group

Jr Hotels Oriente Bari

Having fun in Bari

Selfie in Bari at night

Men had to have photos taken with Monica wherever we went!!

Streets of Trani in Puglia

Street Markets of Trani in Puglia

Streets of Trani in Puglia

Famous Arco Basso Street - The street of Orecchiette

Famous Arco Basso Street - The street of Orecchiette

Famous Arco Basso Street - The street of Orecchiette

Monica and I at Trani

Lunch on the streets of Bari

Spaghetti all'assassina - Spicy Spaghetti - YUMMMM!!

Eileen, Chef Ric, and Ellen making Pasticciotto - Puglian Pastry filled with Crème Pâtissière

Marian and I having a blast making Pasticciotto

Our masterpieces of Pasticciotta

Taralli - Crunchy cookies

Pasticciotta

See - Wherever we go, men want to have their photo taken with Monica

Peter, Janis, and Ellen enjoying our pastries

Johanna and I had a blast

Delicious meal of Georgian Food in Bari - Old Tbilisi Restaurant

Old Tbilisi - Delicious Georgian Restaurant in Bari

Cheese tasting in Andria. I LOVE CHEESE

Fresh Mozzarella - Delicious

Lemons on the street begging to be picked

Seriously? I giant penis in the street of Trani

Streets of Trani

Johanna enjoying a cocktail!!

Peter, Janis, Eileen, Lisa and Marian enjoying the lovely scenery

Yes, I got a kiss from a cow!

Making mozzarella in Loliv Cheese factory in Putignano

So much fun!

The taste of fresh mozzarella is indescribable

Enjoying a fabulous lunch after making our cheese

Exploring Polignano a Mare

Ancient bakery in Altamura

Tiny space - GIANT aromas and flavors

Breads in the wood fired oven

Enjoying the bread from a bakery that was established in 1493!! Forno Antico

Monica and me in Gravina

Gravina in Puglia

Gravina in Puglia - Scene used in movies

Lunch in Trattoria e Cardoncello IL GUSTO DELLA TRADIZIONE PUGLIESE

Lunch in Trattoria e Cardoncello IL GUSTO DELLA TRADIZIONE PUGLIESE

A weird, yet interesting night's stay in Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel in Matera

My room at the Aquatic Cave Luxury Hotel and Spa in Mattera

My room was so cool. Wish we could have spent more time there

Monica and I on our Tuk Tuk tour

Eileen and Ellen share their umbrella on our tour. I had loaned my raincoat to someone else

Monica, Eileen, Kathy, Ellen, Bob and Marian

Overlooking Matera

Making Orrechiette and Brasciole

A true artisan chef

Everyone is focused on working the pasta dough

So much fun

Enjoying our well deserved meal after working hard

Janis and Peter at our olive oil tasting

Fresh Italian bread and olive oil. So tasty

Monica and me in Cisternino

She's a good friend

Incredible Maritozzi in Cisternino

Smart Cars = FUN!!!

Summer Iced Coffee in Lecce (espresso with Almond Syrup)- Caffè Leccese or Caffè alla Salentina

Shops with some goodies

Pasticciotta at NATALE PASTICCERIA in Lecce

Pastries and goodies at NATALE PASTICCERIA in Lecce

Lunch at LA CUCINA di Mamma Elvira in Lecce

Our farewell dinner at Osteria Del Tempo Perso

Our farewell dinner at Osteria Del Tempo Perso

Another Smart Car - WHY NOT!!!???

On the plane and headed home!!

This handsome guy picked me up at the airport!!

April 29 - May 19: A trip for my lifetime!!

Traveled to Sicily and Puglia. Met amazing people. Made life long friends. Ate AMAZING food. Shopped in streets of Palermo for tasty foods. Made memories that continue to make me smile.

Can’t express my joy in words. I’ll do my best to share the photos.

Seems that photo captions can be viewed on iPads, desktop and laptop computers. Can’t see them on small mobile devices.