I listen to Jim and Margery on WGBH radio at noon (Boston-based NPR). Often they have Rick Steves on the air, talking about his tours and his books. I love listening to their banter, and although I had been on several other international tours with my husband, I wanted something less fussy and more adventuresome than those, and a Rick Steves tour sounded perfect. I heard you carry what you pack, there may be up to 5-8 miles of walking a day, some of that with stairs, and you’ll have fun people to talk with and a variety of guides. I was sold!

My sister Mary wanted just the two of us to take this journey, and she was paying (separate rooms!). She asked where have I not been that I’m curious about and Sicily was it. I had traveled to Tuscany and Rome, but knew very little about this intriguing island. And so, we began to plan. I visited Rick Steves’ site Best of Sicily in 11 Days Tour | Italy Vacations | Rick Steves 2024 Tours. I ordered the book Rick Steves Sicily (Rick Steves Travel Guides): Steves, Rick: 9781641715553: Amazon.com: Books and began reading. We booked the tour and then March was here!

This site gives you an overall understanding of our tour of Sicily. It is not meant to be a minute-by-minute guide to the wonderful cities and sites we visited. You can see those in Rick’s guide. I want you to feel that you’ve experienced just a taste of this magnificent island and her immortality. Perhaps you’ll come away understanding what the Sicilians told us:  Sicily is Not Italy! And then you’ll want to see for yourself!