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| Sicily Culinary and Cultural Tour |
| Frequently Asked Questions About Our Sicily Tour |
Q. What level of physical activity should I anticipate? A. The B&B has an elevator from the street level to the main floor, however some rooms are up a second flight. The breakfast and two of our lunches are served in an outdoor space that is up a third flight. The walking tour of Ortigia takes about 2.5 hours and covers 2 miles. The streets are narrow in places and may be cobblestoned. To access the mikvah it is necessary to descend 36 steep stone steps. The visit to the Archaeological Park involves some moderate changes of elevation. The tour of the Folk Museum in Buscemi takes about 2 hours. This museum is made up of a number of separate sites and we will walk about one mile and go in and out of a number of buildings. Mt. Etna requires good walking or hiking shoes if one wishes to view some of the craters. Our visits to Noto and Modica will involve some walking on sloping streets. The Vendicari Reserve is a walk in site in order to gain access to the water. Q. What is the food like? A. In genera,l we will be having three full meals each day. Pace yourself, we try to limit the amount of food but our hosts like to show off their culinary skills to their guests. Breakfast will be buffet and feature a variety of items including fresh fruit, fruit juice, bread, rolls, yogurt, cold cuts, cheese, cereal, milk, hard boiled eggs, marmalades and coffee (espresso, cappuccino, American). Seafood will be prominently featured in our cooking classes and most meals. Sardines, tuna, prawns and other seafood, depending on what is available, are usually served. Bread, wine, both white and red, and water, carbonated and natural, are on the table at lunch and dinner. Coffee is available. Meat will be veal or beef and cold cuts. Desserts include cannoli, cassata cake, fruits tarts. Q. Are the cooking classes hands-on? A. There is hands-on (partial participation) and demo in the classes. Q. Will I have a choice at meal-times? A. Yes, there is always a variety of food available and, of course, you are free to eat what you like. When we eat in restaurants there will be a pre-arranged meal. Q. I have food allergies or sensitivities? A. Please advise us in advance and we will let you know if the tour is appropriate for you. Q. I don't drink alcohol? A. Wine, both red and white, is served with lunch and dinner. There is always water, both natural and carbonated available. Q. What are the rooms like? A. All the rooms have TV, phone, A/C, wireless internet, mini bar, private bath and hair dryer. Some rooms have sea view. Q. Is there free time? A. Yes, it depends on the day's schedule and is usually in the afternoon between 2 and 6pm. Q. Is Sicily safe for the tourist? A. Yes, but one should take the usual precautions that you would take anywhere. Pickpocketing is the most common form of crime, however we have never had any problem on our tours. Q. What is our transportation like? A. Transport will be by motor coach with fully licensed and insured drivers. Our excursions should be no longer than 2 hours to our destination. Q. Who will be accompanying us? A. Sue Baldassano and Jeff Rickin of To Grandmother's House We Go and at least one other person will be accompanying the group. Q. I am traveling alone, do you arrange for a roommate? A. There is limited space available for two people rooming together and requiring 2 single beds. We do not arrange for roommates. There is a single supplement charge. The groups are small and are usually a mixture of couples and singles. Q. What is the age range of participants? A. The majority have been from mid-40's to mid 60's. Q. I will be arriving early or staying on after the tour, can you help me with travel and accommodation arrangements? A. We can assist you with these arrangements. Q. What is not included in the tour price? A. Airfare to and from Sicily, tips to hotel personnel and drivers and any meals not specifically listed in the itinerary. Q. Is airfare included? What time should I plan to arrive on the first day? A. Airfare is not included. Arrive as close to noontime as possible this will give you enough time to settle in before the tour begins. The tour will begin with the welcome aperitif and dinner at 6:30 p.m. at the L'Approdo B&B. Q. Do you provide transfers to and from the airport in Sicily? A. Yes, but only on June 14th for arrivals at the Catania Airport. If you are traveling in Sicily and wish to meet us at the airport on that date we will provide transport for you to Ortigia. On June 22nd we will provide transport to the Catania Airport. Q. Should I purchase travel insurance? A. Yes, we advise you to protect your tour investment with insurance. Q. What is there to buy and bring back from Sicily? A. Typically, our tour members bring back food stuffs that are difficult to obtain at home. Cheese can be vac-packed for taking home. Wine, olive oil and liqueurs are popular items. Ceramics, especially those from Caltagirone, are widely available. Q. What time do activities begin in the morning and end in the evening? A. Breakfast is available from 8:30am. On most days we will depart the B&B by 9:30am. Generally, we return about 3pm, allow time for a break and leave for evening activities at about 6pm. We rarely return to the B&B after 9pm. Q. What clothing should I bring? A. Casual dress is always appropriate. Bring good, broken in walking shoes and an all weather jacket. There is a small beach a short walk from the B&B and we have scheduled a visit to Vendicari where there is swimming. Laundry service is available if needed. Q. What is the weather like in October? A. Siracusa/Ortigia - June temperatures in Siracusa average 77 High 85Low 69 Temperatures are warmer in the interior. The days are usually clear with strong sun. Rain is unlikely but the occasional heavy shower is possible. Mt. Etna's weather is extremely variable with possibility of rain, fog or strong sun (one never knows till you get there). Q. Do I need to speak Italian? A. No, but basic phrases are helpful. We provide bilingual guides. Q. What about phone and internet service? A. All the rooms have phones (cost is reasonable) and the B and B has WiFi service. There are internet cafes available. If you have a cell phone that is "unlocked" you can purchase a SIM card to get service. Phone cards are also available to call home. Q. What is the electric service like in Sicily? A. A European style plug is used, buy this item before you leave home. It is a must if you have phone and camera battery chargers and laptop computer. Q. Are camera supplies readily available? A. Yes, but it is advisable to bring rechargeable batteries with a charger and an extra or large capacity storage card for your camera. People do take a lot of pictures. Q. How do I obtain euros? A. ATMs are the best way; traveler's checks are discouraged as they require a bank visit. Avoid bank visits as they can be time consuming. Q. What credit cards can I use? A. Visa is most widely accepted. Q. How long has To Grandmother's House We Go been taking groups to Sicily? A. Since 2001, at first in the area around Palermo and from 2004 in southeastern Sicily. Q. How do I sign up? A. We require a deposit of $500. Contact us first to make sure space is available. Q. Do you accept credit cards? A. No, a personal check is acceptable. Read the Terms and Conditions carefully before sending your deposit. |
| Click below for more information on the Sicily tours. |
| Itinerary for June 14 - 22, 2009 |
| Accommodations in Sicily |
| Terms/Condtions |
| Our Teachers in Sicily |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
| More on the classes/sample menus for Sicily |
| Be sure to check out our Oaxacan Cooking, Crafts and Cultural Tour! |
| F o r more information: Phone: 718-768-4662 or 718-541-2091 e-mail: info@tograndmothershousewego.com |
