I'm so glad to be leaving the country for just 8 days to get this primary out of my head.

[CTyankee]

A break from some of the rhetoric. I support Bernie with a passion but will vote for HRC if that is to be.

Leaving tomorrow. Sicily is such a great place and I'll eat great food and drink red wine. You guys take care of yourselves till I get back.

[MineralMan]

1. Bon Voyage!

Eat lots and come back happy!

[CTyankee]

13. take care, buddy. yeah, I'll do all that.

Eager to eat the Pasta alla Norma, their native dish. Wine over there is very cheap, cheaper than buying cokes. As a result some American tourists, I am sorry to say, just get soused which the Siciilans don't do. It's embarrassing.

[sufrommich]

2. Have a great adventure,CTyankee.

Jealous.

[NCTraveler]

3. Have a blast and may you put the frustration in your rearview for some time. nt.

[CTyankee]

21. Just the pictures of those lizards Ted Cruz and Carly Fiorina make me nauseous

I hope they drop out before I get back...

[Hiraeth]

4. Have a great time!

[CTyankee]

28. thanks, my friend! Nice to see you here with other good people!

[Hiraeth]

29. nice to be seen !!

[KansDem]

5. Machen Sie eine gute Reise!

Sorry, I don't know Sicilian...

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Please bring us art photos and your comments upon your return....

I like hearing what you have to say about various works of art.

[CTyankee]

15. alas there is really only one that I want to see. It is Caravaggio's Burial of St. Lucy.

He was on the run and needed money and Siricusa wanted a depiction of their patron saint, Lucy.

[oldandhappy]

7. Wonderful dog, cute kitty

Jealous
Have a splendid time. Yes, dump out your head and open it to stars and water and laughter.

[bigwillq]

8. Have fun!

Safe travels.

I've never been to the birth place of my ancestors but my parents have and said it's beautiful.

Enjoy.

[CTyankee]

18. Then you HAVE to go!

what area of Sicily were they from? You should go there a light a candle for them in one of their pretty churches, like I am going to do (not parents, buta friend)l

[bigwillq]

19. Naples and Marche

Not from Sicily, but my parents visited there on their trip

Sorry for the confusion

[CTyankee]

22. those area are about the only part of Italy I haven't been in.

Been to Florence twice. That's where 80'% of the masterpieces of western civilization's art is!

[ucrdem]

9. That hotel looks familiar . . .

Orbitz right?

[CTyankee]

12. no hotel in the pic. There are just the Roman ruins, the bay and Mt Etna....

[ucrdem]

14. Ah. I was going to suggest an upgrade

to avoid wi-fi issues . .



Bonne séjour!

[CTyankee]

20. thanks. last time I was there (10 years ago) we decided it would be cool to go up

to the top of Mt. Etna (well, as close as you can cuz it is an "active" volcano. So we hired a driver to take us up. But who knew that it snows on Mt.Etna...so here we had a Sicilian driver who had never driven in snow and he was yelling "Sono pazzi"
at us as we sorta slid back down.

It seemed like a good idea at the time...

[ucrdem]

25. Snow complicates things doesn't it

I haven't been to Sicily but a few years ago I visited Rome for three days and stayed in a 3rd-century Roman monastery that was still a monastery. The guests were in a separate wing and there were parts of the grounds we could see from the roof but not visit, like a huge garden, and strange curfew hours. Daily masses too of course in a lovely chapel with relics. It was a real bargain which is why I picked it through Orbitz which will basically find you free lodgings if you're willing to stay in the worst hotel in Europe (that was Paris, another story . . . )

Have a great trip !

[CTyankee]

30. I kinda wish I could stay at a monastery. It sounds very cool...

[oasis]

10. Enjoy.

[riderinthestorm]

11. Divertiti!!

Post some pics when you get back...

[all american girl]

16. Jealous!!!!! in a good way

Have a great time!!!!!!

[we can do it]

17. Take care - wish I could come.

Totally agree about Bernie and HRC.

[CTyankee]

23. some of the stuff in GDP is just getting me down so I TRY not to go there and get

myself all overwraught. This way I won't be able to. I prolly won't check email unless something happens unexpectedly...

[pampango]

24. My brother just got back from the UK. Once people knew he was American, Trump was all anyone

wanted to talk about. They have their own right wing populist over there, UKIP among others, but theirs have not had near the success that Trump is having here, essentially capturing the nomination in a major party.

My brother is a staunch Democrat and liberal, but he got tired of talking about Trump. Hope things are better in Sicily.

[CTyankee]

31. I get the impression that the Sicilians don't care about Trump...

probably ones in Palermo do. Now THAT is a city! Beautiful! There are old Greek ruins which are in good shape in Agrigento (I think...).

[Puglover]

26. Have a great time

and don't look at DU while you're gone.

We left the US permanently in Dec. It was if a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. Both politically AND weather wise.

[CTyankee]

32. So you are officially an ex-pat? Where are you?

[Puglover]

33. Otavalo Ecuador.

The northern Andes, right on the equator. At 8300'. Spring 365 days a year.

The ONLY thing not perfect are the consistent 12' days. I miss the long summer evenings. But beyond that absolutely nothing.

[CTyankee]

34. I flew over the Andes once as a kid. We were going to South America. they were quite

a sight and just beautiful.

[emulatorloo]

27. Bring back pictures and avoid the Internet!

So happy for you!

[CTyankee]

35. I won't have the Internet while I'm there. And anyway,, there's far too much to do.

It's kind of a whirlwind trip but my travel buddy doesn't like really long trips.
Once I pitched the idea of a quick trip over the pond, get this deal on Orbitz with air fare and hotel at a pretty good rate. Go for four days and visit all the great museums in London and see the masterpieces that are there. She liked the idea but couldn't get it squeezed in. Maybe another time...

[bettyellen]

36. Oh wow- good for you! Can't wait to see your pics! Have an awesome time!