I can't believe I got credit for this trip!

Wow, what a way to end our Italy trip! We spent the last five days of “Econ 315” on the island of Sicily. On our first day we visited the cities Noto and Ragusa. Both cities were destroyed by earthquakes during the 17^th century and were rebuilt in the same baroque style as before they were destroyed.  

A church in Noto

The girls in Ragusa

Another really cool thing we did was visit Sicily’s oldest chocolate factory. We got to go into the small factory and sample everything! One of the many things I bought was a cookie that had 40% ground beef as an ingredient. Did you know that chocolate acts as a preservative for meat?

Colton and I at the chocolate factory

My favorite thing we did in Sicily was visit an organic citrus farm.  A father and a son ran the family business and I can honestly say that I have never tasted an orange that good. If the US was ever able to sell “fresh off the tree” organic oranges, I would have a very high willingness to pay. At this particular farm they had pigs. They fed the pigs some of their oranges and the pigs were able to open them with their noses!

The citrus farmers

Juicy orange!

A really interesting article that Corey and I were given in Sicily was about the origins of the Sicilian Mafia. The mafia developed in the 19^th century in the western part of Sicily as a supplier of private protection. When the number of landowners increase, so does the competition for protection. The more people with protection, the lower the value is. Some people were willing to pay more so the mafia would be indifferent about the number of landowners they protected. Since all their customers were landowners, you would think that the mafia would chose to invest in the land, for example with technology or improving the quality of the soil. However, as this article explains, it was sub-optimal. For example, the more prouctive famrning methods they had, the more people would be required to permanently live on the land . Also if they improved the living conditions, it would redue the need to steel. Both improving production methods and living conditions would decrease the demand for protection.

We love our guide Alessio!

My last night was spent with the group in Paris. I had an early evening flight so all I had time to do was see the Eiffel Tour and take group pictures. It was hard to say goodbye to the group, after all we have been traveling together for the last four weeks. I must admit it feels amazing to be home and sleep in my own bed. I will not miss living out of a suitcase, the crazy Italian taxi drivers or the inconvenience of siesta, but hey, it’s all apart of the culture. But I will miss the pasta and wine, the people, our guide Alessio and most of all the everyone who went on the trip!  I can honestly say that this is the most amazing trip I have ever been on! I can't believe I got credit for going on this trip!