Travel with Louise-Agrigento

The history of this area is exciting and if you are interested the "insight guide to Sicily" has a thorough and consice chapter on it or you can sometimes find a version on the Discovery Channel.

We were going over the central mountains to see "Agrigento" and "The Valley of the Temples" which were built in 520 BC and on the The Temple of Hercules is the oldest and is in proportion to the Parthenon in Greece. There are catacomes under the 'Villa Aurea' and others. You can walk into many of these tombs some on shelves. The Roman tombs go back to 4 BC while the Greek burial grounds are scattered around the city. This is a huge complex- we simply could not walk it all. Each temple is very different and has its own story.

A chapel containing the Sarcophagus of Phaedra is exquisite. Next door is a museum with an amazing array of objects, many of which are hedonistic. Sacrificial alters are evident, shrines to fertility! Ancient city walls surround the city. Outside of these are usual vendors. Lavishly decorated chariots will await you if you prefer to be driven around this amazing Greek town.

Our driver was waiting for us and soon we were at the gates leading to the Nobel Prize winner Luigi Pirandello's Museum and gorgeous old home and gardens. These are now owned by Diego the renowned attorney a relative of Dee's. The museum is owned by the government and full of artifacts as Pirandello was the most famous poet and playwright's in Sicily who died in 1934 and buried here in the gardens.

I loved the old home and the antique furniture, incredible paintings and objects D'Arte. The law office itself is unique. It is full of irreplacable volumes. But even with all the wealth surrounding us, it seemed so casual and friendly. We were treated to a great dinner with the two daughters there to interpret as needed. We walked around the gardens and the girls disappeared!

Shortly after as we were having wine and coffee, here they came laughing and carrying bags of nice souvenirs from The Valley of the the Temples. What a sweet surprise and they bought the best for each of us even though I was just a visitor.

Then Hene our driver, returned and we were soon on our way to the other side of Sicily. What a great day. Dee lay down in the back, leaving me with Hene who speaks German and Italian but the drive flew by quickly- these are not beautiful but rather bare and desolate with just a rare village.

On arriving home we found Antonio had arrived from the university. The movie star handsome son. Carla also gorgeous was here also as it is Labor Day here so they are home for the three days. We all had a very festive dinner and the young ones left to see their friends, in their cars.

The rest of us lounged around relaxed, talking and drinking wine. The wine cellar is extensive and with my limited experience, I was lucky to pass Lello's test-he loved to force me to choose the best from two or three wines

somehow I aced the tests without saying that I like Portugese Matues, Dao or Lancers these are second rate to the Portugese.

Tomorrow we plan to go to the local flea market then Marsala, Aida's best friend, is driving us around the local hill towns, which is fun and Marsala teaches English in one of the schools.

Later, we all went to Gus' restaurant for yet another enormous dinner. We won't fit in our cheap seats on the planes! The seafood was perfect but Dee made everyone laugh because she hated seeing the entire fish on the platter as it was staring at her! She's seen this in other places-it's normal. The pasta of course was delish and dessers and wine. I do appreciate having a driver after all!

The moon was shining over the sea through the palm trees. This is such a wonderful town in a delightful location. I could live here easily and drive all over Europe anytime and visit friends. But my mountains at home are much more beautiful.

Tomorrow, we will recover from the happy day, then we take the train to Palermo where the doctor's wife will meet us and show us the sights there. This will be fun-another super rich family. Thank heaven my clothes are fine. Dee wanted me to bring dresses but I've traveled a lot and rarely bring a dress and everyone here dressed in jeans, too. I did bring good shirs and blazers so was like the rest except Lello and his cashmere! See you in Palermo. Maybe I can spend some euros! So far I have spent almost nothing!