Primo Giorno - Day 1

After spending a few hours at the beach yesterday, we headed to another beach to watch the sunset "il tramonto" (a new word for me).  This next place was a chiringuito (beach bar), which hosted a pretty big party with a DJ and people dancing.

By that time, it was 9:30 pm, and probably a good time to head to bed after only two hours of sleep in the preceding 36 hours.  But, when in Mazara....

And so, we headed home for a quick shower.  I am staying in a 1 BR flat in the city center, owned by Francesco's family, and he is staying at his parents' house, about five minutes away by Vespa :).

Francesco came and picked me up at about 11:30 pm and we headed out.  We grabbed some dinner at a local spot that was really popular.  Last night's meal was "arancine."  Arancia in Italian means orange, and arancine are little oranges.  Well, not really, but they look like them.  In reality, they are fried bread, stuffed with different things.

Based on the shape of the arancine, you can tell what is inside.  I had two of them, one stuffed with saffron risotto, fontina and prosciutto, and the other with a tomato ragout.

They are really quite good.  Oh, and I should mention (in case the Paleo police are reading), I am eating a ton of non palo stuff this week.  I want to try everything, and think I am doing a pretty good job so far.  :)

After eating the arancine on Niccola's roof deck, we cruised around the town.  It was amazing how many people, including families with little kids, older people, younger people and really everyone, were out at 1:00 am on a Sunday night, showing no signs of heading home either.  

Here is a pic of Claudia and her three year old niece Aurora, going strong at 1:15 am.

We walked around a bit more, listened to a traditional Sicilian band, and finally by about 2:30 am, I was back home and fat asleep.  What a great first day of vacation it was!