Mount Etna, Italy + Kalamazoo, Michigan
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Alison is obsessed with checking off the to-do list for our upcoming driveway tour! Lulu is obsessed with all the lotions. She is embracing her high maintenance-ness by leaning into her beauty product obsessions. We’re talking everything from St. Ives to Neora’s Firm Body Contour Cream
Alison is wishing for said obsession wishlist to be completed! All of her to-do lists, really. Lulu is really wanting some drawer organizers, now that her traveling lifestyle is a bit more settled during “these unprecedented times”.
Alison is heading to Sicily to take in Mount Etna, the highest volcano in Europe and one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and thus one of the most monitored. It attracts all kinds of tourists, the thrill seekers and those that just want a nice view. Speaking of a view, Alison chooses to book the entire Ramo d'aria Country Hotel Villa, where modern design meets countryside escape. Set amidst citrus trees and with views of Mount Etna, this place has 12 serene bedrooms, a dining area with buffet breakfast, and a picturesque pool. "A ‘branch of air’ on the slopes of the volcano" as the Airbnb listing describes is well said. Seeing as you are renting the whole villa, split 12 ways that is only $180 per night per bedroom! When you see the pictures you’ll be ready to go ASAP!
While her stay at this villa includes breakfast, Alison decides to wander a bit and grabs breakfast at the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, just a half hour up the coast in Taormina. Their breakfast buffet features Sicilian specialties such as granita and brioche served on a terrace amongst citrus trees with views of Mount Etna in...wait didn't she already have this view and a complimentary breakfast at her Airbnb? Well, the more recommendations the better, right?
Ready for a rigorous start to her day, Alison goes on a bike tour of Mount Etna. She found this excursion on Airbnb on which you get to bike to the top of the volcano, to the very edge of the crater, have the fear of god put in you, all for the low, low price of $72. There are multiple options to choose from, depending on your skill and comfort level on a bike, though all take you through parts of the park that do not allow cars, so you can take comfort in not being accidentally run over on your way to peer into an active volcano. Bike and helmet (and backpack!) are included in this tour, but Alison wants to buy a bike, and an Italian one at that. She lands on Sarto's Lampo Plus Bike which is beyond beautiful, ergonomic ,and aerodynamic, and around $16,000 used on eBay...so Alison bought the cheapest used on eBay she could find at the time..fro $2100.
Instead of a restaurant for lunch, Alison is going to Breadcamp at The Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School of Sicily. They also offer sessions varying from a "Lunch Lesson" - a hands-on cooking class followed by a family-style Sicilian lunch - up to a 6 day live-on-site cook-eat-explore-repeat workshop! Alison purchases the Brabantia fall front bread box to store all the bread she plans on making at home, so it's kind of like a souvenir. She also signs up for an Anna Tasca Lanza Patreon membership, that gets her a personalized recipe card twice a year, access to a monthly live stream from the kitchen, and more!
For dinner Alison goes back to the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo where she had her breakfast to dine at the Otto Geleng Restaurant, inspired by the painter and local legend of the same name. This place only seats 16 guests each evening, has a Michelin star, and the Mediterranean menu will make your mouth water just looking at it. Alison opts for the tasting menu, champagne pairing, and three desserts.
Biking to the top of the volcano wasn’t enough, Alison wants to take in more views of Mt. Etna! She found a private helicopter ride that offers views from 13,100+ ft (4000 m) over Mount Etna to see the lava flows from its last eruption in 2002. You also fly over Taormina’s ancient amphitheater, cliffs, and the sea. This day was definitely la dolce vita!
Lulu is heading to Kalamazoo, and will be staying about half an hour away towards Battle Creek...on her own luxury island! Yes, you read that right. Lulu found this Luxury rental island of paradise on VRBO, and boy is it breathtaking! One of it's four bedrooms has a three-decker king size bunk bed, and the house has a tree fort, a game room, and an outside lounge bed. There's space to sleep and play for many! Perfect for a family reunion or gathering of friends, this house has multiple dining areas, large living areas, and hammocks everywhere! There are also some cool in-water features including a volleyball net, a hammock, and table and chairs. You have to take a boat to get to the island, which is included in the pricing of around $2000-2500 per night depending on time of year and fees.
For Breakfast Lulu heads to Crow’s Nest for some huevos rancheros, after determining the eggs Benedict to be too fancy, which only makes us want to try it more!
Next she pops into Kalamazoo Coffee Company and after one smell of the roasting beans she signs up for their monthly subscription of 6 bags of coffee per month, delivered right to her doorstep for just $50. She's excited to try flavors like Maple Bacon, Backpacker's Blend, and You've Guat Mail. In the same building is the Black Owl Cafe which serves coffee and coffee beverages made with Kalamazoo Coffee Company beans, as well as teas and superfood lattes. Lulu tries one of the latter, the "Golden Orange" a turmeric, orange, cardamom, black pepper creation with your choice of milk, in Lulu's case, coconut milk. Yum!
Satiated and ready to explore, Lulu heads to Air Zoo, which if you thought it was taking in an animal sanctuary from above like we did at first, you were wrong. It is a museum dedicated to aerospace and science, with artifact-filled exhibits, a flight-simulator, and indoor amusement park rides!
Next is a stop at Kalamazoo Candle Company which offers BYOB candle-making events, though Lulu decides to utilize their walk-in candle making counter and makes TEN candles. She is excited to pass along some candle care tips that she can’t believe she didn’t know before perusing their website:
Trim your wick with a wick-trimmer to 1/4” every time before lighting your candle to ensure your candle reaches maximum burn time!
Let your candle burn until a full melt pool has formed across the top. 4 hrs on the first burn, 2-3 hrs for each additional burn.
Instead of blowing out your candle, use a wick dipper to dip your wick in the melted wax, this prevents the black smoke or flying embers
Now you know!
Now for a bite at Food Dance where Lulu gets a pimento cheese sandwich and a bowl of soup, because apparently she was in the mood for some simple comfort foods while researching her day.
Lulu is very excited for a visit to the Gilmore Car Museum, North America’s largest auto museum. They have an exhibit of particular interest to Lulu, the "Women Who Motor" exhibit, which details all the ways throughout history that automobiles have impacted women, and that women have impacted automobiles. She also does their Model T driving experience, which comes with a history lesson on Henry Ford and the Model T, in addition to the driving lesson. Lulu has to try their Ride the Classics, which is donation based. She's going to donate $15 per car and wants to drive 100 different classic cars, would be really awesome if she could drive their 1955 Dodge La Femme, but thinking that is staying roped off.
Of course she wants a driving scarf to play the part, so she gets this Burberry Silk Rose Print Scarf to keep her hair perfectly coifed. She’ll probably don some oversized sunglasses too.
Lulu is going to catch a performance by Gold Company, the vocal jazz ensemble out of Western Michigan University. After the show she heads to Principle Food & Drink, a local farm-to-table with a creative cocktail program located downtown. She enjoys a hearty American meal of cheddar biscuits, heirloom tomatoes, market fish, and a berry and oat panna cotta.
CHECK OUT THE CHARITIES WE FOUND IN THE CITIES WE VISITED:
Charity Challenge Etna Volcanic Adventure - how Charity Challenge works
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