Continued from: My trip to Sicily- In Zoe's memory...
The bus ride to Trapani was comfortable and I enjoyed the scenery of green rolling hills and meadows covered with a carpet of golden yellow, white and violet wildflowers.
As I contemplated the beautiful scenery I thought about Zoe. Knowing that Zoe had loved traveling in Sicilia warmed by heart and I somehow felt safe.
When the bus arrived to Trapani’s port (the last bus stop), I called the b&b but no one answered, so I proceeded to walk there. Secret B&B is located in the old town on a quiet narrow street not far from the port.
As I approached the B&B, I noticed a couple walking in front of me, and when I passed them I thought to myself, I wonder if that’s Charlene and her husband? So I turned around and asked, is your name Charlene, by any chance? And she replied, “Yes! Priscilla?” Charlene, (a forum friend) and I had been communicating for a couple of months and we knew that our trip would overlap in Trapani. What a serendipitous moment!
Once inside the B&B, Charlene & Tom waited with me until the owner, Lory, arrived.
Lory a friendly and helpful young woman manages this beautifully renovated B&B welcomed me and handed me my room key. I took the elevator to my room on the third floor. I remembered Zoe writing about this slow elevator. My room was simply decorated with a comfortable bed, a small desk table and chair and a clean bathroom with a shower.
When I returned downstairs to retrieve my passport, I shared the sad news about Zoe with Lory. She remembered Zoe as “una donna molto gentile” (a very kind woman)
As we hugged each other she uttered these words, “it’s part of life…”
I was not expecting such a pragmatic and philosophical way of viewing life. But true…
[Side note: These very words were repeated to me each time I shared about Zoe’s passing with the people she had met on her many trips to Sicilia.]
Since it was past lunchtime, I ventured out in search of the nearby market, which happened to be closed as many businesses close their doors between 1-4pm.
Fortunately I found a Salumeria (deli) on Corso Italia on my way back to the B&B. The deli was just about to close (@2:30pm). I purchased some tasty chicken that had been prepared with sweet cherry tomatoes, onions, capers and fragrant rosemary, and a side order of golden roasted potatoes. The deli owner, a young man, heated the food in the MW, carefully wrapped it up, like a present, with butcher paper and handed it to me. I paid €8 for my meal which I enjoyed back in my room.
After lunch, I walked down the narrow stone stairs to the breakfast room where I met Francesca, the young woman who welcomes guests in the afternoon.
A few minutes into our conversation, she mentioned that she’d be making a cake for tomorrow’s breakfast. I asked if I could watch and she happily agreed. We stepped into the tiny kitchen where she began measuring the ingredients into a large bowl. First the sugar, then the eggs, yogurt, oil, vanilla, and lastly the flour and the baking powder. She quickly whipped the ingredients into a creamy batter and into the cake pan, which she had carefully lined with parchment paper. This was her “secret” for easy cleanup. Francesca was so fast and proficient that she could have performed this task with her eyes closed! The cake went into the oven in mere minutes!
We talked for a long time as the sweet aroma (of the cake) filled the room, and I could almost taste it.
After thanking Francesca I went out to explore Trapani.