Maria Grammatico (in the center) herself explaining how to make and stuff (with Ricota cheese made from sheep’s milk and chocolate chips) the very typically Sicilian pastry, the canoli, at the La Pasticceria di Maria Grammatico in the hilltop city of Erice, Sicily. April 18, 2017

I’ve eaten canoli before, but this canoli was exceptional. The shell was made earlier during the day from a variety of ingredients including flower, sugar, Marcella wine, vanilla and cocoa powder. The dough is cut, rounded and placed in a deep fryer for 6 to 7 minutes. The creamy inside is made from a kilo of Ricota cheese from sheep’s milk, 300 grams of white sugar, chocolate chips and vanilla. One of several treats our tour group enjoyed for lunch at the La Pasticceria di Maria Grammatico in the hilltop city of Erice, Sicily. April 18, 2017

Historic Erice, is in the province of Trapani, Sicily, and is located on top of Mount Erice, at around 2,460 ft above sea level, overlooking the city of Trapani. April 18, 2017

The hillside castles of Erice, Sicily, include the Norman Castle, also known as the Castle of Venus, was built on Mount San Giuliano in the 12th century, right on the remains of an ancient sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Venus Ericina. And, the castle to the lower left is the Pepoli Castle. April 18, 2017

The hilltop city of Erice, Sicily, as the clouds dip and roll through the tops of the buildings. April 18, 2017

After a filling lunch of Sicilian food specialities and pastries, our tour group took to walking up into the clouds of the hilltop city of Erice, Sicily. April 18, 2017

Our group walked up to the hilltop of Erice, Sicily, but we took the cable cars down to our bus. April 18, 2017

Rick Steves tour group members, including Alice and John to the right, ready for the cable ride in Erice, Sicily, down to our awaiting tour bus for our home base of Trapani, Sicily. April 18, 2017

Alice took this photo of her husband, John and I, with our chef aprons on knowing full well that neither of us had any plans to cook but at least we looked the part at the La Pasticceria di Maria Grammatico in the hilltop city of Erice, Sicily. April 18, 2017

Just a peek at Trapani, Sicily, from the rooftop of our hotel. I didn’t expect to see such gorgeous topography with the sea and the mountains. April 18, 2017

The sun setting from the rooftop of our hotel in Trapani, Sicily. With two nights here, there will be more about Trapani tomorrow. Until then, Buonasera…good evening. April 18, 2017

Just some of flowers of spring blossoming along the trail as we walked from the hilltop theatre down towards the Doric temple of Segesta, Sicily. April 18, 2017

These are the salt flats of Marsala, about a 30 minute bus drive from our hotel in Trapani, Sicily. Summer days and shallow coastal waters have provided fertile ground for salt-making, since the time of the Phoenicians some 3000 years ago, between Trapani and Marsala.The salt pans of Marsala harvested during the summer months provides organic cooking salt which in ancient times was used for the preservation of food. When the Arabs landed in the 9th century, they innovated the salt collection process and built the first windmill. April 19, 2017

Our Rick Steves tour group and others taking a boat ride from Marsala, home of the salt harvests, to the ancient island of Mozia…also once known as Mothia and Motya…and today known as San Pantaleo. April 19, 2017

The lighthouse and the salt-flats of Marsala, Sicily, as we make our way to the island of San Pantaleo to visit its ancient remains. April 19, 2017

The Giuseppe Whitaker Museum on the island of San Pantaleo, formerly the ancient island of Mothia in Sicily, contains the ancient remants found on the island. Joseph Whitaker was a wealthy English merchant was a passionate archeologist who bought the island of San Pantaleo to preserve its ancient findings. April 19, 2017

He’s called the “Young Man of Mothia” who was found on the ancient island of Mothia, and is housed in the Giuseppe Whitaker Museum on the island of San Pantaleo, formerly known as the ancient city of Mothia. The young man in marble, who could be a rare example of a chariot race victor, was found on the island in 1979 and dates back to about 460-450 BC. April 19, 2017