December 29 2016

Winter break has been keeping me busy.

On the 26th I made my first batch of Latkes! They were a little oily because I crowded the pan, but  a good learning experience. This is my host dad (Mati's dad, Tony. I don't live with them but they are my second host family), trying a latke with apple sauce.

We took the rest of the latkes and a specially requested turkey to a great christmas party at Bea's house. One of the interesting things about this week has been celebrating Hanukkah. I brought my Menorah to the dinner and they were all enthusiastic to celebrate with me. 

A little gift exchange. Fun Fact: Everyone in Ragusa loves Yankee Candles.

Playing cards after dinner.

On the 27th, Zia Graziella invited me to go to Catania with her Anna, Ana, and Martina. It's a pretty easy day trip, about 2 hours on the bus. There were three Brazilian girls doing a one month exchange, and their Italian host sisters coming to visit Ragusa for three days. We went to pick them up, but had some time in the city before they arrived. This is the view of Mount Etna (The largest active volcano in Europe) as we were driving up.

Martina and I on the bus.

The elephant statue that is the symbol of Catania.

Big city streets.

Little alley way where we went to have lunch.

The group!

Since arriving in Sicily I have not eaten a hamburger. I'm not a big hamburger eater in the first place and usually they are at the very bottom of the menu, so I don't expect them to be very good. I also feel way too embarrassingly american to order one, but the restaurant we went to way a hamburger place and I really enjoyed it!

After lunch we spent some time walking around the park in Catania. I don't know why but this beautiful gazebo immediately reminded me of the song "I am sixteen going on seventeen" from the sound of music. While sitting in the gazebo I played the song on my phone for the other girls to hear. 

The park.

It seems, that that the only acceptable activity in Sicily during December is eating. As soon as I got home from Catania I went out to dinner with my whole host family. They have been regulars at this great seafood restaurant since the kids were really little, so we took a picture with the really sweet owner. We also lit my mini menorah at the table in the restaurant. 

The waiters kept on bring out plates and plates of different seafood, I though this was one of the prettiest ones.

I know this will come as a great shock, but the next day I went out to lunch. It was really funny, the day before my grandma in Minnesota had taken all my cousins out to lunch and I was feeling sad to have missed it, but my grandma in Italy had the same idea! I had a great time with the cousins, sadly Anna and Michella couldn't make it. 

This scaccia is very typical of Ragusa. 

The restaurant was in the country side, and made all of its own cheese. As part of the appetizers each person was given a bowl of fresh ricotta cheese. It was delicious but there was no logical way to eat all of it. This was not a problem for all of the guys at the table, but thankfully we were able to take some home.

Of course for dessert there was cannoli with fresh ricotta. 

Last night I went out with my friends Angela and Pierogiorgio. This is defiantly not a great photo, but sadly the only one I have. 

While we were walking around Ragusa Ibla, I suddenly realized I had not lit my Menorah. The funny thing is, that I have taken to carrying it around in my purse, because I almost never know where I will be in the evening. We found someone with a lighter and they were really sweet to light it with me and we talked about Hanukkah. 

We found a cute little playground and hung around for a bit. It was nice to spend time with a small group of friends!