Italy with Kids - Ortigia

01 Oct 2008

The aim today was a drive to Syracuse, to see the sights there and at the island of Origia. We decided first however to visit a beach, the Fontane Bianche,

that was recommended in Frommer's. The exit off the A that we needed for FB was closed, so we ended up at a place called Avola, with long yellowy sandy

beaches. The waves were enormous, and Joseph, Liam and I had a ball romping around in the surf.


stroke of luck we found the carpark immediately south of the bridge across to Origia, and walked up there to do some window shopping. Even though I'd

expected the shops to be mostly shut during their afternoon break 'Matina', it still comes as a bit of a surpise and a nuisance when you're trying to see

things and they're shut. Anyway, Ortigia is nice and small, being about 1.6km long and 800m wide, with a wonderful collection of buildings from various eras

and lots of photo opportunities. We visited the Fonte de Aretusa (fount of Arethusa), where legend has it the river god Alpheius fell in love with the sea

nymph Arethusa. Arethusa became the fountain and Alpheius the river and mingled his love. Nowadays it is home to some very white geese and a large school of

tasty looking fish.



















We were able to walk right around the fountain after visiting the acquarium (€4Ad, €3Ch), which had a wonderful assortment of fish and kept the boys happy.

On Ortigia we also visited the Duomo and the Piazza of Archimedes.




















Ky and I took turns trying to take the most interesting photos of the buildings:

Mine on the left, Kylie's on the right.


















We sort of ran out of time, so headed home without seeing any of Syracuse. On the drive home, Etna unveiled herself so Ky took a shot as we were driving down

the road.


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It being a bit late, and us not having suitable supplies for dinner, we drove into Letojanni and hunted around for a restaurant. We came across the Arco

Rosso facing the beach, where to our surprise we were greeted in fluent (american) english. The hosts were very friendly and accomodating for the boys,

letting them pick through a large basket of shells that were sitting on display, conversing with them, and politely not commenting when Liam chose to start

singing in the toilet. Yes, our whole trip we've hardly heard a sound from Liam (from the toilet), and all of a sudden in a restaurant toilet with a number

of other patrons present, he decides to start singing. When we commented on this on his return to the table, he was as usual completely unabashed. On top of

all that the food was pretty good too.

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