Seductive Siracusa Sicily
Travel to this crowd-free Baroque town in winter and eat the best food in the world
1:1 private session with me here.
Renting an apartment in Siracusa for one month was dreamy. Why?
Every morning I woke up in a UNESCO World Heritage site and walked around gawking at the Baroque architecture, stunning fruit and fresh vegetables at the daily market steps from my door, and the friendly Sicilians.
Who became friendlier the more I crucified their lilting and lovely language.
But it’s dangerous to live in the center of 12 gelato shops.
Because you have to eat one every day.
However. Such is life.
What else do you eat?
The additive-free produce and remarkable cheese and wine. I’m swooning.
And this is all at a 50% discount from what I pay here in California, the fruit and vegetable basket of the USA.
Now I know why we have a weight problem here in this country. Fast food is cheaper and full of sinister preservatives pretending to be tasty.
When I noticed how energetic and naturally sculpted my fingernails were in Italy I was struck by this truth.
It’s the food, constant walking, and no stress. My problems melted and were washed away by the Mediterranean sea at my door.
And bonus!
Monthly rentals in Sicily can be secured for $700 to $1200! In the winter, not now in the spring and summer.
What did I do during my month?
My self imposed writing retreat was a daily activity.
Walking, cooking, grocery shopping, and hobnobbing with the farmers at the market. This man had the best tomatoes and another had the most perfect rosy fresh oranges.
You’ll never eat more robust and deliciously sweet oranges anywhere on the planet.
This time (my 7th visit) I religiously concocted daily fresh meals in my own kitchen.
The burst of pristine strawberries in my mouth, leaping from the tables of fruit sellers wasn’t easy to say goodbye to in midseason.
But I did go out to dine on some spectacular food I didn’t cook.
If you’ve never eaten grilled octopus I suggest you try it, in the photo below. Fresh from the sea! Each bite put a smile on my face.
And this tempting dish of homemade lasagna and white wine from Mount Etna, below.
One thing about visiting Sicily in the winter is this: as soon as the 90 days are up, Spring arrives and the weather is spectacular.
USA citizens only get 90 days without a visa. So it’s time to leave the perfect, not scalding sunshine, and swimming in the sea.
But I do jump in during the winter; freezing my skin off, talk about a facial for your whole body, yes this dip will kill dead skin cells.
So you’ll stay young forever.
See this video plunge in the sea here
But mostly you stay young by being curious and willing to be uncomfortable when you don’t understand what’s being said.
Struggling to ignite new neural pathways in your brain so you can communicate with these wonderful people in front of you.
But it did help a lot to make friends with Paula from Ireland who was also escaping her dreary winter by being in Sicily.
And to be able to speak and laugh in English with her.
This is the thing: you don’t know who you’ll meet at any given moment on your travels, especially if you’re solo. Why?
Because you’re not caught up with being a plus one with anyone you know from your familiar world.
You’re free and open to the wonder of igniting your pilot light to the new people you’ve not met before and never would meet in your home neighborhood.
The above photo is my street in Siracusa of wondrous sunsets and captivating cobblestone streets, but do wear your Hoka shoes because hiking on this terrain is a workout.
You’ll be walking several miles per day. Where?
To the markets, Mediterranean Sea, and coffee if you don’t make your own.
And the longer you stay the more you fall in love with it.
This time I joined a fun Italian conversation group with other kind souls in Siracusa who were also learning the language.
More laughter over our mistakes and word choices as we’re the foreigners who are trying to enhance our experience here.
And culturally you’ll begin to fit in and even make friends with local residents.
Huge bonus.
This town is a mesmerizing place to be for 1 to 3 months or forever.
And Sicily is my favorite island in the world; it continues to seduce me back every year.
Are you considering a 3-month sabbatical in Italy? You can do it!
I’ll help you. And you can book a 1:1 private session with me here.
Stay tuned for my Kickstart Your New Solo Traveling Life workshop.
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I've seen your photos of the produce - difficult not to make that tasty.
In the case, well done on putting yourself out there with the language and friendly skills.
You keep tempting me with the food! I'm so jealous.
It's fun that you met someone who you could speak English with and a group learning the language. I think we do meet more people when we're alone - it forces us to be bolder and talk to strangers.