Days in Acireale

On our way to Acireale we stopped in Siracusa and spent the day wandering. We split up and Menzs toured more ruins while we hired a boat, a guide ,a pilot and lunch!  The ride around Oretiga while munching on local specialties  listening to Manuela was wonderful!!! We learned a lot while enjoying the water as well.

After meeting up at a gelato shop we drive in to Acireale. Working the parking meter was a real challenge!!!!! Dennis prevailed.



This b&b Corte Dei Limione has been a lovely place to stay. Today Giuseppe made me scrambled eggs with strong cheese just as I like them. No other place has done that ever!

 Our first day was spent wandering the town and enjoying local food in an outdoor cafe. We find that the restaurants all have similar menu item though one night prepare it better than another. Bruchetta is a favorite and if course caprice salad. There is another pasta dish made with an unusual shaped spiral like pasta, tomato, eggplant and   salty ricotta cheese, called Busiate a la normal that we all like and have had several times. Pizza of course!!! Swordfish is served several ways too.

Tuesday we set out for Taromino. Winding up the parking ramp was a real challenge with the size car we had. Good thing it was an automatic shift!

After finding g our way to the bus terminal we boarded the HoHo bus for a trip around. Isola Bella was our destination to see the beach. It was all stones but it didn't deter the many sun bathers enjoying the day there. To actually get to Isola Bella required wading so George and I decided to have a beer while Dennis and Dale waded over. They were quickly back as tickets were required and they failed to purchase them. So, back to HoHo for a ride around the harbour where we had a nice lunch.

We took the tram up to the town again and enjoyed the view from the air looking back to the Mediterranean sea.  George mistakenly bought round trip tickets so we gifted all four of them to a couple who were pleased to receive them for a free ride!!

Walking the streets of Taeomina was delightful but full of tourists and sweaty hot. There were brides, bands, a fashion shoot and lots of trinkets. Drinks again at the top to cool us down then we were ready for the trip "home"!

Dinner was across the street and simple.

For our last day here we drive to Mt. Etna through the window song roads up and up. Landscapes became rugged with volcanic rock and sparce trees.
Not taking the tram, we continued over to the eastern side through forests struggling to survive eruptions. The clouds rolled in and the storms began making driving difficult along the still winding roads. Deciding to cut the day short we stopped and had a very nice lunch in a pretty restaurant which requires one to ring the bell to enter the locked door.

Back in our BnB a game of hand and foot was a good way to pass the rest of the rainy afternoon until supper once again across the street at Times.

Tomorrow we fly out from Catania to Barcelona where we'll spend the night then on to Zurich and Chicago. It will be good to be home again. All of us miss our family and comfy beds!!!