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Article #202: Hello From Sicily: My Italian Language Learning Adventure - Exploring The Beauty Of Sicily And Sailing Through The Eolian Islands

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Sicily - the name alone conjures up second day on the boat. On the third day
images of an exotic island, a mysterious we set sail for the island of Stromboli,
and fascinating past. I have wanted to which is still an active volcano. The
explore Italy for some time now since I town of Stromboli features such narrow
had not been there for a long, long time, streets that they are impassable to
and when I was pondering which region of regular vehicles. No wonder the local
Italy to explore Sicily came to mind. I "carabinieri" (Italian police officers)
figured this island would offer a have to ride in golf carts. After a
combination of fascinating history, rich somewhat turbulent late-night voyage from
culture, scenic beauty, and an Stromboli to Panarea we arrived late and
opportunity for a wide variety of anchored in a bay off the island. On a
activities. One activity I definitely gorgeous morning the next day we first
wanted to pursue was to combine my had another language lesson - where else
journey with language studies: my earlier but on the outdoor patio of a bar in
language study trips to Havana and Panarea, surrounded by gorgeous sunshine
Cuernavaca, Mexico, not only got me and beautiful flowers. Panarea is an
closer to the Spanish language, but these extremely photogenic destination and
on-site language learning experiences offered great opportunities for hobby
really allowed me to explore the culture photographers like me. Our voyage
from within. So this time I was going to continued to Lipari again where we would
focus on learning Italian, and I was able end an eventful day with a scrumptious
to locate two language schools in Sicily outdoor feast on the main square. The
that would both provide a totally next day three of us went on a driving
different experience and a different way tour of this beautiful island and from
of exploring the island. Armed with no the south end we already saw our next
prior knowledge other than having read destination: the island of Vulcano, which
through an Italian grammar book, I was also features an active volcano. We
going to see how much of this beautiful anchored in a bay off this island,
language I would pick up in my three enjoyed some Italian lessons on the boat
weeks in Sicily. My first eight days were and after a delicious on-board dinner,
spent in Taormina, a gorgeous our shipmates Franco, a gifted guitar
mountain-top town on the eastern side of player, and Agnieszka, a talented singer,
Sicily, whose main distinguishing feature entertained us with soulful melodies by
is an ancient Greco-Roman Theatre that is candlelight on the back of the boat -
still in use today. The town itself has magical moments that I will not forget
to be among the most picturesque for a long time. Then our final day on
destinations anywhere, with its beautiful the boat arrived: we hiked up to the
buildings, narrow streets and passageways "Gran Cratere", the active crater of
and stunning views of Mount Etna and the Vulcano. Yellow rocks and thick clouds of
Mediterranean. Shortly after my arrival I sulphur announced that the forces of
got to meet the people at the Babilonia geology were indeed active right
Language School where I would be learning underneath our feet. And the view from
Italian for a week and exploring the the top over the six other Eolian Islands
culture of Sicily. My accommodation was was breathtaking. After another Italian
in a lovely 13-room privately owned hotel lesson on an outdoor patio overlooking
that has been operated by the Sciglio the Mediterranean we had to say goodbye
family for more than 50 years. Mr. and to the Eolian Islands and start to head
Mrs. Sciglio are in their mid-eighties back to Milazzo. Just as I thought our 7
and continue to work extremely hard, day sailing trip would come to an
without even a thought of retirement, and anticlimactic end, one of my shipmates
their son Salvatore works with them. In announced "DOLPHINS!!!", and indeed four
an interview I learned more about the of these playful sea creatures were
hotel's history and the family's accompanying our sailboat, jumping in and
involvement in this business. On the out of the water, and having fun with us.
second day I joined my first guided The excitement continued when we ended up
excursion with the Babilonia language catching three tunas on a fishing line we
school: a guided hike to the ancient had been dragging behind our boat. The
village of Castelmola which was followed following decapitation and evisceration
by a tasting of Sicilian delicacies in a scene though was a bit hard on my tender
local bistro. My first weekend in Sicily vegetarian soul... So we had reached
promised to be great: an excursion to the land, and to celebrate the conclusion of
ancient town of Siracusa and an a wonderful sailing trip and one of my
exploration of the gorgeous coastline shipmates' birthdays we enjoyed another
just east of Taormina, including the town big Sicilian feast in Capo di Milazzo.
of Mazzaro and Isola Bella. The following The next day, we had a chance to relax a
Monday was my first day of language bit in our five-bedroom apartment
studies: first we went through the conveniently located above the
placement test, and then we had our first Laboratorio Linguistico Language School
lesson which included some unique yet and do simple things like laundry and sit
effective teaching methods. The next day on the balcony. Franco, our language
was May 1, Italian Labour Day and a teacher took us on a guided walk of
national holiday: a perfect opportunity Milazzo which features a huge
to rent a car and drive into the fortification that dates back more than
countryside surrounding Mount Etna, 1000 years. After saying goodbye to my
Europe's largest volcano, which by the roommate Claudia I spent my final Sunday
way, had erupted the night before. The in Sicily in the picturesque medieval
next day it was back to school, and town of Cefalu, about a two-hour train
Alessandro, the director of the Babilonia ride from Milazzo. That city's medieval
language school, gave me a personal core and huge Norman cathedral together
history lesson about Sicily and also with the ruins of an ancient castle on
explained the origins of that famous top of the rock that towers over the town
Sicilian institution, the Mafia, to me in left me with many vibrant treasured
detail. That evening I joined in a memories. Now I only had two full days
cooking class in a private home offered left in Sicily. Following a tour of the
by the language school. I was going to Milazzo headquarters of Laboratorio
see first-hand how a real multi-course Linguistico I went on a country excursion
Italian meal was prepared, using into the surrounding Nebrodi Mountains
authentic, locally grown ingredients. And with my two Italian teachers Francesco
of course, I would have a chance to taste and Franco. We visited the Rocks of
the finished delicacies afterwards and Agrimusco, a cluster of
partake of a nice meal with other mysterious-looking rocks on a high
language students and the local Ferrari plateau with a gorgeous view of Mount
family. My language studies the next day Etna. Then we headed into the hilltop
were followed by a visit to a local town of Montalbano Elicona, an authentic
pottery painting artist, as Babilonia small Sicilian town, completely untouched
also offers pottery decoration courses, by tourism. I finally had a chance to
in addition to hiking, biking, golfing snap some pictures of the locals who love
and diving programs. Perched on the to congregate next to the church and
rooftop patio of a Taormina hotel, with a discuss important issues of the day. My
perfect view of an ancient palazzo right final day in Sicily had arrived - I had
next to Mount Etna, I learned about to say goodbye to the great team at
Sicilian pottery painting techniques. In Laboratorio Linguistico and board the bus
the late afternoon I joined another towards Messina and from there to Catania
excursion to hike up the southern flanks from where I would catch a plane in the
of Mount Etna. A visit to a winery and a early morning the next day. After my
nice dinner followed. Then I had reached arrival in the late afternoon I had a
my last day in beautiful Taormina and chance to briefly explore this city, the
after my final language lessons it was second-largest city in Sicily, and get
time to say goodbye to the folks at ready for my flight home. On this trip I
Babilonia, and to my co-students, whom I found out that Sicily is gorgeous, and a
had gotten quite fond of. With the visit in the late spring around April /
exception of the occasionally grey and May is perfect since everything is in
drizzly weather, my experience in full bloom and the hoards of tourists do
Taormina had been great: the language not really arrive until June, July and
learning, the interesting excursions and August. Sicily has remained amazingly
activities and the interaction with my authentic and is fortunately free of many
international co-students had been a of the signs of mass tourism that mar
really great experience. I was a bit sad other Mediterranean coastlines. Taormina
to leave Taormina where I had gotten so and the Eolian Islands are all stunning
comfortable. But a new adventure was destinations, but the Sicilian hinterland
about to begin: I took the train to in itself holds many hidden treasures.
Milazzo on the northeastern side of The history, architecture, culture and
Sicily, where the next day I would embark scenic beauty are astounding. And seafood
on a seven-day sailing trip through the lovers will definitely fall in love with
beautiful Eolian Islands, offered by this destination. I myself really enjoyed
Laboratorio Linguistico, a Milazzo-based the language learning experience at
Italian language school. After meeting Babilonia and Laboratorio Linguistico -
some of my six shipmates, who were really as a matter of fact, my three weeks in
cool by the way, we were off on our Italy took me all the way up to
sailboat, the 4 cabin "Solitaire II", to Intermediate level and when I came back I
our first destination: the island of was quite capable of communicating fairly
Lipari, the largest of the Eolian competently in this new language. The
Islands, and an extremely scenic place. people were great: the staff at both
Our expert skipper Francesco, a licensed language schools was very helpful and
captain, also happened to be the co-owner knowledgeable, and the interaction with
of the language school, and one of our my co-students from all different
two resident language teachers on this countries was a real treat. Our crew on
sailing trip. After Lipari we continued the sailboat in particular came together
our sailing trip to Salina, a really nicely and some close personal
neighbouring island, where three of us bonds had developed after this
went on a driving tour to see local experience. Without a doubt, language
villages and also the house where "Il study travel is one of the best forms of
Postino" was filmed. An Italian lesson on travel in my opinion, giving you the
the backyard patio of a bar was our first chance to learn, to expand your mind, and
introduction to Laboratorio Lingustico's to really discover the local culture. And
language teaching program. Of course without a doubt I'll be back in Sicily -
Francesco and Franco, our second teacher this fascinating island has so much more
and co-owner of the school, conducted all to explore. This entire article including
conversations during the entire sailing photos is located at
trip in Italian only, which allowed us to Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a web
be fully immersed in the language all the portal for unconventional travel &
time. After we had nourished our brains, cross-cultural connections. Check out our
a Sicilian seafood feast capped off our brand new FREE ebooks about travel.






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