What's a ‘typical’ day like for me then?
As you'd expect, given retirement, it ain't gonna consist of trotting off to an office, I’m afraid.
Sorry. Not sorry!
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| My favourite early morning view - up to Alta |
Once back, I park myself in front of my PC and get on with any correspondence, checking my social media, labelling photos, language learning ... and sometimes even writing a blog!
As Alice is often still asleep, this is my 'me time', and it's also the time when I have my two (large) daily coffees. I'm so a creature of habit now!
Then there’s doing stuff about the house and/or going for a sight-seeing drive out of Modica. Once that’s done, it has to be ‘nanny-nap’ time! Given my lack of sleep, you’ll get no apology from me.
Once up, it’s back on my PC until the ‘grumpy old man’ phase passes then, as so many locals do, we’ll often go out for another walk (la passeggiata).
Here Alice will try and keep me away from any bar we happen to pass, then it’s back home for dinner. Evenings often consist of sitting up on the terrace, and then watching some TV show, movie or YouTube before bed.
Rinse and repeat? Maybe.
But I love my life now!
Un Aperitivo
On the subject of bars, ordering an aperitivo (apéritif) or digestivo (digestif) is so a thing here.
A way of life that I've fully embraced. Need proof? Ask my wife!
For the uneducated, what's the difference then?
An aperitivo's an alcoholic drink one should enjoy before a meal 'to stimulate the appetite', and it's usually more dry than sweet. Now a digestivo is also a dry-ish alcoholic drink, but one taken after a meal 'to aid the digestion', as the name implies.
Please do note: In either case, we're not talking breakfast here! I mean, everyone knows that's the time for a caffè corretto, of course.
Anyways, given how 'late' most Italians dine, a classic Italian aperitivo should be enjoyed sometime between 7pm and 9pm. And one of the most popular here in Modica would be the 'Aperol Spritz', or simply 'Spritz', as it's the most common type.
This is Alice's favourite, while my aperitivo of choice would be the even more bitter 'Campari Spritz'. Either way, such drinks should contain the likes of dry vermouth, Campari, gin, etc., being dry and/or bitter.
In contrast, digestivi often contain more sugar and/or alcohol, thereby offering a somewhat richer flavour. Great examples would be a shot of limoncello or, and my personal favourite, a grappa.
Now there are some who claim a glass of wine can be an aperitivo or digestivo? Even a semi-sweet prosecco. Sacrilege, I say!
But whatever your poison of choice: ‘Cin cin’ (‘Cheers’) or ‘Salute’ (‘Health’).
For the uneducated, what's the difference then?
An aperitivo's an alcoholic drink one should enjoy before a meal 'to stimulate the appetite', and it's usually more dry than sweet. Now a digestivo is also a dry-ish alcoholic drink, but one taken after a meal 'to aid the digestion', as the name implies.
Please do note: In either case, we're not talking breakfast here! I mean, everyone knows that's the time for a caffè corretto, of course.
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| Our aperitivi of choice... |
This is Alice's favourite, while my aperitivo of choice would be the even more bitter 'Campari Spritz'. Either way, such drinks should contain the likes of dry vermouth, Campari, gin, etc., being dry and/or bitter.
In contrast, digestivi often contain more sugar and/or alcohol, thereby offering a somewhat richer flavour. Great examples would be a shot of limoncello or, and my personal favourite, a grappa.
Now there are some who claim a glass of wine can be an aperitivo or digestivo? Even a semi-sweet prosecco. Sacrilege, I say!
But whatever your poison of choice: ‘Cin cin’ (‘Cheers’) or ‘Salute’ (‘Health’).
“Not That One!”
As we’ve now covered when to drink what.
Or should that read what to drink when? Either way, the burning question now becomes: Where to drink it?
Now it’s here I’ve found, over the course of our three-plus decades together, that I’m … somewhat … less discriminating than my lovely wife. At least when it comes to drinking places.
When walking about a less salubrious part of any town or city, a typical conversation runs something like: "What about this bar then?" Alice’s answer here most often being: "Not that one!"
And that, as it should be of course, is that.
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| One of our favourites: 'Bar del Duomo' |
However, such areas can be expensive. And that’s why we always ‘spread the love’ when it comes to which bar and/or café we choose to spend our hard-earned euros in. I say this because we have friends here who religiously stick with one establishment only. Their ‘local’ if you will.
While I for one see nothing wrong with that: It’s just that each and every place has its pros and cons. And we’ve found, during our travels, that not spending all our time in one tends to balance such things out.
Before you ask? F’sure there are some establishments here even I wouldn’t be caught dead in!
Being those tabaccai (tobacconists) with attached bar places mainly...
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