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Morning at our Sicilian villa

Unexpected challenges, many hours of travel, fellow sojourners coming from other countries to meet in the middle, some fellow sojourners defeated in their attempts to get here — but we are here, two people shy of our anticipated number, but serene all the same. We were meant to be six, but passport troubles mean that now we will be four. Jane and Jim are now back in the U.S., and not here where we want them to be. A last-minute wildcat strike among Italian air traffic controllers got Liz and Mike into Sicily with a mere 35 minutes to spare before air space shutdown. Charlie and Jane made it without incident, but still reeling from high-speed, unexpected London goodbyes. After settling the details of baggage claim, car rental, and grocery shopping, we are now happily in place at the Villa Anna Stella, not far from Sicracusa, Sicily. We can smell the sea from under our portico.

What makes a Sicilian villa a villa?

The house is very pretty, and the yard is lovely — divided into many outdoor rooms. As the sun moves around, we can move from spot to spot finding the best shade. The L-shaped pool is perfect for cooling off hot feet, or your whole body if you like. After a good, long restorative sleep, our first task was to sweep up drifts of spent blooms from the outdoor dining area, which fluttered down in the night from a highly aromatic tree onto the yellow floor. Who could complain about housework like that? Despite the fact that there are many wonderful things to see nearby (including the actual theater where Aeschylus “premiered his later plays,” we are staying put. Today is our day of rest.

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