Aloha from Sicily!: June 2008

Volleyball - Italian Style!

This weekend we set out for Kastalia, a sports resort just south of Ragusa in Sicily. We traveled with Rob's volleyball team for a wonderfully authentic, family weekend a la Siciliano!

Three years in Sicily and more often than not, it still feels like we're visiting a culture. Without a doubt this weekend...as the only Americans on property, immersed in a family weekend getaway completely surrounded by all Sicilians, we felt the subtle shift that comes from being a guest in a culture to being a part of it.

So here's the coveted holy grail of the weekend surrounded by Hawaii's state flower - the hibiscus!

Volleyball - Italian Style!

Rob vows that the team shall drink from the cup of victory!!!!

Now tell me does this look to you like a bunch of champion kick ass volleyball players? Or just a gaggle of volleyball lovin' family and friends?

We shall find out before the weekend is over.

Volleyball - Italian Style!

Summer is nearly here and our first stop was to the pool. Rob and I are water lovers to da max! We couldn't get in that olympic size pool fast enough.

It still amazes me how we're exactly half way around the world from home and yet Hawaii always seems to find me! Check out these kona tiki surf shorts. We also saw a player wearing an Hawaii Pacific University shirt and a Hawaii t-shirt. Hawaii wear is definitely the rage this season in Sicily. We're seeing fewer speedos and more board shorts. Thank God!

Volleyball - Italian Style!

Love watching the Italian boys at play!

Volleyball - Italian Style!

A little peace and inspiration is great prep for a volleyball game. So we spent the morning at the sea. Tourist season hasn't yet begun in Sicily so the shores were still brimming of shells! I walked the beach, waded out in to the water, and collected shells while Rob pummeled through his sudoku.

Volleyball - Italian Style!

After we had our fill of leisure, it was time for Rob to shift in to bull dog mode!

Game on!

Volleyball - Italian Style!

Let the games begin!

Volleyball - Italian Style!

The competition showed up with nuns in tow. Man, talk about playing the intimidation card! They'd wander out on court. Scowl in the direction of our team. and hung out by the score keeper....

We had no nuns with us. Just Rob,the token American giant. He's the only American on a team in the league.

For Sicily's community league playoffs that included volleyball, soccer and basketball...I'd guess there were at least 5,000 in attendance.

Volleyball - Italian Style!

Here's the Motta boys team and their coach! Every time Rob would nail the ball the boys would chant "Ba Boom!"

Volleyball Italian Style

In one weekend this community league from Motta with players from age 16 to 45 rose through the ranks and become rock stars! That's right...They WON!

Volleyball Champions

Not only did Motta win all its matches. It was the only Catania volleyball team in the whole league to rank first place in any division!

I've dubbed Elsa, Julia and Martina the Sicilian spice girls. And do these girls know how to work it...whether it's pummeling the ball on court, dancing in their bikinis by the pool, or posing like rockstars for the camera!

Romania: The Hunt for Blood!

My name is Jacque LeBlanc. And I am a vampire.

As soon as the sunset, we embarked on our journey to Romania in search of the father land.

I slept by day on the bus under the caring hands of my fledglings.

I slept some more under the watchful eye of my creator Dracula aka Vlad the Impaler of Romania, a celebrated prince who united the country by scaring the blood out of his enemies with his gruesome impaling tactics.

Before I tell you our story...I must tell you...I am a very sleepy vampire.

Romania: In Hunt of Blood!

Why are we in Romania? Because all vacationing vampires must make the pilgrimage to the fatherland. And American vampires on a budget, must flee to eastern europe to evade the euro, which has drained all the life force from the dollar.

The first thing any vampire does when traveling is to find a suitable and safe lair to sleep during daylight. While budget friendly, camping does not provide sufficient protection from sunlight and leaves you vulnerable to attacks from other vampires.