Italy 2016 with Skip and Linda, Carl and Mary Ann, provided by Mary Ann

Carl and I (Mary Ann Fontana)made 2 trips to Italy with Skip and Linda. The first was June of 2016. We had never traveled with them before so we had a few planning conversations about our trip beforehand. The itinerary was to fly to Palermo and drive along the entire coastline of the island returning to Palermo 2 weeks later. Since my mother was born outside of Palermo and I speak passable Italian of course I took the lead (as I tend to do) with drawing up the plan. Apparently at one point during our planning conversations I said I didn't see any problems as long as everyone did as I said. Linda got a laugh out of that and often reminded me of my blatant "bossiness". I have to say Linda was the perfect traveling companion. She found something fun in every circumstance. She was a real GEM and will be sorely missed. photos: 1) Ruins of Agrigento

2 )Cooking School in Modica

3) Pasticceria of Maria Gramatica in Erice - the most famous pastry chef in Sicily

4) Linda eating one of her famous cannoli

5) Thanks to Lonely Planet we found what turned out to be the best restaurant of our entire trip - L'oste e il Sacrestano in Licata. Chef Peppe Bonsignore created a 7 course feast that was a masterpiece.

6) The beach in Cefalu

7) Linda loved ceramic shops

8) We spent a lot of time eating of course. Another fine restaurant in Cefalu

9)Carl loves to get a haircut when in Italy since the old time barbers are generally meticulous. On a recommendation we went to a shop in Scicli and this guy spent an hour cutting Skip's and Carl's hair. Linda and I got this picture with him afterwards . The guys looked terrific and Linda smiled through it all.