Ten Years Later: What We Learned Living In Sicily

[@annaabrams4225]

Thank you for being the best ambassadors for this beautiful land that is Sicily. ❤

[@YouMeandSicily]

Grazie!

[@frankleone8695]

Al and Eszter thanks to you both you have encouraged many Sicilian American to visit and move to Sicily all this thanks you both ,we need more Sicilian American to return in Sicily ,because let me tell everyone ,who will read this, the are more proud SIcilian all over the world that they are in Sicily ,i argue with SIcilian in sicily all the time who they feel ashamed to be Sicilian ,and the SIcilian in the rest of the world ,are all proud to have Sicilian in them .thank you

[@denasutera]

Appreciate your honesty and transparency

[@gmdanna]

Love this! Makes me sooooooo wanna come there!!! Got my dual-citizenship; my father's family is Sicilian, so the pull is huge!

[@gmdanna]

Italian dual-citizenship, I should clarify

[@SHARON.I]

​​@@gmdannathat quite a process. 2 of my cousins have dual-citizenship.

[@gmdanna]

@@SHARON.I it is but since I was 2nd gen it wasn’t bad for me. Go for it! I’m thrilled I have it 😊

[@yvanapantino273]

Al, I like the way you think in terms of some kind of official recognition for what you have brought to Sicily over the last 20 years, as a springboard to achieving even greater things for your community. If the passion is there, I'm sure you will find a way to push that dream further. That passion will also keep you young.

[@YouMeandSicily]

Ha. Grazie! We love what we do!

[@azona2463]

Wish I would have come 20 years ago, too

[@christinecleavest9099]

I so appreciate the honesty, not every day or everywhere is all sunshine and rainbows ...life happens. 🙂 Looking forward to visiting soon.

[@salvatoredinunzio4137]

We are expecting to be in Acireale and looking forward to seeing you guys soon. And I will personally donate enough for the all year we have enjoy your program that you guys are broadcasting….. thank you for continuing your service to all the people who have left Sicily.

[@YouMeandSicily]

Our pleasure..grazie.m

[@catherinemarino-vermontcan8507]

Thank you!! Sorry I missed it live. We love your show, we have enjoyed meeting you and we appreciate you putting us in touch with other ‘You, Me, and Sicily’ viewers. Buona Domenica!

[@YouMeandSicily]

CIAO cara ! Buona Domenica!!!

[@posttoasty7552]

Don't forget the sand storms, I experienced my first in Sicily.

[@antarart]

YES!!!! - I just applied for my German passport. ( I am American, but was born in Germany 66 years ago!) As soon as I have it I'll move to Sicily or at least the South of Italy! -

[@thewebhorse]

Alfred, probably you don't remember the first time we meet. I asked you if felt yourself more American or Sicilian and promptly you reply me "surely sicilian". You didn't realized it but that was quite the reply I expected to hear and that words warmed my heart. You know how much I love my land and how I'm proud being sicilian. Emigration has been a sad piece of our history and the real sicilians hangs in sorrow again to remind how many people were forced to expate to find luck or just to try get better future to own sons. You know we sicilians distingue from whole world people cause nobody else has got such link and love to own land and the soul wich pushed you to back in your grandparents isle means inside you flows genuine sicilian blood. Now and then happens speaking to some friends I talk about you and something inside you that attracted where you belong. Sometimes I remember that amazing metaphor wich say that the Sicilian is like carrubbo tree. Its branch strength out very far but its roots are massive and deep. If the roots are teared up the tree died and, we sicilian have been living for many, many centuries. That such brainless told you would be a stranger are worth to be kicked out of Sicily. I'm proud to be your friend.

[@YouMeandSicily]

Grazie....

[@YouMeandSicily]

Thank you for his well thought out and beautiful comment.

[@antoninoragazzo9055]

detto tutto giusto!😊

[@turimilo]

Great show today. I agree with Al that the health insurance cost in Sicily, Italy is much lower and the coverages are much better than here in the states.

[@janetlombardi2314]

It is always a pleasure to watch your videos. It was a very enjoyable and interesting chat. Thank you 😊❤

[@TommyTheWalker]

Thanks for mentioning my mentor Frank Leone! Yes! He's a great guy also fellow Admin of my group of Sicilian Republic, I'm Tom Filingeri, we always post your videos on our group whenever possible. Btw whenerever you have a video coming out post it in our group, it'll be preapproved.

[@YouMeandSicily]

GRAZIE!!!

[@vivienmeddings7068]

Love your sincerity....and honesty for living in sciliy.....

[@YouMeandSicily]

Grazie!

[@CrystalDatingCoach]

My ears are WIDE open. Born in NY...30 years in Milan. Last year after going back and fourth. I Moved to Sicily. ❤Warm weather. Friendly people. Delizioso food and desserts. Sicilians are very PROUD people...honest and loyal. Sorry but Sicilians born here are different from Americans...even if you are Sicilian origin. Fact. Alfredo... What's going on. Why so negative?? Thanks Esther for "lighting things up" ❤

[@alfredzappala3160]

Not negative at all. Just my observations. I am still loveable.. :)

[@CrystalDatingCoach]

@@alfredzappala3160 You must be to keep Beautiful and smart Esther by your side! 💕

[@markkiesewetter3357]

We love your videos. We will be in Sicily in September

[@kimberlybegonia2869]

Ciao 🥰, I love Sicilia! So I was in the USNavy, stationed in Sigonella NAS in 1980-1983 and it changed my life… use to go to Taromina on my free time with Ricardo, my Sicilian boyfriend❤ Dream about making my way back sometime🍧🌺

[@YouMeandSicily]

Thank you for your service! Hope you come back soon.

[@ascelsi2015]

Another great show!

[@yvonneamos9677]

Hahaha, yes rule number 1, watch where you’re walking in Sicily. It’s so easy to take a dive! Trust me I know! 🤕 Love your videos, we just came back to Australia after 2 weeks in Sicily. Absolutely loved the place and the people. Pity it’s 22 hours to fly there.

[@YouMeandSicily]

:)

[@judithbowman4258]

In 2018, I proudly flew to Italy w/ my brand new visa to stay. Got off the plane and stopped for coffee. On the way to the car, I missed seeing the curb, fell on my elbow and broke it in 3 places. 🥲Didn’t make it to the new apt til about midnight. 9 weeks later and many “Madonna Mia’s” from the dr. It is still malformed, but usable. 😊

[@YouMeandSicily]

So sorry to hear that !

[@judithbowman4258]

I hope you and Alfred feel better soon. I am getting everything together to try for a second visa, but not sure if the Consulate will grant it. 🤞🤞🤞I am looking at Ortigia for a home spot. Love Sicily.

[@DocMcCoy109]

Thank you ❤

[@susanlombardo8444]

Hi Guys, sorry I missed you live!!

[@beeseurotravel]

LMAO. Alfred, were you having a bad day? 😂 Sicily is a very interesting place - that’s for sure.

[@YouMeandSicily]

Just trying to stir the pot.. :)

[@joanfelt8069]

Thank you this was fun .be in Sicily next week for 3 weeks.

[@robertbehrendt3897]

You are doing a great job. Keep on doing this, you are more recognised, than you think. This comes from Germany. I'm praperating to move to Sicaly in a couple years and will be on a visit in June.

[@SHARON.I]

Yeah Floridians don't like people from the rest of the US belong here. These "patriots" forget it's one country not the country of Florida. I love Sicily ❤️ especially Taormina! Oh and my grandparents are from Sicily and Naples I'm third generation ✌️

[@jodidelucca4190]

❤ 😊 buona domenica, ti voglio bene.

[@TommyTheWalker]

Btw Frank Leone didn't mention that we are collecting signatures of all Sicilians in the world so that the Italian government fully applies the constitutional law of the 26th of February 1948, which up to now the article that has been applied is the one that benefits the politicians and not the people.

[@jamesbarr2357]

Hi guys, I have been looking at property in Sicily for ages. Gratteri looks like a lovely little town. I'm drawn by the Bar Italia 😂. What's your view? Grazie mille. BTW, "be kind and smile"... it works everywhere.

[@YouMeandSicily]

Very rural area...population about 900...beautiful area but in the sticks...

[@jamesbarr2357]

@@YouMeandSicily Many thanks.

[@vincentciliberti5026]

I simply agree with Mr. Joe Marinelli, Mrs. Ezter, your hubby seems to have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed 😛😛. Dr, Frank, you are one lucky person to have such a very strong personality lady in Mrs. Ezter. You understand as much as I do that there are the good things and the bad things wherever one goes in the world, so, appreciate what you have.

[@PetroNYC78]

I understand and appreciate Alfred's frustration with natives who look at you as a foreign immigrant who doesn't belong there, even if you have a love and appreciation for Sicily more than they do. I'm guessing they assume you're just another ignorant American who came to take advantage of La Dolce Vita. You expect better from Sicilians, but like Eszter said, there's good and bad wherever you go. I'm definitely thinking of retiring in Sicily (it's on the top of my list) in the next 20 years (if not sooner).

[@YouMeandSicily]

Al was addressing an unfortunate personal incident for him with a certain group 6 years ago. Never happened again since then with anyone.

[@PetroNYC78]

@YouMeandSicily BTW, Eszter - I agree with you about the cybersecurity (it's everywhere) and awards - you guys don't seriously do it for the accolades and the friends you've made along the way and the love and appreciation for what you do is rewarding enough. And if you really want grants to teach English, then I don't think this will really help with that because teaching English seems antithetical to Sicilian culture. You really need to find an American institution that promotes English as a foreign language or some business entity that offers grants for the same. Do they exist? Anyone awarding such a grant isn't going to care if you got an award for promoting Sicilian Culture (I just don't see the connection....and neither will they). Anyway, keep doing what you're doing! Love you guys!

[@YouMeandSicily]

We love you!@@PetroNYC78

[@jocelyneboutot5722]

Don't you worry with all the Americans moving to Sicily this will change the coffee ritual? Of sitting and enjoying?

[@YouMeandSicily]

No way!

[@MD11339]

❤❤❤love you both

[@YouMeandSicily]

Thank you !

[@Nickpetronio]

Ciao. Thank you both for sharing all your insights and I hope we as a community can help Sicily and Sicilians continue to learn and develop. I was curious about something when you discussed the religion and religious festivals. Would you say the Christian / Catholic festivals and churches and everything are actually reflective of the values and behaviors of people in everyday life, or is all this pomp and circumstance around these things… I don’t know if I want to say “superficial”? Just curious about the faith community and religious life in Sicily. Grazie!

[@YouMeandSicily]

Religious fevor is off the charts here...jmo..

[@Nickpetronio]

@@YouMeandSicily for calcio /soccer too I’m sure hahaha

[@YouMeandSicily]

FOR SURE! @@Nickpetronio

[@YouMeandSicily]

If you are ever here for a festival you will feel the zeal. Its very palatable. @@Nickpetronio

[@anthonyferris8912]

Hopefully the supermarket checkout person also learnt to do their job and not keep customers waiting while they chat.

[@pierre1119able]

As always, we love your content. You may recall a couple of years ago we lived in Palermo for a few months. We would like to turn our eyes on Catania as it is the second largest city in Sicily. Do you have any advice on where to find an apartment, preferably empty to rent in Catania for a year? We are thinkin of getting Residency permits in Catania startin in May or June. We would like a 2 bedroom with a balcony and a view.

[@YouMeandSicily]

GRAZIE ! When you mean Catania you mean the province? Lots of smaller towns outside of Catania are grerat! Check Ideallista.it for listings!

[@pierre1119able]

@@YouMeandSicily I mean right in the city is where we want to live. Where do you think is the nicest two places in the city of Catalina that you would want to live. We want at least a two bedroom with a balcony and a view. Our budget is €1,000-€1500 Euros. Thoughts?

[@spencerji6162]

Hi, we r in Catania now, which city r u live?

[@YouMeandSicily]

Aci Catena near Acitrezza!

[@margaretcaldarone3545]

It Sounds Like You Guy are Having a Ball. I Think I'll Just Visit. Not Sure About This. I Guess it the Blood.

[@YouMeandSicily]

Come visit you will love it !

[@azona2463]

Al, you need a chill pill...lol

[@alfredzappala3160]

😂

[@jocelyneboutot5722]

Al, what's going on, Did you eat nails for breakfast?

[@YouMeandSicily]

Just being ny loveable self...haha

[@frankleone8695]

Al and Eszter thanks to you both you have encouraged many Sicilian American to visit and move to Sicily all this thanks you both ,we need more Sicilian American to return in Sicily ,because let me tell everyone ,who will read this, the are more proud SIcilian all over the world that they are in Sicily ,i argue with SIcilian in sicily all the time who they feel ashamed to be Sicilian ,and the SIcilian in the rest of the world ,are all proud to have Sicilian in them .thank you