A beautiful place “One of the most beautiful of the Greek temples in Sicily is that of Segesta”, said travel writer, Will S. Monroe decades ago. Segesta is beautiful. And the thought of returning sometime this December, in the colder months, is very nice.

A late 5th century B.C Doric temple, the temple of Segesta was never completed. Its beauty and position don't fail to move. It's about an hour and a half from Palermo on the road to Trapani.

From balconies... conversations drift Across the small piazza at the back of the house in Polizzi Generosa, one of my neighbours often stands against her first floor balcony rail and chats to a passerby. The voices travel across piazza Sant ‘Orsola and the narrow street, Via Notar Nicchi and then grow faint as people move on. I sometimes hear the voices from inside my house...it's nice.

To be back in Rome! Three nights in Rome, mid-May: delicious seasonal food, lots of art, terrific older waiters at Nino, Giggetto, and Da Fortunato, summerish pre-dinner drinks, always absolute wonder at seeing the Pantheon and the Spanish steps once again, classic Roman street scenes, finding Margaret Fuller and some book buying at a favourite bookshop ... all hard to beat.

A divine wild flower Last month, in the Sicilian spring, I was coming along the idyllic SS120 from Petralia Soprana to Polizzi Generosa and was on the lookout for what has to be one of the most beautiful spring flowers in the world - the Sicilian wild sweet pea.

I spotted a lot tumbling down an embankment close to the road. The colours, pinkish reds and cardinal purples and the soft powdery perfume were heavenly.