The lows and the highs of travel... and the surprising consequences of fate

Booked into Da Vittorio in Menfi (Sicily) only to find out that our sea-view room had morphed into a room best described as an after-thought with views of a parking ramp, we were thrilled to find a room instead at La Foresteria -- a mere 4 km away but worlds apart in terms of comfort and hospitality.

We knew of La Foresteria thanks to Judy Witts who runs cooking courses mostly in Tuscany but has been enamored recently with Sicily. Established 18 months ago, La Foresteria is truly a find, nestled away in the vineyards just inland and with breathtaking vistas of the sea and the surrounding countryside.

We whole-heartedly recommend this beautiful low-key hotel with superb food, friendly service, and gorgeous facilities. A highlight of the dinner was the unusual wine degustation, perfectly complementing the delicious meal.

We ended up staying there two nights and would have liked to stay longer... and definitely will next time in Sicily. In fact, we may well sign up for one of their cooking classes in the future.