Sicily

On Monday we took the train over to Manchester airport with one piece of hand luggage and took a flight to Catania, Sicily. We had planned four nights of pure pasta, pizza, negronis and beach time before heading back to the Southern Hemisphere.

We landed into sticky 26 degree heat just after 9pm and made our way into central Catania via the Alibus. We stepped off into the back street and made our way to a modest wee BnB. I shuffled along the corridors with the elderly proprietor who demonstrated the use of all the four different keys required to get from the street to our room.

We dropped our bag and changed into more appropriate wears and hit the streets at 10pm, which we teaming with life as they do in these parts. We found Elephant Square, named so due to the elephant statue as the squares centrepiece, which was surrounded by the old townhall, bascillica and other old building. We sat and had a beer and a little taste of Italian cuisine before heading back to our sinky bed.

In the morning we took our things and went to a cafe in central Catania and sat with a coffee and cannoli and had an admin morning while enjoying the atmosphere to this bustling Italian centre.

We moved to the train station, where we got on a train to Syracuse – an hour down the coast and home of Greek mathematician Archimedes. We got off the train to find something to eat – finding a beautiful place with fresh made pasta made my proper Italian mamas. Unfortunately we were both busting for a wee so we had to go to another place where we had a very average bowl of pasta.

We made our way to our accom, a very beautiful BnB, which feels more like a home than the last place. We sat down for a moment before heading into the streets to walk down to the centre of the old town, which is located right on the waters edge.

This felt like the real Italy, narrow streets, ancient ruins and old Italians conversing loudly as is angry at each other. We had another little bite to eat, sharing a pizza in a beautiful marble square with a Negroni in hand, after which we continued walking down the spit of the central tourist district.

We found the sea, and with the perfect proximity to watch the sun go down we perched (with a second negroni in hand) and did just that. Glorious.

We walked back through the bustling little streets around the island, finding a delicious aranchini, which Sara told me was a must try (ball of rossotto rice, crumbed and stuffed with ham, meat sauce or cheese). We walked back to the pasta place we had tried to go to before and enjoyed beautiful homemade pasta from a little hole in the wall. Paper plates and no frills – just beautiful ravioli and spaghetti with Italian beer.

In the morning we sat in the lovely dining room of our BnB and had a coffee and croissant. These were mostly full of chocolate cream and a bit rich for that time of the morning, so we opted to pop to a local delicacy joint we had found after dinner last night to to fix out morning appetite.

We walked to the train station and caught a train about 15 minutes south to Fontane Bianche, a beachside hamlet of Syracuse. We swam and enjoyed the sun all afternoon, only this time apply and reapplying sunblock regularly. At 6pm we caught the train back to town.

That evening we had dinner at a lovely family restaurant in the village. So good! This visit to Syracuse was just lovely!

The next day we went back to Catania, and dropped our bags at an air Bnb Nadia had found for the night. We spent the afternoon exploring the city further. Later that evening we took a recommendation for dinner that our host had give us.

This was the real deal! Off the tourist trail and full of locals, with local prices! 4 euro a dish and so delicious. We were there until midnight sitting outside in this bustling street restaurant. The perfect final meal in Italy.

We got up early the next morning to get to the airport, and flew to Geneva. With a few hours to spare we took the train into town and had a little walk around before making our way back.

We got back to Liverpool around 6pm and headed to Stefan and Sara’s house. Stefan and I had a little whip around a few Chinese supermarkets and make a wicked feast.

Nadia about to eat her first Italy meal of the trip

Cannoli and Coffee

Walking to Catania station

Ruins on Syracusa

Syracusa Streets

Syracusa ocean

And Sunset

BnB

Syracusa Basilica

Fontane Bianche

Back in Catania

Roman Amphitheatre, Catania

The final meal

Elephant Square, Catania