Above is the view as I looked out my little window this morning…I knew it was going to be a beautiful day for exploring. And above is my little window. Exploring is the easy part part – getting to and from new locations and sleeping acomodations is the “hard, stressful” part…which I will face again tomorrow. From train to B&B in Catania, to airport by 7am. Not sure how far airport is because I’ve heard 8 min and 45-60 min and am not sure which is correct. I’ve tried on-line but can’t tell since it’s hard to find anything on the Catania rail station for an address (all they give is a zip code).
I stopped in two Churchs on way to explore Siracuse. One was a small one... 
How can I explain how tall the ceilings are in these places? Inside are the original columns that are still standing.
And amazing floors too. What great Crafters they were.
Sicily sure seems to have a lot of Lemon orchards...guess that is why my Mother is so fond of lemons.
At the top of the site was an old building housing information on a famous artist and his bones where seen in floor and art work found in building.
Food cart just above "dig" area.
Next I found the Church that was built for the statue of Madonna (?) that was found to have tears coming out of her eyes. I guess so many people came that they made a “Church” for it to be housed in…very modern.
And did a visit to the Catascombs where Paul had an alter build for him as he spoke there in the underground old aquaducts that the Christians had taken over for church meetings and to bury Christians. By then a lot of them were wanted and underground.
Then back to Ortegia to watch sun set and have dinner.
There must have been a wedding earlier:
I ate at il Blu’s. Salvador suggested sword fish and so I decided to be brave since it would be one of my last real dinners. He said they type he had was like veal quality, but in fish. It was about 5 inches in circumference and had tomatoes and capers on top. I NEVER eat fish (except salmon) but I really enjoyed it. He came from Egypt and spoke English fairly well. He owned the restaurant (for 7 yrs) and it is open 15 hours a day (till 3am) and 24 hours during 3 summer months. He has triples and said that most people divorce when their children are 1-2 yrs old in Sicily because they fight over how to raise the child (about 24% divorce rate he says). He also said that most people in Europe do not want to work and if they don't work the government pays them 800 euros/mo in Northern Italy and 600 euros/mo in Sicily. So he said a lot don't work because they all live in one house and use papa's pension and their "not working money" to survive. From those who speak English in Europe, such as Salvador, tell me they Love Obama and what he is “doing” for US. They think he is helping the US to become like everyone else and not have everything and be so spoiled. We had some interesting conversations about the Mafia, what crime is like here (you can kill someone and then not have your date to end up in jail for 10 years…and then jail time for killing someone can be 2 years, 5 years, or 10…it’s all up in the air and they let you out when they want of if they need jail space. He said pedophile’s are the most prevalent in Sicily. And since they can get “caught” but not go to jail for many years they can just keep doing what they do in the mean time. And since it’s an addiction, they don’t stop he says. And health care – of course. LOL
Since my trip in Europe is coming to an end…and some may want to visit a few things you might want to know to help prepare you for your trip (and of course remember to read the rest of my blog for other items to remember also).
Let’s talk Cigarettes: People smoke A LOT over here, even though restaurants prohibit smoking now in most of Europe. They usually smoke two types. A cigarette and the long think brown cigarettes. So they smoke one, then the other right after as if the cigarette is dinner and the other one is dessert. Someone’s making some money in Europe off smokers! Also, NO ONE throws their butts in ash trays – they all flick them on the street STILL smoking – they don’t even put them out. The one man that did use one at the train station didn’t put it out and then the outside ash tray thing was smoking heavily as if it were on fire and NO ONE seemed to care – as if it’s normal for their ashtrays in their garbage cans to smoke as if on fire.
Let’s talk Cats and Dogs: In Sicily cats stay outside and they look at ratty like they are not fed or petted. Dogs live in houses and poop all over sidewalks and no one picks it up and that’s OK. So watch your step. Ortigia is the worst because there is NO grass anywhere on this little island…yet lots of dogs…I even saw one a few times (same dog) that runs wild on the island.
Let’s talk Fruits & Vegetables: YUMMMMM. Oranges, Tomatoes and mushrooms, to name a few, have SO much better flavor here than in the US. Could it be no pesticides and that they are not chemicaly altered? I purchased some seeds for tomatoes and basil here. I hope to have some great Caprese salad this summer. Buffalo Mozzarella is much softer, smoother texture and perfect in the Caprese salad; they use it here almost all the time.
Let’s talk Food Portions: If you order pizza beware (they have some of the best I’ve ever had and most doesn’t even have tomato sauce on it) sometimes they charge by weight. So when they pick up a hugh piece (looks like two) you will be paying for it – so feel free to tell them (smaller please or ½ that). Same with bottled water. They do NOT serve water with your meal. You have to ask, and pay for it. If you ask for water it’s gas or no gas (natural or carbonated). Also make sure to say small if it’s just one of you because they will bring you a large and pop the top as they get to the table so you think you have to take it anyway (and it cost’s more). Bottled water goes for 2 euro up to 6 euro in the restaurants. One way to save money on water: I would purchase mine for 75 cents to 1 or 1.50 euro at the supermarchato and then when they were inside getting orders take a quick drink of mine.
Lets talk bed:...night everyone.
Let’s talk Cigarettes: People smoke A LOT over here, even though restaurants prohibit smoking now in most of Europe. They usually smoke two types. A cigarette and the long think brown cigarettes. So they smoke one, then the other right after as if the cigarette is dinner and the other one is dessert. Someone’s making some money in Europe off smokers! Also, NO ONE throws their butts in ash trays – they all flick them on the street STILL smoking – they don’t even put them out. The one man that did use one at the train station didn’t put it out and then the outside ash tray thing was smoking heavily as if it were on fire and NO ONE seemed to care – as if it’s normal for their ashtrays in their garbage cans to smoke as if on fire.
Let’s talk Cats and Dogs: In Sicily cats stay outside and they look at ratty like they are not fed or petted. Dogs live in houses and poop all over sidewalks and no one picks it up and that’s OK. So watch your step. Ortigia is the worst because there is NO grass anywhere on this little island…yet lots of dogs…I even saw one a few times (same dog) that runs wild on the island.
Let’s talk Fruits & Vegetables: YUMMMMM. Oranges, Tomatoes and mushrooms, to name a few, have SO much better flavor here than in the US. Could it be no pesticides and that they are not chemicaly altered? I purchased some seeds for tomatoes and basil here. I hope to have some great Caprese salad this summer. Buffalo Mozzarella is much softer, smoother texture and perfect in the Caprese salad; they use it here almost all the time.
Let’s talk Food Portions: If you order pizza beware (they have some of the best I’ve ever had and most doesn’t even have tomato sauce on it) sometimes they charge by weight. So when they pick up a hugh piece (looks like two) you will be paying for it – so feel free to tell them (smaller please or ½ that). Same with bottled water. They do NOT serve water with your meal. You have to ask, and pay for it. If you ask for water it’s gas or no gas (natural or carbonated). Also make sure to say small if it’s just one of you because they will bring you a large and pop the top as they get to the table so you think you have to take it anyway (and it cost’s more). Bottled water goes for 2 euro up to 6 euro in the restaurants. One way to save money on water: I would purchase mine for 75 cents to 1 or 1.50 euro at the supermarchato and then when they were inside getting orders take a quick drink of mine.
Lets talk bed:...night everyone.
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