Red Rock Country

After a 3 year hiatus, its time to start posting again...

During the last week of October I visited with friends in Sedona and was treated to lots of red rocks, including local favorite Cathedral Rock.

We drove up to Page, AZ as a base camp to explore Coyote Buttes on the Utah/AZ line.  First up was sunset at Horseshoe Bend just outside of Page.

The next morning it was off to Coyote Buttes North for a spectacular hike out to 'the wave'. 

 

The next morning we were off again, this time on a guided tour of Coyote Buttes South.  The day included a fun drive over a very sandy road and more red rock formations.

 

                                               

 

And what trip to Arizona would be complete without sunset at the Grand Canyon?

Oh, Canada!

Having friends with kids going off to school can be fun!  In this case, I drove up to Halifax with Carrie Googins and her daughter Kenzie who was starting her 3rd year at Dalhousie.  Once Kenzie was settled in, Carrie and I headed off for Cape Breton Island.  

First stop was checking out the Hopewell Rocks at low tide.  Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick.

Peggy's Cove is a pretty little fishing village just south of Halifax.

Around Cape Breton Island and the Cabot Trail



The salt flats of Trapani, making couscous and another medieval town

Our last full day in Sicily.  Drove to the town of Trapani (a town I'd love to go back to some day), learned how to make seafood couscous, visited the salt flats and took a cable car up to the medieval town of Erice before heading back to Palermo and flight home the next morning.

Arancini and Timballo and Cassata, oh my!

Greek ruins..... what country are we in?

A fun day of touring the Greek ruins of Selinunte, pottery shopping, and a cooking class at Becchina Estate.  Joining us for lunch was none other than the Gianfranco Becchina - art collector, international antiquities dealer and olive oil producer. What a wonderful host! He shared lunch with us, ending with his home made green limoncello (the strongest liqueur I've had the pleasure of tasting) and then gave us a tour of his gardens and olive oil facilities.  Great day!

La Foresteria di Planeta in Menfi & first cooking class

The wines of the Planeta vineyards were paired with our meals.  Fantastico!