Blogs from Sicily, Italy, Europe - page 40

Geo: 38.1157, 13.3612My daughter Helen & husband Wildy were over from Australia so we decided to go somewhere we had never been before. Europe had pretty much been covered but no one had been to Sicily so we decided to try it. The flight to Catania by BA was an early one but was on time and helped by a glass of champagne or two to celebrate the trip. It was rainy and cloudy on arrival but still very warm. We collected the hire car after having to ask at info where the hire car desks were as it wasn't that obvious. However we were glad that we had used a little known company (Sixt) as there was no queue and we quickly got our little Mercedes. Don't even think of getting a big car here. ... read more

A visit to the Aeolian island Stromboli. Stromboli is a small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, off the north coast of Sicily, containing one of the three active volcanoes in Italy. Stromboli is remarkable because of the length of time in which it has been in almost continuous eruption. For at least the last 20,000 years the same pattern of eruption has been maintained, in which explosions occur at the summit craters with mild to moderate eruptions of incandescent volcanic bombs at intervals ranging from minutes to hours. Getting to Stromboli wasn't all that easy. From mainland Sicily it was first by hydrofoil to the Island of Lipari. And from Lipari it is another 2 hours to Stromboli. On the island there are amazing views to the other aeolian islands. And of course, a great view ... read more

Took a hop on hop of bus , the northern route what took 3 hours without hopping of.Went to Valletta in the afternoon. Went yesterday in the morning to the old capital Mdina and in the afternoon again Valletta Impression of Malta - Their unknown wine is very good and unbelievable cheap - They threat beer as in England - They drive on the leftside of the road but since everybody is doing it its no problem - One of their export products are potatoes - 500 public busses owned by 500 independent drivers somebody told me. Still a working schedule - Valletta another Unesco world heritage site. Real historic looking and people still living in the citadel - In the churches hundreds of tombstones of the Maltezer knights who were living here for centuries - ... read more

Saturday evening I arrived in Pozzallo. 250 km from Palermo, 12 hours incl 6 hours waiting at empty stations and 4 trains. Pozzallo station is small, empty and far from the village. I asked an old lady who arrived also by train if she knew my hotel Villa Margherita. She did not. If there were any taxis .Not at the station. Than she said something about machina and invited me in her old,dirty car. The lady only slightly older than her car started driving.Did not find it. Went to a travelagency who knew but was unable to get an taxi.Too late its already 8,30 pm.The lady wanted to bring me and on directions of the agency girl we did find it. The charm of an old man or the goodness of an even older lady? In ... read more

Was hoping that my eye would have recovered overnight. Unfortunately it had not, so I had to cancel the excursion up Mount Etna and play hunt the hospital instead. There are lots and you have to have the right one, oh and follow the Italian instructions to get there. Anyway, after a morning of standing in queues I realised that I was more bored than in pain, so we continued with our journey. To make the most of the day, we caught the bus (the helpful lady at the hostel got all the details) to Catania War Cemetry. The driver said that the bus didn't go near and that it was a fast and dangerous road, not suitable for walking on. I didn't think he was going to help us further. He asked if it was ... read more