Two days ago Angelo took us up to Mt. Etna which was spectacular!  He insisted we stop for "arancini" (rice balls stuffed with tomato sauce meat and cheese........OMG......No problems getting him to stop whenever we wanted for a photo op!  Then on to a small family owned vineyard "Gambini" for wine tastings and beautiful antipasti -- again, art on a plate!  The owner gave each of us a little description of each wine = two whites, two reds -- and of course we bought some to take to the villa.  Too difficult to carry it on the plane,  so of course, we had to drink all of it here! Sometimes on vacation you must suffer!

Exhausted, the next day we went down to the beach, which is across the street from here -- ate pizza and we all fell asleep. 

Yesterday we hired Angelo again for the day.  He very quietly had mentioned having a farm in the family, where maybe they could make us lunch -- and suggested we might want to see the village where the movie "The Godfather" was filmed -- Michael got married to Appolonia.......etc...while hiding from the Mafia in Sicily.  Originally Francis Coppola wanted to film the movie in the town of Corleone which is inland and small and near nothing -- but there were no hotels, few restaurants or conveniences for the actors and large crew -- so he sent location scouts to find an authentic village that would look true to the times (1940's) and yet close enough to a town with hotels and conveniences for the crew.  So he chose Savoca,  which is only about 20 minutes from beautiful Taormina............One of the oldest churches in all of Sicily is there, and this is where Michael and Appolonia got married, and walked down the street while dating - with all of the old lady chaperones following!  Very charming.  We had a drink in the Vitali bar which is where Michael (chaperoned by his maching-gun carrying body guards) asked the father for Appolonia's hand.  I sat in the same seat, of course, since I have the entire movie memorized.............This time we didn't make the mistake of eating Arancini first -- and even skipped breakfast -- because we were going to Angelo's cousin's farm for "a barbeque."

We entered the farm through  a big electric gate, and drove down the driveway to a beautiful brick home -- and a large out-building set up for a banquet hall and for Saturday and Sunday groups......but this wasn't for us.  After touring the grounds looking at the olives growing on the trees, along with mandarin oranges,lemons, limes,  pomegranites, apples, peaches, grapes -- rabbits -- a rooster and a hen with their chicks, and personal introductions to the goats who all know Angelo on site -- we were greeted by his cousins -- as though the four of us were family also!  Angelo and Angelina -- a family of angels. Cousin Angelo started manning a small barbecue on the private lawn where they had set up a table for the 7 of us -- Angelo, Angelo, Angelina, Chuck, Sue, Bob & I. The mother-in-law served us the most delicious salad I ever had .  A large platter of their home grown olives, a large chunk of the local cheese, their own home-made salami, large loaf of the yellow home-made bread --  and their olive oil, which they press themselves -- which we were all encouraged to eat while poor cousin Angelo was slaving at the grill -- teasing our driver Angelo for making him do all the work!  I forgot to mention the homemade red wine in beautiful Sicilian ceramic pitchers -- one with sliced peaches -- one without -- !  Now came the grilled sausages -- also made on site, delicious, delicious beyond words.  Then the grilled lamb -- When we were finished, cousin Angelo climbed a small ladder to the arbor which is the entrance to the garden right where we were eating, and cut grapes for our after dinner enjoyment.  Can you believe it!?  He cut the grapes from the vine, rinsed them and served them!  Then the mother-in-law went inside and came out with a light lemon cake and the Italian expresso!  Then the two Angelos took Bob and Chuck in the back of the banquet hall where they cut a bunch of bananas -- with Angelo proclaiming himself "Tarzan!"  He also played a little joke on me -- I had declined the coffee -- but he was carrying a little cup and saucer to me -- and said, "Donna, I insist you have the coffee" then stumbled and the cup landed on my white capris -- it was empty!  At which point I told him in my bungled Italian that in the U.S. he is now "grounded" no TV, no car, no girls -- he pleased please, Mama, keep the car, keep the TV but I must have my girls!  A darling of a young man!

My over-all take on Taormina -- the beautiful Med. Sea.......little mountains jutting out of the water, with the view of Calabrian mainland in the background and the mountains to the right and left!  The beach is very, very rocky, though -- so for Americans -- if you are looking for a sandy beach, go to Florida.  Come here for the incredible views, the warm people, the unbelievably blue skies!  Bring good knees because Taormina is not flat -- it is on the mountain.  We are staying sea-side, so we take a gondola up the mountain to the main town -- and the main town is up and down!   Come here to see  the Greek Theatre  some of the best ruins in all of Sicily and Greece, and many people say the absolute best!  The public gardens are second only to the Alhambra in Grenada -- and not far behind..........
The Villa is also vertical -- but it is truly a villa!  The views from the main living area are beautiful of the sea, with the pine trees..........the view from the bedrooms upstairs is even better -- more sea, more Calabria -- but the view from the large roof-top terrace is truly heaven!!  Claudio has this place well furnished with the wonderful foam mattresses and high-end linens.......that is all you will care about -- because you will be on the terraces all the time!

I have been to Italy a number of times, and the food is wonderful -- but the food in Sicily is beyond belief because it seems that all varieties of fruits and vegetables love this volcanic soil.  The tomatoes are unbelievable.  I do not like eggplant, but here I love the eggplant!

Sadly, we're only here one more day then back to the U.S........hope you all enjoyed this long email -- and if anyone has any interest in coming here -- I have all my notes, and contacts, including Claudio and Angelo! Ciao Ciao!