The Romance of Off-Season Travel in Sicily

애들빙자여행러(HansJung)
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  • PLACES & TRAVEL

Departing for Sicily in February when the weather is unfavorable. The author introduces the appeal of off-season travel, allowing for leisurely exploration and full immersion, through ten episodes.

Episodes

  1. 10/04/2025

    9. Left Alone on Isola Bella: The Beauty of Off-Season Travel

    This is an excerpt from a blog magazine article detailing a Korean family's off-season visit to Sicily. The writer describes the charm of visiting Taormina's Isola Bella during the off-season, highlighting its tranquility and quietness compared to the crowded tourist hotspot it becomes during peak season. Specifically, they note that during the off-season, the cable car wasn't operating and there were no crowds, allowing for private moments. However, they also mention inconveniences like cold seawater and closed facilities. Despite this, the author highly values the advantages of off-season travel, such as easy parking, flexible schedules, and lower costs, and expresses their intention to travel during the off-season again next time.

    28 min

  2. 10/03/2025

    8. When My Stomach Sighs: A Culinary Pilgrimage Through Sicily

    A Korean family shares their experiences traveling through Sicily in search of local ingredients and distinctive foods. The author finds meaning in purchasing fresh local foods instead of souvenirs at travel destinations, showing particular interest in Sicilian ingredients. The piece includes reviews of purchasing local specialties like the famous tuna cans and pistachio spread from the village of Marzamemi, along with introductions to shops selling handmade pasta noodles and prosciutto, among other local foods. The author emphasizes that the fresh taste of nature is the essence of Italian cuisine, concluding the piece with a lament that their stomach is too small to enjoy all the delicious food.

    27 min

  3. 10/02/2025

    7. From Temples to Tapas: Sicily Meets Spain

    This Korean travel essay details experiences in Sicily, particularly the challenges of planning a travel route while traversing the island's east and west coasts. The author emphasizes seeking out hidden local eateries over tourist spots, detailing a visit to a restaurant near Agrigento (La Lanterna). They share the experience of tasting traditional Sicilian dishes like offal cuisine paired with local wine, including an amusing anecdote about the restaurant owner mentioning the political situation in Korea. Overall, it conveys the vast natural landscapes and authentic local atmosphere of Sicily.

    25 min

  4. 10/01/2025

    6. Dining Dangerously: Unmasking Sicily's Mysterious Restaurant Receipt

    This account details the experiences of a Korean writer traveling to Taormina, Sicily during the off-season month of February. The main content focuses on the author's early strolls, disappointment with closed shops, and a lunch experience at the restaurant Bistrot du Monde, recommended by their host. The central narrative revolves around the fish dish recommended that day and the subsequent **mysterious billing error (wine price discrepancy and missing items)** that occurred during the meal. Overall, it provides a detailed account of Taormina's off-season scenery, a culinary experience at one restaurant, and the billing-related mishap.

    24 min

  5. 10/01/2025

    5. Gastronomic Exploration of Ragusa and the Solidarity of Flavors

    This article details the author's dining experiences while traveling in the Ragusa region of Sicily. The author heavily relies on Korean reviews and recommendations when finding restaurants during travel. While searching for a restaurant open on Sunday, they discovered **‘La Capinera’**, located on the outskirts. This restaurant had a high Google rating, and despite visiting without a reservation, it was evident it was a very popular traditional Sicilian restaurant packed with local families. The author ordered various Sicilian traditional samplers, steaks (tomahawk, lamb, etc.), and beer. They share their experience of enjoying a hearty steak meal, contrasting with the **local lunch culture (simple wine and pasta)**, along with their thoughts on the reasonable pricing.

    27 min

  6. 09/30/2025

    4. Sicilian Wines and Volcanic Flavors

    This article centers on the wine tour and tasting experiences of a Korean travel-loving writer during their Sicily trip. Though not a wine expert, the writer has enjoyed wine region travel and details their dining and pairing experience at the ‘Benanti’ winery near Mount Etna in Sicily, visited during the off-season month of February. This experience was a private tasting led by the son of the winery family, and the author emphasizes that it offered the chance to taste the finest Sicilian food and wine. The piece also shares various small wine-related joys discovered in Sicily, such as visiting a natural wine bar in Palermo and finding excellent, affordable wine in an unexpected place.

    25 min

  7. 09/29/2025

    3. Sicily on the Go: Street Food Adventures

    This Korean travelogue offers an honest review of Sicilian street food and local culinary experiences. The author describes how their pre-trip food principles crumbled, particularly mentioning the difficulty of finding granita during the off-season and its increasingly consistent quality. It also covers the high cost of breakfast attempts to eat like a local and subsequent changes to meal planning. It specifically visits restaurants frequented by celebrities like Baek Jong-won, comparing personal evaluations and family reactions to divisive dishes like offal burgers and other street foods. Finally, it shares opinions on cannoli, a ricotta cheese-based dessert, and concludes reflections on local coffee culture by recounting the best espresso of a lifetime experienced near Palermo.

    25 min

  8. 09/29/2025

    2. Sleeping in Stone Houses: Living the Sicilian Way

    This article documents a personal exploration of Sicily's unique residential and architectural culture. The Korean author mentions the sustainability of stone construction, a hallmark of European housing, particularly noting the transformation of centuries-old buildings into modern living spaces in cities like Catania and Palermo. It also details the discomfort experienced due to the lack of insulation in Sicilian homes and the limitations of winter heating systems, alongside the endurance training-like experiences in mountain lodges in Noto, relying on fireplaces or solar power. The piece concludes with reflections on Italy's approach to preserving these ancient structures, which reflect both the environment and history over long periods.

    12 min

  9. 09/28/2025

    1. Driving Through Chaos: Palermo Behind the Wheel

    This article focuses on the Korean author's driving experiences while traveling in Sicily, specifically highlighting a trip during the off-season month of February. The author details the chaotic traffic conditions and poor road conditions in Palermo, while also sharing experiences that contradict common preconceptions about driving in Sicily—such as having no major parking issues despite driving a large vehicle. Additionally, the author shares the process of registering for the ZTL (Traffic Restricted Zone), the ease of parking during the off-season, and anecdotes about incurring additional costs for tire damage and insufficient fuel when returning the rental car. Overall, this article provides practical advice and personal anecdotes about driving and parking a rental car in Sicily, particularly in the Palermo area.

    11 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Departing for Sicily in February when the weather is unfavorable. The author introduces the appeal of off-season travel, allowing for leisurely exploration and full immersion, through ten episodes.

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