© Marla McDonald

COMING TO YOUR SENSES in Sicily!

One week in a Sicilian villa for 4 to 6 people to be given away at PONCHO Art Auction, May 8, Seattle, WA, www.poncho.org.

WINNERS!

Sherry & Bill P. from Seattle!

stay tuned...

Join Sally Veillette, author of Coming to Your Senses - Soaring with Your Soul, for a week-long relaxing, sensory-filled experience at her Italian family’s country villa in la provincia of Ragusa in the deep south of Sicily. Perfect for the person who’s done it all - Rome, Florence, Venice, le cinque terre - Sicily offers a look back to the Italy of 50 years ago, where life was simpler, family connections richer, and the sights, smells and tastes of life more pungent.

Stay in a 200-year-old villa 15 minutes from the beach, complete with courtyard and small orchard, just a short distance from neighboring castle of Donnafugata, a popular tourist attraction.

• Fly into Catania on Sicily’s southern coast, the villa is 100 km south, in the countryside between Ragusa, Santa Croce and Marina di Ragusa.
• We’ll meet you at the airport in Catania where you’ll rent a car (you arrange for this… as well as for the airfare), and we’ll drive caravan to the villa.
• Villa sleeps 4-6 people (two queen-sized beds, one bunk bed, and if needed, a crib can be provided). (Note, in the Italian style, there is no air conditioning in the house, but its thick stone walls keep it relatively cool in any weather.)
• Continental breakfasts will be served in the villa, daily maid service provided.
• Days are yours to go to the beach… or to take day trips to one of the many nearby historical attractions, including:
• Medieval city of Ragusa Iblea
• Ancient port city of Siracusa
• Greek temples of Agrigento
• Greek theatre and quaint shops of Taormina
• Baroque churches of Scicli
• Roman mosaics of Piazza Armerina
• Traditional ceramics of Caltagirone
• Island of Malta
  
  
• After the hour of the traditional Sicilian riposino (afternoon nap), Sally will bring artists and craftspeople to the villa (or bring you to them!) for a “come to your senses” playshop… and stimulate your sense of touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing! Don’t worry, we’ll give you a couple of free nights, too, to just relax and do nothing at all! Topics include the following (you choose which you’re most interested in… or ask for something that’s not on the list, and we’ll see what magic we can create!)
• Italian language
• Sicilian history
• Painting
• Wine tasting
• Music
• Dance
• Cooking
• Photography
• Shopping (ceramics, fashion, jewelry, etc.)
  
  
• Three dinners will be included:
• At the villa, where we’ll cook with an Italian cousin/chef and invite members of my Italian family to meet you.
• At a fish restaurant in Marina di Ragusa where you get to go into the pescheria and pick the fish you want to eat!
• At a local agriturismo, country farmhouse, for traditional fare, most notably ricotta calda.
  
  
• Be sure to read your copies of Coming to Your Senses - Soaring with Your Soul before hand. There are many anecdotes of Italian life in its pages… Then take advantage of having Sally as your tour guide to Sicily! Ask her questions. Have her take you through the book’s exercises. Engage her in discussions. She loves to share her homeland… and help spirits soar!
  
  We'll provide:
  
  
• 6 autographed copies of Coming to Your Senses - Soaring with Your Soul
• Sicilian guide book
• Photos of the villa

Stay tuned for future Italian events.