Perfect Days in... Sicily [antikvár]

THAT SICILY Find out what makes the island tick, experience its unique ^ flair - just like the Sicilians themselves. GRANITA FOR BREAKFAST If you want to shock the Sicilians, all you have to do is eat yoghurt, muesli or even mortadella and cheese along with your cappuccino at breakfast. For Sicilians a black espresso and a freshly baked pastry such as a cannolo or a cornetto (a cousin of the croissant) - often enjoyed at bar counter - is more than enough. Except in the summer when the locals don their designer sunglasses and start the day with an almond, mulberry or lemon granita and a brioche. NO NEED TO RUSH Any civil servant or office worker who does not make a point of drinking an espresso and having a chat on the piazza during working hours, risks losing face. Take a leaf out of the Sicilians' book and do not rush from attraction to attraction, but instead be inspired by the leisurely Sicilian siesta. As Is often the case, less can be more, so embrace the laid-back pace of life! A WORDLESS LANGUAGE Sicilians are masters of body language. To outwit their foreign rulers they devised a way of communicating with secret signs. If the person you are speaking to bores his forefinger Into the corner of his mouth, it means he enjoyed his food; if he gives a quick nod, it is the same as a brusque "no". By all means, try to copy some of them but, if In doubt, you should check so that you do not provoke your Sicilian by using the wrong gestures. MAMMA'S COOKING You will only find menus with prices In tourist resorts and very expensive restaurants - everywhere else, the csmer/ere will tell you what the mamma is cooking today or proudly present his guests with the fresh catch of fish for them to choose from. In these old-fashioned, traditional trattoria an authentic Sicilian lunch like this can easily last four hours and always ends with a glass of Averna and a fair bill.