Blogs from Sicily, Italy, Europe - page 5

Soap tree (Sapíndus mukorossi) is originally from Asia. It produces roundish fruits that contain saponin in their pulp which are still used today for washing clothes in a natural way. This can be done by rubbing a drupe (the fleshy fruit that contains a single seed) in one's hands to obtain an immediate cleansing effect. Just 5 to 6 fruits put into a cloth bag and placed directly into a washing machine gives an absolutely clean wash. Each drape contains a shiny black seed. These can be used for the manufacture of necklaces, bracelets and various objects. REFERENCES APP: ■coopculture.it The Botanical Garden of Palermo ▪written up and sent to travelblog.org ... read more

I can’t remember if I said anything about it in the last entry, but the food in Italy is quite good. And it was by pure chance that we ended up at the Cous Cous Fest in San Vito Del Capo one evening. The food and drink were plentiful and tasty. We found a tuna supplier handing out free samples. We also found a wine maker giving out free tastings. Then there was another tuna tasting for free; this time dried and saltier tuna. We loved it and actually bought some to take away with us. So, we wandered from tent to tent in the main street trying everything we could (some we had to pay for) until we found an all you can eat smorgasbord for 8 euro and that included any drink with it. ... read more

A great start to the day we left our apartment at 6.45am...all is quiet in Palermo! Good seats on the train leaving 7.27am on our way to Catania via Enna set high in the hills of mid Sicily. An absolutely amazing train ride through Sicily. Very hazy early morning. We were in the first carriage & were entertained by the 3 staff in the drivers compartment up front....a constant banter & the toot & hurrahs to the friends passed along the way. Everyone knows everyone so there was alot of it!! To hear the laughter & the exchange at beyond normal decibel range of most we appreciated they enjoy their life/job! The countryside looking very dry now at the end of their summer. Most crops have been turned over getting ready for the next. Burning of ... read more

9am walking start...through the Piazza Marina & onto the Marina area. Began to really heat up at 10am...29° daytime & 23° overnight...had to resort to the aircondioning a few times...which neither of us really like we prefer the open windows! A group of artists painting the boats & water scenery. We moved on round the waterfront & headed back inland through Porta Felice & caught the cute free bus..which takes you on the residential route mainly for locals but anyone can use it. Disembarked at Indepenzia & ventured through Porta Nuova to the gardens of Piazza dei Normanni. Wandered down Via Castro (where we stayed once before) & onto the Variety Ballaro markets.....this was all go! Saturday for the locals! Home for yummy lunch & cool down! The Cloisters outside our apartment were celebrating something...quite a ... read more

Our feet have done some walking! Lots of places to sit down which suits us just fine. Set off to Quattro Canti corner which is part of the block we are in. Directly opposite on Maqueda we found the Norman church 1160 open, S.Maria dell Ammiraglio. Fantastic mosaics! Via Maqueda, another padestrian street was starting to come alive so we mooched along on the shade side & found our way through a side Alley to the Ballaró fish markets. Talk about vending outloud. Just enough room for people to stop at stalls & to give way to opposite travellers....mind where you step...uh oh.....now there comes a scooter amongst it all...sit on the tomatoes...not quite:-P ...away we weave again....then another scooter...aubergenes this time. The Markets are so entertaining! We carried on to the Palermo Centrale Stazione & ... read more