SN Designs Co

Capo d’Orlando - May 21, 2026

Today I am sad. I have to depart this beautiful place. I believe of all the beautiful places I have been, Capo d’Orlando and New Mexico have my heart, spirit, and soul.

I love it here. I have made wonderful friends walking about with Mr. Bear. And the view from my Airbnb is incredible, both night and day.

My first day in Capo d’Orlando, Mr. Bear and I met Charley and Titti at the small grocery close by. When ordering at the deli for cheese, olives, and meats, I gave it a go, but I was lost. Pounds make sense to me, but etto? A hectogram—one etto is 100 grams, meaning a quarter-pound is approximately one etto. So, I attempted to order: “Un etto, affettato molto fine, per favore.” (A quarter-pound, sliced very thin, please.)

Charley stepped in and commented, “English?”

“Yes!”

He asked what I was trying to order, and he took over. Then came the typical questions: Where are you from? How long are you here? It turns out he is originally from the USA but has lived here his whole life. He and his girlfriend, Titti, run a school teaching refugee children English and Environmental Studies. Their wonderful organization can be found at www.joyforchildren.it.

Next on my list was finding a nice bottle of wine. “Perfect, we’ll take you to our favoriCharley said. Without a second thought, off I went with Titti and Charley to a wine shop nearby.

We arrived at the funkiest wine and cheese shop, Enoteca Collovà. Since 1995, Enoteca Collovà has represented one of the most important hubs in the world of wine here (Enoteca Collovà).

Before parting ways, they pointed out where to get the best granita—a semi-frozen dessert made from sugar, water, and fresh flavorings. It is churned just enough to achieve a unique crystalline yet creamy texture, and it is traditionally served with a warm brioche. This wonderful delight is traditionally eaten for breakfast!!

Exhaustion was setting in by then, so I headed back to MareBlu—my incredible beachfront Airbnb—for a nap on the shore.

May 22

Another Beautiful Day in Capo d’Orlando

Mr. Bear and I headed out for our daily walk, this time toward the center of Capo d’Orlando. Mr. Bear decided he needed sunshades because the Sicilian sun is so bright it hurts his eyes—so that became priority number one.

Here are a few pictures from our walk. Just an FYI—the water here is as cold as Maine, yet that man in the photo is out there swimming! I also captured a sign showing the sister cities of Capo d’Orlando, and a roadside gym where you can stop along the way to do a few exercises.

In the cute town center, we discovered the most charming children’s shop to source his sunshades.

Moving along, we discover another typical local shopwhere household items are sold—carrying anything from a washing machine to a kitchen mixer.

By the time we finished, lunch was in order. Oops—it was after 2:00 PM, which is exactly when shops and restaurants close for the afternoon. Wondering where to find something to eat, a shop owner leaving his storefront kindly pointed me towardAntica Panetteria, a local bakery. For my beach picnic,