Every holiday season, numerous tourists take the pleasant Palermo airport transfer ride to explore Sicily’s capital city. As well as the historic sites of the city, Palermo provides a gateway to the beauty of Sicily’s countryside and warm Mediterranean climate, all just a short drive from Palermo airport.It’s a pleasant journey from Palermo airport to the centre of the city. The road runs along the north shore of the region, so you’ll see the sparkling waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. On the way, the route takes you past the classy resort of Mondello with its palm trees and cafes. I have to say that Sicily is a beautiful part of the world, but being a shuttle driver who regularly takes the journey from the airport to Palermo, I must confess that I am biased.

Travelling on one of the Palermo airport transfer buses, it takes just about half an hour to get from the airport to Palermo’s hotels in the town centre. Once here, many tourists are advised to visit the Palermo Cathedral; it is certainly a grand structure with its dome and its archways extending across the road. It is decorated with spiral carvings and a roofline adorned with triangles. However, in terms what there is to see inside, I prefer the Cappella Palatina, a chapel at Piazza del Parlamento. The ceiling within is elaborately painted with a gold setting behind the churchly images and scenes.

The Cappella is part of the Palazzo dei Normanni which houses the regional parliament and is located in the old centre of the city at the Quattro Canti. Also known as Teatro del Sole, it lies only about thirty five minutes from Palermo airport and is an open area where you can always see the sun, with curvaceous cast iron lampposts and buildings bedecked with statues.

The Museo Archeologico Regionale, and the Palazzo Abatellis containing the Galleria Regionale are popular places to visit in Palermo. One of the stranger attractions I hear tourists talk about during my Palermo airport transfers are the Capuchin Catacombs. If you have the stomach for it, you can see the remains of thousands of corpses that have undergone the regional equivalent of mummification. These are arranged in galleries and themed rooms, featuring some remarkably well-preserved residents of Palermo. Airport transfer buses will pass near the Catacombs on their way from the airport to Palermo’s centre.

Palermo Airport goes by the names of Punta Raisi and Falcone-Borsellino, which can sometimes appear confusing to tourists, especially at the end of their holidays when they are looking to get from the city to Palermo airport. Luckily the Palermo airport transfer drivers will know where they are going.

The airport is Sicily’s gateway airport to Palermo’s neighbouring regions and attractions. Beyond Palermo is Caccamo, a countryside town that also has catacombs to visit; Castelbuono, with its castle; and Monreale on the mountainside to the south of Palermo, with its ornate cathedral.

Mount Etna is a full three and half hours from Palermo airport, situated nearer to the port town of Catania on the east coast, so be sure to choose a comfortable mode of travel. It is well worth the journey, of course. This is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and of the active ones in Europe, it is the second largest, reaching a height of over 3300 metres. It is serviced by 4×4 buses, cable cars, and an observatory. There are awe-inspiring guided walks that enable a safe visit to the crater. Like the beautiful Sicilian landscape and Palermo’s historic sites, Mount Etna will ‘blow you away’.

Exploring the island of Sicily is like diving into a different place and time. Filled with pristine examples of archaeological testaments to ancient times, remarkably friendly people, and a natural beauty all its own, this island has become a popular vacation destination by people all over the globe. The best way to get the most out of a trip to Sicily is through one of the many cruises that offer trips along the coastline, eventually circumnavigating the island. Many of these tours begin in the beautiful city of Palermo, which is home to several amazing architectural structures. These include the arch of Porta Nuova, built in 1535, which seemingly marks the entrance of a journey into the past. The city is also home to a stunning cathedral. Traveling up into the hills one finds the quiet little town of Monreale, home to a number of exquisite mosaics of the 12th century.

Further along the coast, Segesta is home to a number of Greek temples. Of particular interest are the Doric temples which have survived over many years, since their construction during the Hellenistic period. The Phoenician and Norman fortifications of the ancient city of Erice are quite a sight. Visitors can climb the tours of the Pepoli Castle; a breathtaking view of the surrounding area is their final reward. The stone-paved streets add to the medieval feel of the city.

In the 6th century the city of Agrigento flourished as a cultural center, now it is most famous for its Valley of Temples. These dramatic architectural wonders were once used in connection with the worship of Greek gods such as Zeus, Concord, and Hera. Sailing along we come to Siracausa, one of the most important cities in ancient Greece. Greek and Roman amphitheaters found here are still in use today. The city’s archaeological museum is home to many sculptures and artifacts that showcase the abilities of the ancient city’s most talented artists. In the nearby city of Ortigia, the Temple of Apollo and the baroque cathedral are also popular locations to visit.

The city of Taormina, farther down the coastline, brings a more modern feel to Sicily. Many here choose to pass their time on Corso Umberto, the city’s lively promenade. It is from here that adventurers have the opportunity to explore Mount Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe. Thanks to the area’s lava landscape, it is an ideal place to grow oranges, lemons, olives, and grape vines. Finally, the village of Cefalù showcases the area’s fishing heritage, and is also home to some amazing buildings and structures. Along the coast of Sicily you will find history, romance, mystery, and adventure, all the components that make this one of the most exciting places to visit in Europe.

Maybe for my knowledge about Siracusa, a small town, I learn in advance, I notice a gentle and cultivated feeling when I step onto the old city area of Ortiga Island.

This small town, with a population of less than thirty thousand, is located in the southeast of Sicily in Italy. It is divided into two parts of which the old part is on Ortiga Island and the other part is in the peninsula area. Ortiga Island has appealing history and myths although it is small like a sparrow. I wonder where my gentle and cultivated feeling about the town comes from. I walk along the east coast of the matronly Ortiga Island. In the road junction, it is the “Archimedes Street” when turn right.

Over two thousand years ago, Siracusa, as one of city-states of the ancient Greece, was determined to replace Greece which was a culture city then. As a matter of fact, not only did it defeat Greece in military affairs, but also it applied itself to build an elegant society. As a result, you can hear some stories here about Plato and so on. The native-born Archimedes ran in the street, naked and shouting out with “Eureka”, after he found the physics law. As time flies, the street pattern today is so different from that of the age-old Greece.

Going ahead to the south, I want to visit a beautiful and sad legend. The Aretusa spring and the green and lush pond are by the blue Mediterranean Sea. The fairy of Aretusa in the legend is a maid who serves the hunt goddess of Artemis. She is loved by Achelous strongly. Aretusa flees to Ortiga and requests Artemission to turn her into this pond in order to dodge the Achelous. The Achelous is unwilling to give up and changes the course of the river and immit the pond from the underground. From then on, they two are with each other.

After saying goodbye to Aretusa, I turn in an alleyway for the first time and go towards the Piazza Duomo. The most important Catholic Church of Ortiga and a museum are on the piazza. The vision before me reminds me of a woman–Monica Bellucci who becomes well known for the film <<Malena>>. This film is shot on the Piazza. The film director shows people the life rhythm of this Piazza by fluent switches of camera lens. Also, the beautiful and sad legends are connected by this film. For more information about traveling; please have a look at http://www.affordable-cruises-tours.com.

Photos by Gunnar

Our Lady Who CriedYou cannot visit Syracuse or Siracusa as it is known in Italy, without visiting the Shrine of Our Lady Who Cried. Quite honestly, we were more than a little skeptical, until we discovered all the invaluable, indisputable scientific evidence assuring us it was legitimate. Like Bishop Ettore Baranzini, we have always had reservation when it came to alleged apparitions and purported miracles. Only when Mother Church verifies do we write and make programs.

Our story begins in Syracuse on the 29th of August, 1953, Five months before, Antonina and Angelo Jannuso were married. Because they were a struggling young couple, with Angelo a poor worker earning the barest minimum wages, they accepted his brother’s gracious invitation and moved into his small house on Via degli Orti di E. Giorgio. The day of their marriage, they received a plaster plaque of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as a wedding present. Although they were what we would call, lukewarm Catholics, barely doing their Church duties by going to church on Sundays, they reverently placed the plaster plaque on the wall above their bed.

Soon after they were married, they discovered they were to know the blessing of giving birth to a child. The couple was overjoyed, but typical of the hardworking poor class of Sicily, things were not going to be easy. They discovered Antonina had toxemia. This not only caused her to have excruciating convulsions, the convulsions, at times, resulted in her suffering bouts of blindness. On the day of the miracle, August 29th, Antonina was blinded, due to a seizure resulting from her convulsions. She was totally blind from three in the morning until eight thirty that evening, when her eyesight was totally restored.

She later wrote that she turned to the image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary over her bed, to give thanksgiving to Our Lady for her returned eyesight, when to her utter astonishment what did she see, but the plaque of Our Lady was crying. She called out to her sister-in-law and aunt who, when she recounted what she had seen, thought she was delusional due to her illness. She said she then insisted they look closely at the image of Our Lady. They reluctantly did as she asked. When they moved closer to the image, they too saw the tears flowing from the eyes of Our Lady, and attested to the fact they, as well, saw some tears run down Her face unto the headboard of her bed. Needless to say, upon witnessing the image crying, they had mixed feelings – fright mixed with awe and wonderment. They immediately set out to advise the neighbors. They removed the plaque from the wall and carried it outside so the neighbors could see what they had seen. The neighbors could do nothing less than confirm that which they too had seen. The image of our Lady was shedding tears!

Visitors came from far and near to witness the miraculous phenomena for themselves. People are always looking for the supernatural! Not only the inquisitive came but a well-respected gentleman in the neighborhood, one Mario Messina came; and after he too noticed the tears spilling from the eyes of the image, he removed the plaque from the wall to see if possibly the tears were not coming through the plaster plaque from a hidden reservoir. Upon examining it, he could do nothing but affirm that he could see no evidence disputing the miraculous formation of tears on the plaque. They dried the plaque and tears quickly formed on the dry surface.

As the crowds swelled, jamming themselves into the small house to see the image, the authorities, with the Jannusos’ permission, removed the plaque from the wall and hung it on the outer wall of the house to satisfy the curiosity of all those who had heard of the miraculous occurrence. Seeing the numbers increasing, rather than lessening, and finding it more and more difficult to maintain any semblance of order, the local carabiniere decided to bring the plaque to the local police station. The image continued to weep, even as it was being conveyed carefully to the local police station. But once inside the station, forty minutes had not passed when the image ceased weeping. Consequently, it was restored to its rightful home – the home where the Jannusos lived.

Now, the people had not moved from outside the little house. So, at 2 a.m., on Sunday, August the 30th, the plaque, which had resumed crying, was placed on a pillow for all to see and venerate. Monday, the plaque was pinned to the wall. Whereupon, the people began collecting tears on handkerchiefs, pieces of cotton and all sorts of bits of cloth. Our Lady, kind and obliging Mother that She is, was able to assure Her children that in truth a miracle had come about – for them! As it was not securely attached to the wall, they decided to bring the plaque to the house across the road and have it placed on an Altar fashioned just for this purpose. The crowds continued to come. As they approached the image of Our Lady, they went down on their knees and began praying the Rosary. That done, the Rosary was finished; the plaque was gently carried back to the Jannuso home.

The investigations begin

Hearing of this miracle, three priests called on the Jannuso family and verified, with their own eyes, what others had seen – indeed the image on the plaque was weeping! One of the priests prudently notified the Chancery. Whereupon, the Chancery convened an inquiry committee comprising well respected priests, four scientists, and three reliable witnesses. Satisfied the mix was well-rounded and balanced, the Chancery directed them to go to the Jannuso home and carefully scrutinize the situation.

The delegation arrived at the Jannuso home the morning of Tuesday, September the 1st. Our Lady once again obliged Her children and allowed the image to weep. As the image of Our Lady was weeping, the delegation carefully inspected the plaque. They were not only able to witness the image weeping, they were granted the opportunity to examine the plaque, as the tears were cascading down the image’s face, filling the cup the image of Our Lady had gently formed with Her hand, with which She held out Her heart to Her children. They discovered that, although the front of the plaque was wet with tears, the back of the plaque was dry. They carefully gathered a sampling of tears to bring back to the lab for scientific examination.

The team of scientists went about carefully gathering approximately twenty drops of liquid in a slender, sterilized tube and poured the liquid into an equally sterile vial. Thereupon the vial was taken to a lab to be scrutinized thoroughly by chemists and physicians. They took this sampling of tears and tested them against tears of an adult and that of a child. They found the tears of Our Lady’s image to contain the same liquid composition as found in the human tears tested. Their conclusion: The liquid brought from the plaque in the Jannuso home was like that of the tears of a human being.

The tests were concluded on September 9, 1953 and the findings were verified by the following doctors: Michele Cassola, Francesco Cotzie, Leopoldo La Rosa and Mario Marietta.

This was what the Church needed! As we know, the Church will send the most scrupulous Devil’s Advocates to dispute, if necessary, any questionable characteristics of an alleged miracle. Using men of Science as well as the Hierarchy, when the findings proved beyond a shadow of a doubt the veracity of the miraculous occurrence, then Mother Church was free to act; and act She did!

The Archbishop of Syracuse paid a visit to the Jannuso home and inspected the plaque and saying nothing, returned the following day to pray the Rosary, along with the throng that had congregated. His approval was joined by the many other Bishops who had visited the Jannuso home and witnessed the flowing of the tears. Then Cardinal Ernesto Ruffini made the following statement on a radio broadcast December 13th:

“After carefully sifting of the numerous reports, after having noted the positive results of the diligent chemical analysis under which the tears gathered were examined, we have unanimously announced the judgment that the reality of the facts cannot be put in doubt.”

That not enough? On October 17th, 1954, His Holiness Pope Pius XII further affirmed the miraculous tears with the following declaration on national radio:

“…we acknowledge the unanimous declaration of the Episcopal Conference held in Sicily on the reality of that event. Will men understand the mysterious language of those tears?”

Reference: “The Many Faces of Mary – book II”

The “MAFIA” is the paradigm of the organized crime. You ally; there is who reduces the concept of this to the phenomena “MAFIA.”Actually, no there is a MAFIA, but before several organizations, with different designations and common manners of criminal planning and acting way usually designated by “mobsters.”The Italian writer Leonardo Sciascia, there are about 30 years, it defined the Mafia as “an association of criminals with ends of the associates” illicit enrichment, that it is put as middleman, imposed by the violence, between the property and the work, between the production and the consumption, between the citizens and the State ” while, in another perspective, sociologist Raimondo Catanzaro defined her recently as “she elaborates of the violence.”

Evolution

The “MAFIA” (Italy – American) had origin in Sicily, in the centuries XII or XIII, since the successive occupations that this island of the South of Italy suffered along the times, assumed as organized insurrection. Their cultural roots are rural, just if transferring for the great cities (mainly Palermo) in the first decades of this century, implanting their traditional methods of action quickly: the “protector pays” in other words, the extortion. First in the fairs and markets, to proceed further on into sectors and areas like trade and building societies, demanding percentages progressively higher and, later, ending for constituting their own construction companies, that started to dominate the market.

Though, the decisive factor that it still marks it’s today evolution, it happens in the seventies when, with the dismantlement of the clandestine laboratories and of “French Connection” nets (in Marseilles – South of France), the MAFIA takes ownership of the European traffic of heroine and corresponding bulky profits.

Like this, of a subordinate position (support to the traffic of the product for Sicily) in a short space of time it started to process at their own laboratories the originating from morphine it reorganizes the presence in the of the international traffic scene. It becomes supplier from 65 to 70% of the heroine consumed in the E.UA and in the nineties, it assumes a growing intervention in the traffic of cocaine to Europe. At the same time actualizing the intervention methods and areas adapted to features more “entrepreneurs” and “executives.

Types and methods

Today, it is usual to speak in Mafia of the East Countries, Turkish Mafia, Japanese Mafia, Chinese Mafia, and other. Actually there are organized crime groups, that historical and culturally nothing has to do with the Sicilian Mafia, tends in common with this just the methods of criminal acting ways.

In Italy, type mobster’s organized criminality this divided in four different branches, out of traditional regional borders in the South of Italy: “COSA NOSTRA”, in Sicily, “CAMORRA”, in Naples; “N” DRANGHETTA”, in the it would Silence; “SACRED CORONA UNITA”, in the southeast.

“COSA NOSTRA” is the most important, involving about 140 families composed among 30 to 300 base mobsters, the soldiers or “homo d” onore”. it is a structure articulate, unitary and nested.

Neapolitan A”Camorra” and Calabrian “N”dranghetta”, as well as “Sacred Corona Unita”, don”t have this structure vertically nested and compartmentalized but yes a horizontal structure, intending the “families” the control of the illegal activities in the whole territory of regional action (in the it “Cosa Nostra”, to avoid larger conflicts, each “family” has a own territory, at the level of the neighborhood).

The action basis of these organizations is the traditional activities of extortion (”protection pays”), manipulation of working contracts, drugs traffic and money laundry.

“N”dranghetta” is the most sanguinary and violent, is tended specialized in kidnappings, i for areas of Canada, U.S.A., Australia, South of France and Germany (where we found Calabrian communities).

“Camorra” reconverted their activities of cigarettes smuggling for the most lucrative activities of drugs traffic assuming a paper of almost monopoly of cocaine among South America (namely Peru and Colombia) and Europe, having “bases” in you vary European countries. In the traffic of heroine and hashish, it operates in the smaller spaces left by the activities of the it “Sews Nostra”, the one which has a relevant rule in almost monopoly in the international traffic of these products to the U.S.A.Their money laundry is done with resource to institutions of credit that controls and to companies that indirectly owns, fundamentally in the building , transports and of the industry sectors.

b) The Mafia turned into an American problem – starting from the beginning of the century, accompanying the migratory currents of Sicilians for the “New World”, many were the “mobsters” that settled in the U.S.A. developing their “families”, the image and structure of the organization – Sicilian mother, maintaining a relationship of “branch”. “Cosa Nostra” in spite of the deep relationships of collaboration that, for common interest, the two organizations maintains with the Mafia.

While the Americans have among their main activities the exploration of game houses and prostitution, specializing at the illegal markets, the Sicilians refuse these activities, tending to articulate the action in the illegal markets with a convenient presence in the legal markets.

c) In the European east, the economical and politics opening, conjugated with an evident authority crisis in several States in democratization process, gave an easy way to the operational development of the organized crime. In Russia there are about 3 000 “gangs” that integrate hundreds of thousands of elements, with ramifications in all of the social steps. In other territories of the Soviet former-union (namely in the area of the Baltic), in Poland, Hungary, in former Czechoslovak and Bulgaria, organized criminal groups have been implanting and I win an active expression. With roots in the old “nomenkulatura” or in the groups that then dominated the market, these “Mafia of the East” are devoted fundamentally to the the traffic of drug (namely in Russia and Czech Republic), but also in weapons, prostitution and traffic of luxery cars (mainly in Poland face the territorial proximity with Germany), as well as to the I traffic and smuggling of products of first need, medicines, disks, cassettes and videos, as well as luxury products (perfumes, clocks, precious stones.).

They used methods type Sicilian violence. The mobsters nets in Russia, for instance, have an ethnic base in their constitution (azeris in the leadership; tchechenians as operational armed; uzbeques and tadjiques in the traffic of opium; Ukrainian and Russian in the traffic of popies and synthetic drugs; tartars in the game, night clubs and terrorism; the Georgian ones in the stolen cars; the daguestaneses in the great bandit’s), they are individualistic and mutually conflicting, without any central organism of control (to not to be it “Half” that congregates only 20 great groups of the area of Moscow).

Like this brief historical overview organized crime represents that offence segment to which are reported the illegal activities which can affect more political economic and social fields, activities that are constantly developed through different means by individual associations with a well-defined hierarchy, with a specialized structure and the purpose of obtaining illicit profits at very high levels.

- Narcotics traffic – in every year hundreds of persons are involve in narcotics traffic and many tones of drugs are confiscated. The cocaine and heroin and the most wanted. – Person’s traffic is a new form of organized crime. Young women and children are transported from Eastern Europe to Western Europe for prostitution and organs transplant. – Arts traffic – today, one of the most prosperous businesses is the arts traffic. Many values are brought outside of countries. – Stolen cars from Western Europe especially are sell in Eastern Europe. – Arms dealing have become a new business, especially for the ex-Soviet Union states. – Money laundering. Many western businessmen used the Eastern European bank systems for money laundering. – The minor delinquency the antechamber of the organized crime. The little offenders unidentified yet for the perpetration of robberies, thefts and false money placation, represents the engrossed segment by a severe selection by organized crime groups. – Corruption of the main public officials is a new and dangerous form of organized crime. The organized crime groups succeeded to destroy the people’s trust through bribe and influence traffic. – illegal goods: goods that are illegal as such; the production of, trade in and sometimes also possession of such goods are punishable offences; think of for example narcotic substances and forged brand cigarettes. – illegal trade in legal goods; this concerns black markets for goods that involve evasion of taxes, duties or import duties and are traded unlawfully on black markets; think of legally produced cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and fuels. – illegal provision of services; think of facilitation of illegal immigrants (human smuggling) and illegal employment in prostitution (human trafficking).

The definition contains the punishment requirement to ensure that those who commit rather harmless offences are not classed under organised crime.

Very curious is a overlooking comparison on some Eastern activities in general and some other regions:

Organized crime has become a general phenomenon in the Eastern Europe and in the ex-Soviet Union states. Ukraine – Caucasian Mafia is the most structured criminal organization, based on the blood ties. These organizations act on the same principles as the Italian mob.

Criminal groups act especially in the drug dealing, involving much deeper to create a new, honest look, through the opening of new firms and casinos, which helps to money laundering. Russia – the illegal guns, ammunition and explosives traffic is a more and more often- practiced activity by the Russian crime organization.

The main sources of obtaining of those mentioned above are the military dumps of the ex-Soviet army and the military units that belonged to the large military industrial complex, converted to private or mix firms. Poland – the most known kind of organized crime from Poland is still the narcotic traffic. The synthetic narcotics production and selling internal and external market is higher and higher. Slovakia, a country situated at the crossroads between East and West is in the attention of Mafia organizations with a well-known tradition that included it in the main drugs, guns and not for long radioactive substances traffic routes. Slovenia is situated on the most frequently used Balkan-shipping route of the heroine. Besides, Slovenia is also recognized as a big LSD drug consumer.

The Targa Floria has been called one of the toughest sports car races in the world, one of the most sophisticated and one of the oldest. All three descriptions would be accurate. It is certainly one of the oldest as it was organized in 1906 by a wealthy Italian industrialist, Vincenzo Florio. Florio, who was born in Palermo, Italy, was the son of Vincenzo Florio, Sr. owner of the Florio Wine and Space Company. Vincenzo Jr. was an avid motor enthusiast of the day and a racecar driver. He won the Targa Rignano in 1903. The race was named for its organizer, Count Rignano which gave Vincenzo the idea of attaching his own name to the Targa Florio.Vincenzo designed the race to follow a 277-mile (446 km) open road course through the Madonie Mountains. The roads were treacherous bordered by cliffs on one side and drop-offs on the other. Cars climbed to heights that experienced frequent and severe climate changes. There were numerous hairpin turns and sharp curves. The roads were dusty and narrow often little more than a mountain path. The drivers often had to compete with donkeys for space on the road. Nevertheless the villagers along the way turned out to give the racers a warm welcome and cheer them on their way.

The race began and ended in the village of Cerda. The cars had to be started one by one for a time trial, as there wasn’t sufficient room on the road to start all the cars at once. The 1906 race was won by Alessandro Cagno who covered the course in nine hours with an average speed of 30 miles an hour or (50 km per hour). The Targo Florio provided part of the inspiration for Sir Hugh F. Locke-King to build the first closed racing circuit in England.

Most of the early winners were Italian drivers. However, from 1912 to 1914, the course was changed, as would happen more than once during the tenure of the race. The seventh Targa Florio would actually follow the course of the Giro d’ Sicilia, a thousand kilometer run encircling the island of Sicily. The race began and ended at Palermo traversing the towns of Messina, Catania, Siracusa, Ragusa, Gela, Agrigento, Marsala, and Trapani. Many Italian noblemen had entered including Vincenzo Florio. Floria however lost control and wrecked his car enroute. The winner was a British driver named Cyril Snipe.

World War I canceled the Targa Florio as well as many other races but it was resumed in 1919. In 1924 another non-Italian, Christian Werner, a German driver won. The Targa Florio became part of the World Championship races in 1955. That year another British driver, Stirling Moss claimed first place. Nino Vaccarella won three times, in 1965, 1971, and 1975. Today, along the route through the Madonie Mountains, there stands a high stonewall with the name “Nino” painted on in letters almost as high as the wall. Due to safety concerns the race was discontinued in 1977 but 1973 is considered to be the last professional race.

Not long ago we where at a friends house and our most gracious host made fish tacos. I honestly have not eaten many fish tacos in my life time, but since coming back to California we have had a few occasions to try wonderful cuisine from an array of places. One memorable moment such as this was in Morro Bay at the Taco Shack, the other was at our friends house.. Hers by far was the best.

KD decided to make some fish tacos and it was my job to find a white that would pair with our meal of the night. I went to the wine room and grabbed the last white not being saved for our collection and ready for review. I grabbed a Planteta La Segreta Bianco Di Sicilia. A nice white wine that we had not had yet. The grapes for this wine were sourced from the Mafi region of Sicily and were a blend of 50% Grecinco, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Viognier, and 10% Fiano. Sicily is an inland belonging to Italy and they must be proud of their terroir that this island region brings. Its amusing how just a few miles away, so many micro climates are created.

I opened the bottle and we began to smell the aromas as they rose from the bottle. Ever so lightly we began to sense hints of citrus and peach with a little bit floral nuisances. I poured KD and I a little sample which has become our wine tasting ritual. We both swirled, smelled, viewed and than tasted. The first thing I thought was I need to start drinking more Italian wines. KD said “not bad” and then she said I like this wine it’s a little light but will go great with our fish tacos. It had hints of melon, and tropical flavors that ended in a medium to long finish. I liked the clean fresh finish and aftertaste and plan to pick up more of this wine.

We liked this white wine even though it was light, it still had plenty of flavor and paired wonderfully with our fish tacos. They also have an English version of their site, which by the way was wonderful to find. I would say that maybe 80% of the wines we have reviewed in the past were lacking in any web presence. With time I believe everyone will have a Web site, especially one that caters to such a broad base of consumers.

The Bianco has 13% alcohol and should be pretty easy to find. It will run you around $15-20 dollars. Here is a link to their site;

http://www.planeta.it/ENG/home.htm

We rate this wine- (Good)

Here are our Ratings: / Pass / Fair / Ok / Good / Great / Fantastic

Disclaimer: Just because we like or dislike a wine does not mean that you will have the same experience. Of course it’s always worth a try….tell us what you think??

Aloha,

Ron & KD