Family In Sicily - Porticello, Italy - Episode 97

[@louisealbrecht3066]

How great, that you were able to go to see the town where your family's roots are from, Karen and Justin! Looking forward to seeing the art that your cousin creates for your wall. Your poor cousin, trying to cut Mom's hair with that wind blowing...What a lovely seaside town! Stay Well! Stay Happy! 😘😘😘

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Louise. We absolutely loved visiting Porticello, and getting the chance to connect. It was such a beautiful town, and such a lovely experience. Mom was happy to meet all of her cousins. It really was a great experience. Thanks for watching. Baci Baci.

[@illupo4820]

My mum, wife, daughter and myself are loving your videos. Love from Sydney Australia

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hey there! Thanks for this. We are so grateful you all watch. It means the world. Thanks again. Baci Baci.

[@darlenesorci3449]

My daughter and I are planning a trip to Italy and Sicily for October 2025. My grandmother was born in Porticello. We are planning to visit our relatives there. You can’t imagine how surprised we were to see Salvatore and his brother in your video! I immediately contacted Salvatore and he said your mom, Karen, is his cousin on his father’s side of the family. Salvatore is our cousin on his mother’s side of the family! What a small world! Since we are also going to mainland Italy, we’d love to connect with the two of you, if possible. Ciao!❤

[@MichaelandJustin]

@@darlenesorci3449 how cool ! Porticello is amazing! Much love 💕

[@TimMaloneyNMactor]

wow , what a charming town and bay . just Beautiful , Thanks for showing us .

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Tim. We are glad you enjoyed the video. Porticello really is such a beautiful place. We look forward to visiting again, sometime in the future. Thanks for watching. Baci Baci.

[@Melaniejjones]

Loved this video, a lovely taste of Sicily. Loved his hair cutting technique too!! Karen is looking gorgeous xxx

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Melanie. Thanks for watching. We had so much fun when we visited Porticello. It really was such a beautiful place. Baci Baci.

[@PietroItalianoo]

God Bless You All. Karen (Ladies First) as such a Beautiful soulful person. We Will Continue to Thank You

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hey there, Peter. Thank you so much for this kindness. And thank you for watrching. It brings a smile to us. Baci Baci.

[@rosaroberto6480]

Wow, really love the soft coloured, sun 🌞 washed buildings! Just imagining how it must have been for your ancestors to envision coming to America and make that difficult journey. Can also imagine that they are lovingly looking over you and feeling so proud and moved that you have made the journey back to your roots. BaciBaci 😘😘😘

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hey guys. We agree. Justin always says that they must be thrilled. We are so happy to be able to live here. And yes, we love looking at al of the colorful, sun washed buildings. They are so beautiful. Hope you guys are well. Baci Baci.

[@bvas2147]

Love Sicily. My grandparents were from Palermo and my wife’s parents from the Naples area. Thank you so much for sharing. Love returning to Italy. We’ll be in the Florence area this year and hope to be in Sicily in 2024. Never been to the Scalea area….but who knows, maybe one day.

[@MichaelandJustin]

Cool 😎…always a pleasure to hear from you. We appreciate your viewership.

[@rosaliegalasso791]

Such a nice video, glad you got to see where your family came from, it looked like a sweet city. Loved it!

[@MichaelandJustin]

Thanks Rosalie. We appreciate you and your kindness dear. Much love 💕

[@joycef2499]

A big hello from Australia guys, my parents came from a very small town in Sicily, prov. Messina it’s in the mountains and a quarter of the size . It was very emotional to walk through the town and home my parents lived in before immigrating to Australia back in the 1940’s. Loved the video, nothing like finding your roots. Xxx

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Joyce. We loved being able to visit Sicily, and see where Justin and Karen's ancestors came from. It really was such a treat. We are glad you enjoyed the video. We cannot wait to go back again. Thanks for watching. Baci Baci.

[@vincent4810]

Thank you for another great video.

[@MichaelandJustin]

Thank you so much, Vincent. We appreciate the kindness. Thanks for watching. Baci Baci.

[@mariedupuis7802]

Beautiful and interesting video again ! I am glad you can be with your family in Sicily, I am there too but in Trapani. My husband and I went to the hairdressers too (so nice) and I think they are really the champions to cut and style hairs in their own ways. Your mother s cut is stunning and so well done with such wind ! It suits her so well...Porticello is a very cute city between see and mountains, a place for us to visit one day...We are leaving soon with no happiness to leave and with the dream to return as soon as possible...I wish you very good moments together with your family and send you a big hello from Sicily !

[@MichaelandJustin]

Thanks Marie. Yes, mom’s cousin had a passion to give her that spontaneous haircut, wind and all. We had fun that trip. Enjoy your special time in Sicily dear. Thanks for watching our channel xoxo

[@leighevans1489]

I met cousins and saw where my relatives came from when I went to Scotland in 2009. Fabulous

[@MichaelandJustin]

Leigh, it is always such a cool thing to be able to connect with a location, and say that it started there. Thank you so much for watching. Baci Baci.

[@farrell5607]

Buongiorno Justin and Michael! Grazie tanto for that lovely video! Sicilia is beautiful and we have never been to Porticello. What a pretty town! Loved to see how happy your moms cousin was to cut her hair! We will finally be in Italy in January to finalize my citizenship. It has been a daunting process as you know. Thanksgiving is day after tomorrow and although it’s an American holiday we all have something to be grateful for…so Happy Thanksgiving to the 3 of you and thanks again for the wonderful video…stammi bene…Giovanna and Farrell

[@MichaelandJustin]

Happy Thanksgiving guys. You’re so kind. We had such a fun visit then to Sicily. Huge hugs 🤗

[@angelika6626]

I moved to Porticello last month. Nice place to live. Love it. 😊

[@MichaelandJustin]

@@angelika6626 awesome! We so enjoyed area. Tons of my ancient bloodline still there too.

[@tuula9952]

Such a beautiful video you have made about your trip to Sicily and telling your story about your ancestors and family there. Understanding our roots and family history is so important. I am an immigrant in the US, and I also found ancestors to me on my father's side who came to the US at the end of the 1890s; it has been very emotional for me to find family here in the US. I had no knowledge about them prior to coming here I can tell my family story now. My family is from Finland, but I was upraised in Sweden. Many people came to the US from Europe during this time because of famine, religious persecution, and to find a better life.😘

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Tuula. We are so happy to be able to have had the chance to make a full circle, when it comes to being back in Italy, after ancestors left here. We absolutely LOVE it here. You are right. It is very emotional, and very cool, getting to know about your ancestors, and the lives they lived. We thank you for watching. Baci Baci.

[@alfonsomoresi9348]

Loved the video, My Grandfather, Antonio LaBarbera was from Porticello and came to San Jose, CA and was a farmer. My Grandmother was from Sant’Elia, the next door town and from a family of fishermen. I visited in 1972 and it sure appears as though things have changed. My wife’s family was from Verbicaro, Calabria not too far from Scalea.

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hey there. We love hearing of older Italy, and how things were. Yes, we have sure that a ton has changed. But, even now, Italy is a beautiful place, that we are lucky to call home. We absolutely love it here. Thanks so much for watching, and for sharing your story. Baci Baci.

[@rosiecaruso6826]

What a lovely town and so nice that you were able to meet and be welcomed by your cousins Karen. Justin it sounds like you had to search for a long time to gather all your documents and it's amazing that you were able to trace your ancestors into the 1700's. I'm hoping to get my Italian passport as well and I'm just beginning my search but luckily I don't have to go back as far as you did because it was my father that became a Canadian citizen after I was born so just one generation back for me! HIs family was from San Donato di Ninea about 1.5 hrs from Scalea way up in the mountains. Karen you look great by the way! Hope you're healing well and feeling better.

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi there, Rosie. We definitely did have some work to do, with gathering all of the information that was needed. It did take quite some time. But, it was like this type of mystery, we were trying to solve. We are glad to hear that you will have an easier time with the process. We thank you for your kindness to Karen. And, thanks for watching. Baci Baci.

[@anjelamarialitle9912]

Hi guys.....our Grandfather, Mario Sanfilippo was from Porticello, Sicily and we hope to connect to our family one day as well. Thank you for your video, it is so encouraging. :)

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Anjela. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed the video. Porticello was such a great place to visit. We loved it so much. Thanks for watching. Baci Baci.

[@Ponkelina]

Loved the sea shots all grey and full of energy. Your Mom's cousin has the same vocal intonation as your Mom! Different language but they sound the same! The cousin cutting the hair. I think he said "the wind isn't helping". He did a great job despite the wind! The seaside at Porticello is so pretty. In fact Porticello is stunning.

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi dear. Porticello is very pretty and active too. Mom had fun with cousins showing us all around. Thanks gor watching our channel dear xoxo 😘

[@househuntersitaly]

Wow I had no idea you had roots in Sicily. 👏👏 Really pretty town. Ohhh and that water color is stunning.

[@MichaelandJustin]

Yes, one line from Sicily, another line from Salerno. Porticello is very beautiful indeed. Huge hugs 🤗

[@lifeisgoodjg]

Hi chaps and Karen. Wonderful to see you visiting your family roots in Sicily. Your videos inspire us. Your kindness and positive outlook is very uplifting. Much love to you all and a big hug for Karen. Hope her recuperation is going well. BACI BACI - dare to dream 😘

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Jill. We had such a fun time in Sicily. It was so beautiful. We are glad to hear you enjoy our videos. You are very kind. Thank you for the support to Karen. And thank you for watching. Baci Baci.

[@jimbunzol]

Loved Karen getting a haircut! Did you get to meet up with more of our cousins there?

[@MichaelandJustin]

We only met these cousins. They were very sweet. We are planning to go back someday in the future. Not sure when. Lol. Thanks for watching. Baci Baci.

[@talesfromtuscany]

How gorgeous is Porticello!!! I love Sicily and travelled around the east and northern coasts last time I was there! My favourites were Castellamare del Golfo, Scopello, Erice and the Aeolian Islands! They're amazing! Loved this ...thank you all for sharing and lots of love coming your way! 🥰😍😘

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hello darling Marisa. Thanks for the tips on places to visit in Sicily. 👍 Always so lovely to hear from you. We’re so thrilled for you and David finally getting to enjoy that beautiful home in Chianni. Much love 💕

[@talesfromtuscany]

@@MichaelandJustin You're so welcome my friends! Thank you so much for your lovely wishes...we love it so much 🥰😍😘

[@r.com.9795]

wow.. talk about a spontaneous plot twist... long and fascinating family history... cut to moody powerful scene of sicilian oceon waves ... then suddenly.. mom getting a haircut in a carpark somewhere windy !! 😉You guys are amazing in creating such fun unexpected adventures !! Lovely shots ! Porticello looks super chilled and beautiful ! Ciao da Roma☺

[@MichaelandJustin]

Lol- glad you enjoyed. Hey…when a cousin “needs” to style moms hair…it’s a go wherever you are lol. Thanks for watching our channel 🤗

[@michellew3932]

Wow Porticello is beautiful! So fun seeing where our grandparents came from. My family is from Pisticci which is 2 hours from SDT, the cousins there got a little mad that I bought in Calabria instead but I can always go visit, as you said, it’s so close. I too can get my citizenship ship, with remodeling the property I feel overwhelmed already. Maybe I’ll look into it!

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Michelle. We are glad to hear that you can also get dual citizenship. It really is a great thing. Porticello was very nice. We loved our time there, and cannot wait to visit again. We thank you for watching. Baci Baci.

[@joannmancuso9821]

Wow did I just herd right! Did your mom say mancuso? Your cousins? My family is from calabria and Sicilia also. Karen you look great.

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Joann. Yes, my mom has related Mancuso (macaluso too as some changed surname) line that married Sanfilippo women. Mom says thanks for kind words. Huge hugs from us all 🤗

[@judit1783]

It is traditionally a day of rest and church. Many areas around Italy do the same thing, even restaurants are closed.

[@MichaelandJustin]

Thanks Judi. We’re quite happy that our NW Calabria area (Scalea) stays open on Sunday. Thanks for taking time to message that and we appreciate you watching our channel dear

[@janetlombardi2314]

Hi Guy's and momma Karen ❤️ Your hair looks so much better shorter it really suits you. Thank you for your video about your ancestors. It's very interesting. Portocello looks like a beautiful town. In fact, after watching many videos on Scicily, it just looks awesome. 👌 I look forward to exploring in the near future. Hope to see you all tucking into a delicious 😋 looking meal next time. Take care with much love ❤️

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Janet. Karen thanks you. She likes shorter haircuts now. We had so much fun visiting here. It really was very beatiful, and we cannot wait to return. Next time, we will definitely show some yummy food of the area. Thanks for watching. Baci Baci.

[@beckygonzalez5710]

How did you get names? My dad doesn’t even know the name of his Italian grandma that moved to Mexico. His grandpa was from Spain. I’m getting my Mexican dual citizenship. My kids got theirs from my husband. But I want an Italian passport too.

[@MichaelandJustin]

Hi Becky. Perhaps elder family members can help you make a family tree. Also, do your dna test at ancestry . com then you get surnames to research of line etc for starters. Good luck on the fun adventure , it’s worth it. Thanks for watching our channel hun

[@beckygonzalez5710]

@@MichaelandJustin thank you