Folly & Brenda,

Thank you both for the info. Last time we were in Italy was late Sept. early Oct it was to us, HOT. We have been assured that must have been a rarity as the temps we could expect at that time of year were high 20sC which for us is OK. If it goes into the 30sC Mr Dimpz may not be a happy chappy.

quote:

Originally posted by steveH:
lovaduck - who is this Erice? - short term memory failure obviously on my part! Are you sure you didn't mean Erica - OOOps sorry - I didn't say that - it was someone else!

I am not giving up, someone on the BB must have been to ERICE!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Dimpz:

quote:

Originally posted by steveH:
lovaduck - who is this Erice? - short term memory failure obviously on my part! Are you sure you didn't mean Erica - OOOps sorry - I didn't say that - it was someone else!

I am not giving up, someone on the BB must have been to ERICE!!!!!

Dimpz: I knew Erice rang a bell! In my obsession with all things Italian, I saved an article in an old (Nov '91) issue of Gourmet Magazine, called the Almond Pastries of Erice. It gives a short history of the town plus some recipes - the town is famous for it's almond and other pastries. If you're interested, check with your library; they sometimes have back issues on microfilm. If you can't get it and still want to see it - I can always mail the article to you.

Also, try a google search on Erice. I find www.best of sicily.com helpful. There is a lot out there on the web.

Author Mary Taylor Simeti (wrote Gourmet article) became so fascinated with the life of the baker that she continued with a book chronicling her life from the time she was sent to the orphanage as a 6 year old.....it's called "Bitter Almonds". It's a short book, half of it is recipes.

Unfortunately Erice is on the northwest coast of Sicily - you won't be able to see Mt. Etna on the same day.

Brenda: I'm not "not talking to you" - I've been too busy trying to decipher who's talking to who on this board and getting a little dizzy.

Steve: I'm ALWAYS thinking or talking about food. One of life's great pleasures! Besides, I'm Italian and that's what we do.

Carolina,
REALLY glad you found the card and the restaurant name!
Was hoping you would stumble across something and you did just that!

Carolina ~ Thanks for the info, I will go back to my research, research, research.

quote:

Originally posted by Dimpz:

quote:

Originally posted by steveH:
lovaduck - who is this Erice? - short term memory failure obviously on my part! Are you sure you didn't mean Erica - OOOps sorry - I didn't say that - it was someone else!

I am not giving up, someone on the BB must have been to ERICE!!!!!

Haven't been there Dimpz, but like you, I'd like to go there (don't know why). The Best of Sicily tour goes there, but you're doing the Best of Italy & Sicily tour aren't you? Erice looks not far from Selinunte (which is on your itinerary).

cheers,
ClareS

Clare ~ No it is not far from Selinunte, but looking at the itinerary, finding the free time to get there could be tricky. I am not giving up & if no-one on the BB can help, once on tour will ask the TD for his suggestions on how to accomplish my mission.

Hi Dimpz, I think you are right about the time frames .. I did a tour different company started in Taormina (2 nights) and then one night near Syracuse, Agrigento and Palermo with a late afternoon departure for Naples.. I didn't go to Erice but I only went to one temple at Selinunte.. the closest one.. Agrigento was more impressive despite the heat...The cutest thing was the decorated Fiat Cinque Cento outside a little ceramics shop.. painted with sicilian scenes.. donkey carts etc.. very impressive... but if you have your heart set on getting to Erice then the day you go from Palermo to Agrigento it might be better to hire a car or go by bus or train to Erice and then on to Agrigento and rejoin the tour.. from memory the roads aren't very busy and none of the distances are very far might be the only way.. good luck

Hi Folly,

Prior to booking this tour I had no clue to the fact that a place named Erice even existed. It is not even that there is anything in particluar that I want to see there. Perhaps the guys may not understand, but I am hoping the female BBers will, my daughters' middle name is Erice. A name I thought I had made up, now to find that it actually exists I just would love to see it.

Maybe I am a bit weird/strange/odd but it is just how I feel.

[quote by Dimpz] Maybe I am a bit weird/strange/odd but it is just how I feel.[/quote]

I did not say a thing.

For which I thank you