what makes the difference is people

the back of the cottage, the blue entrance to our apartment | nikon F801s + Kodak Ektar 100

i have already told you something about how special our staying in the southern corner of Sicily had been. i have to admit, it was hard to leave.

now, one month after we came back from our Sicilia trip, when i think about it, the first images that occur to me come from our days over there: wandering around Pachino countryside, exploring Vendicari Natural Reserve, drinking aperitivo in Marzamemi, watching the pretty wooden boats in Portopalo di Capo Passero, having gelato in Noto, walking on the seaside, the cottage's blue doors, cozy porch and hammock... ♥

a sketch of the cottage from my travel journal

the front of the cottage | nikon F801s + Kodak Ektar 100

since i found this lovely cottage on airbnb, i had been dreaming about it, even before we actually saw it. then, when we finally arrived, it was way better that i thought. 

it's a small one floor building, with a porch and a big garden filled with fruit trees. all around all you can see is tomato fields, almond groves and vineyards. it's absolute peace. a light wind is alway blowing softly, and on the roof there is a stargazing spot, with lounge chairs, candles and cushions.

when we got there, Laura and Gianluca, our hosts who live in the front part of the cottage, were about to have lunch with bread, olive oils, fresh tomatoes and cheese, and invited us to join them. could not hope for a warmer welcome.
the inside of the cottage definitely dazzled us, thanks to Laura 's great taste in decor and interior design. she renovated the place by herself, which is now a gorgeous mix of wood, white, vintage lace, with some splash of bright blue.

Portopalo di Capo Passero | nikon F801s + Kodak Ektar 100

anyway, it was not the beautiful appearance to make it unforgettable. 

Gianluca is as passionate for vintage scooters as we are, and we ended up sharing stories about road trips, bicycles, film photography. Laura played the perfect host, giving us insider tips on what to do and what to see, to make the most out of our two days in the area.

it may seem the most trivial thought but, especially there, and throughtout the whole Sicilian journey, what really made the difference, making this trip one of our best ever, was the people we met. from the hosts, to the funny waiter, from the kind man who handed us 1 liter of gasoline when we run out of it in the middle of nowhere, to the guy who told us everything about the art of italian tiles.

it's easier to share happiness, love and passion when you live in such a beautiful land.

♥ Sicilia

from my travel journal | cottage details and Isola delle Correnti 

piazza Regina Margherita, Marzamemi | nikon F801s + Kodak Ektar 100

Marzamemi details | nikon F801s + Kodak Ektar 100
on the right > the sign of Liccamuciula shop - a must see! 

the porch of the cottage | nikon F801s + Kodak Ektar 100

tomatoes | a toast on the seaside in front of Isola delle Correnti | sleepy Marco in the cottage | VscoCam

Oasi di Vendicari | nikon F801s + Kodak Ektar 100

Oasi di Vendicari | nikon F801s + Kodak Ektar 100

if you need some very useful informations about this wonderful corner of Sicily, i highly recommend you to take a look at {italian only} my talented friend Irene's guide: guida pratica della punta sud della Sicilia

to read more about our road trip across Sicilia:
* Sicilia on the road, 10 days and 2 wheels
* analogue walk in Palermo
* Sicilian color palette
* from Sicilia with love: travel souvenirs
* 7 reasons we will visit Sicily again

one last shot before leaving | | nikon F801s + Kodak Ektar 100