Travel. Huxley summed it up to proximate perfection when he wrote, to travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries. Travel is exciting; people undertake it for so many reasons – but with one thing in common, I think. They have subjective curiosities about places other than their own, and set off to satiate those interests. I have travelled extensively since I was quite young, especially in France and in Italy, and, regardless of an excellent and extensively varied education, have repeatedly come up short in exploring just where I have happened to be.
Don’t you have a guidebook, even a guide, I hear you say? Of course. But are they ever enough? Not in my experience – and it’s not Miss Quested’s bleat about the real somewhere or other, either. It’s all too superficial. To me, when I am looking at an ancient temple it’s not important of itself whether or not it is x metres high; I’d rather know some of the stories about it, who built it, when and why, what happened in it, and so on. Places and things are real – not purely repositories of fact, in other words. And how frustrating it can be to come home only to read a little more and find out what actually went on right under your nose, albeit 2,000 years ago, or that something really interesting to you is happening the day after you leave. This is particularly true about travelling in that most glorious of Italian places – Sicily. Quite frankly, the rubbish that is spawned – and continually regurgitated - about Sicily, is hilarious. My adorable and tirelessly-photographed husband and I have been visiting there for 20 years or so, and on our very first experience found that readily accessible information, whether practical or imaginative, was non-existent.
Hence jane’sItaly:Sicily. In this book I have of course set out “fact”, and repeated some of the regurgitations you’ll find everywhere. But it goes further. It’s what I have christened a travelguideologue©: you can use the text as a planner (hotels and sights/sites when possible are hyperlinked so you can check out where you are and whether or not you want to go there, reserve online, and so on. Very convenient. You are also given the information, of course, but I’ve added in much more – whether it’s literature, ancient history, music, culinary arts, Caravaggio or you name it. I also give you the gen on intineraries, how long things might take – and from time to time, what really is a waste of time. jane’sItaly:Sicily allows you to max your time on the island, or at least know in advance what you might expect. All via real experience and real visits – by us. Not a travel brochure cut down in sight. I tell you about reliable taxi/limo services, great restaurants – with edible pictures to match – and special drinks. Whilst we have friends on the island I do not bother you or them with intimacies or breaches of their privacy. Who likes a camera to be stuck under their nose?
It’s also fair to say that we enjoy our luxuries, so if we think that a place to stay is gorgeous, then it will be. And of course, vice versa! But most of all it’s fun travel; we try to max our visits too, and cram as much as we can into a day – or not, as the mood strikes. jane’sItaly:Sicily is also what other guides cannot be: current. Whilst already published as a book, now in ePub form I am able to update whenever relevant – and can let you know about the news and dont's in the additional itineraries. So what will you find in jane’sItaly:Sicily? A practical handbook for planning travelling in a little-known and quirky place based on real experiences (yes, we use the book every time we go), not word of mouth or sleight of hand, incorporating aspects and references to the multitude of enchanting things – mythical and real – that have influenced Sicily and her people (it’s La Sicilia) for more than 5,000 years, whether those influences be military, culinary, musical, scientific, artistic, anthropological, historical, unlawful – and humorous.
I am an avid reader of the works of John Julius Norwich. His wonderful eye and way with words cause peoples and civilisations to leap back into the 21st century. His capacity to sift through to his subjects’ essential humanity or just to select something unusual or memorable about them is an art in itself that continually delights the reader. I have tried to emulate that art in my own way. jane’sItaly:Sicily grew out of my travel notebooks and diaries; you’ll see the Testimonials tag to see what other users have to say about it. Obviously Sicily is a favourite destination for us. We hope that you love it too.
Buon viaggio!
jane