Final Reflections

My journey to Sicily has come to an end.  Today, we made the long trip across the Atlantic.  I have a few brief final reflections.

1.  We all have made decisions that have had profound consequences on our own personal lives or the lives of others.  Vincenzo Farfaglia, Giuseppe Rinella and Frances Facone all made the decision to leave their homes for an unknown land.  Because of their decision, these two wonderful people met, fell in love, got married and had a family.

2.  Sicily is an intense land marked by centuries of a very complex history.  The Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Spanish and World War II all have left an amazing impact on a very profound culture.  Thus, it is easier to understand the contrast between the fervor of Catholicism vs a noticeable anti-clericalism, and the friendliness of the Sicilians vs their horrid driving habits.

3.  Whenever we ask for a cannoli at a good Italian restaurant or bakery, we need to keep in mind that one cannoli is actually a cannolo.  Cannolo is the Italian language singular for the famous Sicilian pastery which has Arabic roots.  Cannoli  is the plural, such as when you purchase a box of cannoli.  Thus, "leave the gun and take the cannoli," not "...leave the cannolis" and "these cannoli were made by nuns who took a vow of silence," not "...these cannolis..."