I’ve been to Italy a few times but last year with your group was my first time to Sicily. Alfred explains everything perfectly. As a Sicilian born in America, the moment I arrived, Sicily grabbed my heart which continues to stay with me today. It was like coming home.
Love it! Calabria had the same pull for my husband and I. On off for 9 years, and now nine years here! My husbands dad was from Messina, his mother from Villa San Giovanni. Hubby was born here, lived in Villa till he was twenty, then immigrated to Canada after meeting me, ( A Canadian who didn't speak Italian). He assimilated for me into Canadian culture, but he always had Calabria/Sicily in his heart! We never came back until 2007 and since then, we knew this is where we wanted to be! Overlooking his dad's birth place from our own slice of Calabrian paradise. Thank you so much for the evoking of memories for so many families. La vita e un brioche.....!
I enjoyed Alfred story, I am from Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 but my parents are from Pachino and Noto Sicily. Keep up the awesome work you do with your family and Alfred.
Hello Alfred & Eszter! Watching this segment brought tears to my eyes. I felt the same as Alfred when I came to Catania. The Reverse Immigrant book was my inspiration to come to Sicily and if it wasn't for Alfred and his true to life descriptions of beautiful Sicily, I may have never made the trip. I hope to come back one day with my nieces and see you guys. I've been taking an Italian language class, so I can speak the language better. Thank you for sharing your experiences Alfred, as you are an inspiration for many that wish they were there with you. I miss you both and have fond memories of our time together. ❤
This was a very beautiful interview. I was born in Sicily and lost my Italian citizenship when I became a US citizen in 1987. I wish there was an easy process to regain my Italian citizenship. Beautiful episode!!!!
I really want to do this. I sold my house in Tuscany six years ago because of family. Now I’m ready for a move. I’m not Sicilian but I’d love to love to live my later years in Sicily. I believe I could qualify for a retirement visa. Can you help?! Sono pronta!
This was really emotional hearing Alfred talk about his family. I’m so thrilled you’re happy & content living in beautiful Sicily. Your videos are a ray of sunshine for us all💝
Truly a heartfelt story by Alfred and thank you Ezster for sharing it with us, I am not Sicilian but rather 3rd generation Calabrese, my great-grandparents immigrated to the Stati Uniti in 1900. Unfortunately, as they tried their hardest to assimilate, the traditions and language were not passed down, I regret this every day. I visited Calabria in 2022 and felt like Al that there is where I belonged so I have taken the steps to make it happen. I still don't have the language down but I am returning for a 3 month stay soon to scout out a place to hang my hat. Perhaps one day we will meet
Congratulations Dott. Zappala. You surely have described Sicily very very well.My son and daughter are both lawyers too and yesterday we returned from Parma, and this hoilday I consider to be the holiday of a life time. Our son is going into his 50th. birthday while our daughter is slightly youger, so basically I understand you when you say that you mostly miss your sons and nephews. Congratulations once again.
I really enjoyed this video came to Sicily last year and fell in love my mother was born and raised in Sicily father from Naples working on my duel now hopefully looking at snow birding from florida
Hi Eszter and Alfred, I had hoped to have visited Sicily by now but have been held up by a courtcase which seems to be never ending. I'm envious of you both there enjoying the fascinating history of those beautiful buildings, ancient ruins, stunning sea views, friendly laidback atmosphere and wonderful food. The only negative things I heard about sicily is that it needs better environmental remediation. Also, it gets crowded in Mondello during August. Nevertheless, Sicily is still at the top of my vacation list because I have so many realtives and friends there. I enjoy your videos very much.
That is a good Aperol Spritz recipe. On the fashionable patios of mainland Italia they top that up with soda water so you get less of the tasty ingredients. You found a good small town bar.
I can't believe it's been so long ago since you were a guest on my cable access show in Waltham! Love watching you two! My family and I were in Italy and Sicily last October
I enjoy watching your videos, I myself was in Sicily with my wife and daughter in 2022. And the island immediately became my favorite place in Italy. and I have been to many places in Italy. so if I had to live somewhere other than my city Copenhagen in Denmark, I would choose a city in Sicily. Thanks again for some great videos. Greetings Nicolai
I ❤yous❗I'm a Sicilian 2nd Gen in USA that wants to uproot and permanently live on the island. My mother thinks I'm crazy, I think she's crazy for not wanting to do the same as me. ( She ❤ fast paced life and lots of shopping malls, NOT me) As soon as my youngest daughter graduates, we doing it. (4 years) Mom, I will miss you❗😂
What a great video this morning you two. I'm 66 living on a small horse farm in East Texas. My paternal grandparents were born in Palermo and sailed to the USA and opened a shoe store in the French Quarter in New Orleans. My mother was born in Woburn Mass and married my father after the war ended and my father and mother started their family but after two years of shoveling snow he brought my eldest siblings and Mom to Dallas Texas. My grandfather was a professional musician and played with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for many years and taught music lessons in his studio. I learned so much from my grandfather Joeseph Bernardo Cinquemani (Fivehands) but never enough as he passed in 1976 the spring before my graduation in May. I've never given up on the idea I've had for many years of going to Sicily. Watching your video this morning only inspired me more to keep on dreaming about it and one day I'll realize my dream! I'm a retired fitness specialist and owned and operated 9 health food stores and Pilates studios. My knees took a very bad toll and they're no longer functional and I'm in terrible pain all the time. They've wanted to replace them now for 18 years but I kept on working throughout the last 10+ years. Today I can barely walk down here to my barn to take care of my horses and other animals. It's time to take action. I will be going to the orthopedic specialist Wed. Morning and I'll be scheduling my bilateral knee replacements soon. This channel of y'all's gives me inspiration and hope that I too can go home to Sicily. I know I belong there, not here. I have a deep yearning in my soul. I named my youngest daughter Cicilie Marie Cinquemani Falbo. Her name is pronounced Sicily. I'll be getting in touch with you both in the near future to make a plan... I couldn't think of two better people to ask for help and advice in making plans for my journey to my ancestors homeland. Love to each of you, and thank you again for this super great video this morning! Grazie and ciao ciao!! Sincerely, Annette Cinquemani Falbo
@@alfredzappala3160 indeed you will Al! Your accent reminds me so much of my mother Sophie! Mostly all of her sister's married Italian men! My mother's name was Stolarsky... Her parents escaped underground from communism in Warsaw Poland. My maternal grandparents met on the ship and married in Boston and bought some acreage in Woburn, my grandmother was a master gardener and raised those red chickens.. Dang it what are they called? I forgot at the moment! My mom loved Massachusettes! My mother took all six of her children there for my cousin's wedding in 1977 Bobby Cianfrocca. We spent an entire week there and got to go to all the wonderful places she loved! It's was beautiful, I got to go horse back riding up in New Hampshire and even rode one of the Budweiser Clydesdales when we took the tour! The stable hands in the barn helped me up onto the back of one of those majestic horses backs and away I went! What a thrill, my mom was beside herself!!! She was like OMG only Annette.... I've loved horses all my life and she told me I learned to say horse before I said momma or daddy!!! I would love to talk with you more about you transition... What a conversation we would have! Have a beautiful day over there in Sicily, the sun is finally shining here today, we've had terrible thunderstorms and many many inches of rain for weeks now! I gotta get my tractor fired up and get my place mowed!!! Snakes love to hide in the high grass! Take care Al, I'll be in touch! Annette
That speech sounds as a tale. Many sicilian expated has got a case plenty of emotional stories and many times the edge between fantasy and reality fade away, besides is that wich used say Leonardo Sciascia (one the most sicilian writers). In any chance Sicily has got ever an unbelievable actractive power. Sometimes some sicilian can't stands there and run away, but..... soon can't resist to come back (I know many people whose did it). It's simply a misterios magic land..... it's like the sitens sings which lured Ulisse on "Odissea" and keep him.... besides Omero according history documents lived in Sicily and..... maybe him too was stucked here by that land
Wonderful video. We also have family in Sicily on my father’s side, and on my mother’s side in the Puglia region. We’re missing information on my mother’s side so are using my Grandfather’s from Sicily to get our dual citizenship. Would you have any suggestions about completing the ‘paperwork’? Would it be more efficient to have someone do the filings for us? I love all your videos and have shared those with my brother.
All four grandparents are from Riesi, but my parents insisted on always speaking English in the house. Any suggestions for a retiree to go to Sicily for 3 months to try to learn the Sicilian language?
Going to Sicily in two weeks. I also have Italian grandparents. What cities /areas do you recommend for shopping eating etc. we booked our rooms for the first week and need to find hotel or Airbnb for the rest of our trip suggestions would be awesome Considering Calabria for a day or two, teoromina possibly .
Great videos! Wonderful couple! Where, exactly in Sicily are you located? We are considering possible relocation to Italy - my father was Trentino, my mother Estonian. I speak Italian, but not Sicilian. Any suggestions?
Here is the story of two of our other friends who moved from the U.S to Sicily ua-cam.com/video/Gtma-m6o7w4/v-deo.html
I’ve been to Italy a few times but last year with your group was my first time to Sicily. Alfred explains everything perfectly. As a Sicilian born in America, the moment I arrived, Sicily grabbed my heart which continues to stay with me today. It was like coming home.
One of your best show Thank you AL your story will inspire millions of Sicilian
Love it! Calabria had the same pull for my husband and I. On off for 9 years, and now nine years here! My husbands dad was from Messina, his mother from Villa San Giovanni. Hubby was born here, lived in Villa till he was twenty, then immigrated to Canada after meeting me, ( A Canadian who didn't speak Italian). He assimilated for me into Canadian culture, but he always had Calabria/Sicily in his heart! We never came back until 2007 and since then, we knew this is where we wanted to be! Overlooking his dad's birth place from our own slice of Calabrian paradise. Thank you so much for the evoking of memories for so many families. La vita e un brioche.....!
I enjoyed Alfred story, I am from Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 but my parents are from Pachino and Noto Sicily.
Keep up the awesome work you do with your family and Alfred.
I liked hearing Alfred's story again. I didn't realize he spoke so much Sicilian and so little Italian. Of course it makes sense.
I am also a dual citizen but my GF was from Abruzzo. However, Sicily is my biggest draw in Italy. Will probably retire there.
Same for me! Father’s family from Abruzzi, mother’s family from Sicily!
Hello Alfred & Eszter! Watching this segment brought tears to my eyes. I felt the same as Alfred when I came to Catania. The Reverse Immigrant book was my inspiration to come to Sicily and if it wasn't for Alfred and his true to life descriptions of beautiful Sicily, I may have never made the trip. I hope to come back one day with my nieces and see you guys. I've been taking an Italian language class, so I can speak the language better. Thank you for sharing your experiences Alfred, as you are an inspiration for many that wish they were there with you. I miss you both and have fond memories of our time together. ❤
Thank you for the kind words. We totally remember you!
This was a very beautiful interview. I was born in Sicily and lost my Italian citizenship when I became a US citizen in 1987. I wish there was an easy process to regain my Italian citizenship. Beautiful episode!!!!
GRAZIE !
I really want to do this. I sold my house in Tuscany six years ago because of family. Now I’m ready for a move. I’m not Sicilian but I’d love to love to live my later years in Sicily. I believe I could qualify for a retirement visa. Can you help?! Sono pronta!
This was really emotional hearing Alfred talk about his family. I’m so thrilled you’re happy & content living in beautiful Sicily. Your videos are a ray of sunshine for us all💝
Thank you!
Loved hearing your story Alfred, so easy to get emotional listening. Enjoy your stay, you two are amazing.
Its a rainy day in Georgia. Perfect to curl up with un cafe and one of Al's adventures in Sicilia books.
Grazie!
Truly a heartfelt story by Alfred and thank you Ezster for sharing it with us, I am not Sicilian but rather 3rd generation Calabrese, my great-grandparents immigrated to the Stati Uniti in 1900. Unfortunately, as they tried their hardest to assimilate, the traditions and language were not passed down, I regret this every day. I visited Calabria in 2022 and felt like Al that there is where I belonged so I have taken the steps to make it happen. I still don't have the language down but I am returning for a 3 month stay soon to scout out a place to hang my hat. Perhaps one day we will meet
Wow! I cried watching this video
My husband and I lived in Nicolosi when he was in the Navy. I loved it so much, best place ever!
Another great video!!! Just keep em' coming❤
Grazie
Congratulations Dott. Zappala. You surely have described Sicily very very well.My son and daughter are both lawyers too and yesterday we returned from Parma, and this hoilday I consider to be the holiday of a life time. Our son is going into his 50th. birthday while our daughter is slightly youger, so basically I understand you when you say that you mostly miss your sons and nephews. Congratulations once again.
Thank you for the kind words..
Absolutely grabs your heart and soul. Changed forever.
Buona domenica a tutti! It is a beautiful sunny day in Ispica today! Feeling so grateful ❤
Good morning Al and Ezster
Super episode. Great job Alfred and Ezster! 🇮🇹
Thank you for sharing your lovely life Alfred. I love hearing about Sicily…. Wishing you both a happy week ahead!
Grazie!
My wife came from Sicily when she was 8.
Now 50 years later we'll be spending 6 months in Sicily.
Beautiful!
I really enjoyed this video came to Sicily last year and fell in love my mother was born and raised in Sicily father from Naples working on my duel now hopefully looking at snow birding from florida
Thanks for sharing 👍..
I love your videos but perhaps none as much as this one. So touching and inspiring. Thank you!
Thank you!
Hi Eszter and Alfred, I had hoped to have visited Sicily by now but have been held up by a courtcase which seems to be never ending. I'm envious of you both there enjoying the fascinating history of those beautiful buildings, ancient ruins, stunning sea views, friendly laidback atmosphere and wonderful food.
The only negative things I heard about sicily is that it needs better environmental remediation. Also, it gets crowded in Mondello during August.
Nevertheless, Sicily is still at the top of my vacation list because I have so many realtives and friends there.
I enjoy your videos very much.
Grazie!
Buona dominica amici ❤
Great video...I would love to make it "home" b4 i die, my relatives are buried in Ragusa. Ty!
love your story, my great grandparents are from Sicily, i'd give anything to go there someday
@@vinicioreyes4792 where in Sicily?
Tell the "Don" Good Morning for me!!!
Hi Jim!
Great video love your channel, love Italy❤
That is a good Aperol Spritz recipe. On the fashionable patios of mainland Italia they top that up with soda water so you get less of the tasty ingredients. You found a good small town bar.
So much tastier for sure!
hi Al and Ezster
I can't believe it's been so long ago since you were a guest on my cable access show in Waltham! Love watching you two!
My family and I were in Italy and Sicily last October
Hi Sally!
Such a beautiful video! It should be called: what’s the meaning of life if we don’t live it? Life is short and i prefer to spend it in a low speed
I enjoy watching your videos, I myself was in Sicily with my wife and daughter in 2022. And the island immediately became my favorite place in Italy. and I have been to many places in Italy. so if I had to live somewhere other than my city Copenhagen in Denmark, I would choose a city in Sicily. Thanks again for some great videos. Greetings Nicolai
Thank you for your kind words..
Good afternoon.
I ❤yous❗I'm a Sicilian 2nd Gen in USA that wants to uproot and permanently live on the island. My mother thinks I'm crazy, I think she's crazy for not wanting to do the same as me. ( She ❤ fast paced life and lots of shopping malls, NOT me) As soon as my youngest daughter graduates, we doing it. (4 years) Mom, I will miss you❗😂
Absolutely brilliant we have the Sicilian bug and we're Irish😂 been to Palermo and heading to Catania in May we love your videos ❤
Fantastico!
Nice video! Buon Giorno, Eszter!
My grandfather’s brother was killed in WW I , they named an elementary school after him in Sicily.
That is so cool! Where?
What a great video this morning you two. I'm 66 living on a small horse farm in East Texas. My paternal grandparents were born in Palermo and sailed to the USA and opened a shoe store in the French Quarter in New Orleans. My mother was born in Woburn Mass and married my father after the war ended and my father and mother started their family but after two years of shoveling snow he brought my eldest siblings and Mom to Dallas Texas. My grandfather was a professional musician and played with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for many years and taught music lessons in his studio. I learned so much from my grandfather Joeseph Bernardo Cinquemani (Fivehands) but never enough as he passed in 1976 the spring before my graduation in May. I've never given up on the idea I've had for many years of going to Sicily. Watching your video this morning only inspired me more to keep on dreaming about it and one day I'll realize my dream! I'm a retired fitness specialist and owned and operated 9 health food stores and Pilates studios. My knees took a very bad toll and they're no longer functional and I'm in terrible pain all the time. They've wanted to replace them now for 18 years but I kept on working throughout the last 10+ years. Today I can barely walk down here to my barn to take care of my horses and other animals. It's time to take action. I will be going to the orthopedic specialist Wed. Morning and I'll be scheduling my bilateral knee replacements soon. This channel of y'all's gives me inspiration and hope that I too can go home to Sicily. I know I belong there, not here. I have a deep yearning in my soul. I named my youngest daughter Cicilie Marie Cinquemani Falbo. Her name is pronounced Sicily. I'll be getting in touch with you both in the near future to make a plan... I couldn't think of two better people to ask for help and advice in making plans for my journey to my ancestors homeland. Love to each of you, and thank you again for this super great video this morning! Grazie and ciao ciao!! Sincerely, Annette Cinquemani Falbo
Gosh..what a great comment. Looking forward to hearing from you!
@@alfredzappala3160 indeed you will Al! Your accent reminds me so much of my mother Sophie! Mostly all of her sister's married Italian men! My mother's name was Stolarsky... Her parents escaped underground from communism in Warsaw Poland. My maternal grandparents met on the ship and married in Boston and bought some acreage in Woburn, my grandmother was a master gardener and raised those red chickens.. Dang it what are they called? I forgot at the moment! My mom loved Massachusettes! My mother took all six of her children there for my cousin's wedding in 1977 Bobby Cianfrocca. We spent an entire week there and got to go to all the wonderful places she loved! It's was beautiful, I got to go horse back riding up in New Hampshire and even rode one of the Budweiser Clydesdales when we took the tour! The stable hands in the barn helped me up onto the back of one of those majestic horses backs and away I went! What a thrill, my mom was beside herself!!! She was like OMG only Annette.... I've loved horses all my life and she told me I learned to say horse before I said momma or daddy!!! I would love to talk with you more about you transition... What a conversation we would have! Have a beautiful day over there in Sicily, the sun is finally shining here today, we've had terrible thunderstorms and many many inches of rain for weeks now! I gotta get my tractor fired up and get my place mowed!!! Snakes love to hide in the high grass! Take care Al, I'll be in touch! Annette
Great Video and very moving! Ciao from Bagheria, Can't wait to move here permanently.
Glad you enjoyed it!
What a beautiful view to the sea from the house!!
Planning a trip in the fall! Viva Sicilia!!
Great ! Let us know if we can help!
Beautiful video ❤
Grazie!
That speech sounds as a tale. Many sicilian expated has got a case plenty of emotional stories and many times the edge between fantasy and reality fade away, besides is that wich used say Leonardo Sciascia (one the most sicilian writers). In any chance Sicily has got ever an unbelievable actractive power. Sometimes some sicilian can't stands there and run away, but..... soon can't resist to come back (I know many people whose did it). It's simply a misterios magic land..... it's like the sitens sings which lured Ulisse on "Odissea" and keep him.... besides Omero according history documents lived in Sicily and..... maybe him too was stucked here by that land
How I miss you guys!!!!
Wonderful video. We also have family in Sicily on my father’s side, and on my mother’s side in the Puglia region. We’re missing information on my mother’s side so are using my Grandfather’s from Sicily to get our dual citizenship. Would you have any suggestions about completing the ‘paperwork’? Would it be more efficient to have someone do the filings for us? I love all your videos and have shared those with my brother.
Email us info@YouMeAndSicily.com
All four grandparents are from Riesi, but my parents insisted on always speaking English in the house. Any suggestions for a retiree to go to Sicily for 3 months to try to learn the Sicilian language?
You'll get it once you live there! 😊 sicilianu: t'anssigni Quannu ci vivi 😊
Going to Sicily in two weeks. I also have Italian grandparents. What cities /areas do you recommend for shopping eating etc. we booked our rooms for the first week and need to find hotel or Airbnb for the rest of our trip suggestions would be awesome Considering Calabria for a day or two, teoromina possibly .
Email info@YouMeAndSicily.com
Have you tried a Hugo Spritz? Absolutely our favorite!
I need to try it !
Great videos! Wonderful couple! Where, exactly in Sicily are you located? We are considering possible relocation to Italy - my father was Trentino, my mother Estonian. I speak Italian, but not Sicilian. Any suggestions?
We are in Acicastello area. If you speak Italian you should be fine in Sicily.
Which town do you live in?
Aci Catena
💚🤍❤️buonasera miei valorosi🌎