ALICUDI, SICILY
JULY 25
ALICUDI IS AN UNTAMED PARADISE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. IT IS THE MOST REMOTE OF THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS, WITH FEW INHABITANTS, ALTHOUGH LOTS OF PRETTY LITTLE WHITE GOATS. IT RISES STEEP AND VOLCANIC FROM THE SEA, WITH NO REAL ROADS, JUST ANCIENT STONE STEPS CONNECTING SCATTERED WHITE HOUSES THAT CLING TO THE HILLSIDE. THE HOUSES HAVE NAMES, USUALLY THAT OF THE OWNER, AND ARE FOUND BY THE STEP NUMBER. SOME ALSO OPERATE AS RESTAURANTS. THERE ARE NO CARS, , NO BEACH CLUBS, AND BARELY ANY SHOPS - BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER. THE SHOPS THAT ARE THERE SELL EVERYTHING YOU COULD WANT, ALMOST LIKE DELIS, WITH BEAUTIFUL SICIAL PRODUCTS AND GOOD WINE. THE ONE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT IN THE HARBOUR IS GREAT, AND THE RESTAURANTS RUN BY LOCALS IN THEIR HOMES ARE AMAZING. THE SEA AROUND THE ISLAND IS CRYSTAL CLEAR, WILD, PERFECT FOR SWIMMING, AND FULL OF MARINE LIFE. THE NIGHTS ARE PITCH BLACK, MAKING THE STARS EXTREMELY VISIBLE. ALICUDI'S REMOTENESS KEEPS CROWDS AWAY AND PRESERVES A WAY OF LIFE THAT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH IN DECADES. I STAYED AT LORENZO'S HOUSE, A BEAUTIFUL AUTHENTIC PROPERTY BOOKED THROUGH AIRBNB, AND ALTHOUGH ONLY ON STEP 35, IT HAD A SENSATIONAL VIEW. WE WERE REALLY WELL LOOKED AFTER AND I WOULD GO BACK IN A HEARTBEAT.
