The Freestyle Experiment

Linda and I are great planners.  We can spend 9 months planning a 2 week vacation.  Figuring out where we would like to stay, where we would like to eat and what we would like to do.  For us it's a way of extending a 2 week vacation into 9 months.  I know it's not the method many people prefer but we really enjoy it.  For1/3 of this vacation we decided to try something different.  No reservation, just an outline of where we would like to go and what to do.  This method has some pluses and minuses.  One of the places that I wanted to stay for at least a short time was an "Agriturismo".  These are working farms where the owner rents out a few rooms. I believe that they are somewhat supported by the Italian government as a way of preserving the small family farms.  Something in our country we have abandoned in favor of corporate industrialized farming.  We had on scoped out in the middle of a nature preserve south of Noto.  After a 4 hr. and 30 minute drive from Marsala, and shortly after the gps that we were using to navigate there crapped out because of the lack of an internet connection in the nature reserve.  Fortunately it got us close enough that we were able to find signs that lead us to the place.  After heading to reception, no room at the in.  :-(  They were booked for the week.  This is the other edge of the Freestyling sword.  They referred us to another Agriturismo just down the road.  After finding this new Agriturismo we met the owner outside as we drove and and asked if he had a free room for the night.  He said that he did and we asked if we could look at it.  The room was very new, large and clean.  We we asked how much he said 100 euro's.  Included breakfast but not dinner.  Did I mention that no one here spoke any english.   I could tell by the look on Linda's face that she was not happy about this but as we had just been turned down 20 minutes ago, the prospect of sleeping in the car was not very appealing.  First mistake, I lobbied to stay.  Unhappy wife, not pleasant.  Interesting how we had 2 different views of this stay.  After getting settled we asked the owner if we could go for a walk around the farm.  A large place, although not by american corporate farming of a couple of large artichoke field, lemon groves, oranges and Olives.  It was a nice walk in the cool of the day but I could tell Linda was on edge about staying here.  Upon our return we asked the owner if we could purchase a bottle of wine.  He gave us two large glasses.  We sat out on their patio drank our wine and enjoyed the coolest evening since we had arrived in Sicily.   Linda still not happy but the wine did help.  By now it was about 7:30 and I could see a couple of guys arrive obviously there to cook dinner for us who looked more North African than Italian.  Finishing my wine I asked if I could help preparing dinner.  After a little bit of an argument.  I could tell it was no you don't have to, yes I want to sort of thing, they capitulated and let me in the kitchen.  I'm not sure how this happened but both Nona and Nono arrived and it ends up being a big Italian family dinner with the owners, there 1 year old son, her grandparents, 2 other guests from Bologna and us.  I helped Nona make a pizza like thing.  I think they called it schiazza, but I'm not sure, but it was good.  They also made pasta with pesto with fresh basil from their garden and olive oil from their trees.  They made bruscetta and grilled eggplant from their garden. For dessert they had "Fighi di India".  The fruit of the prickely pear.  They are everywhere in Sicily. and not is the season.  They are like the Kudzu of Sicily. This I must say was not my favorite.  The fruit had good flavor but I couldn't get past the large and frequent seeds.  I have to figure out how to use this fruit and get rid of the seeds.  The whole thing was a real treat.  They were all so nice.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It was like being invite into the family. Linda still not happy.