Antico Borgo Agriturismo Calatabiano

... it was a bit cloudy and overcast and we couldn't see the peak - probably a good decision to not do the tour as well...
Catania is a nice quaint quiet town and wouldbe lovely in summer.


Caught the 10pm overnight train to Rome with Laura.
Overnight trains in Italy are definitely a lot more sketchy than in Germany.

... images section on their homepage. I'm stoked!

But here's the thing I think is coolest. (See photo to the left.) I assumed most of these countries were highlighted because I've been meeting fellow travelers, but then I realized there are some countries here where I haven't met people from. Which means random people in random parts of the ...

... it's definitely, definitely the Sicilian way.

But, all that said, not to be concerned. I am being safe, despite what my tales tell.

Tomorrow I was again hoping to make it to Mt. Etna with one of the many options I had researched, but no luck. It is late tourist season and they needed a group of 10 to go. An hour ago when I called to confirm if it was on, they were only at 6. Bummer. I think I may go to Stromboli instead and see that volcano. Plus, it's not like I was ...

... condizionata, tutte le comodità per
trascorrere durante la permanenza gradevoli e rilassanti momenti,
all'interno del cuore di Catania, le nostre stanze, curate nei minimi
particolari, rendono perfettamente il nostro concetto di ospitalità,
dove pulizia e accuratezza permettono una piacevole permanenza, ed è
questo a renderci tra i migliori B&B di questa stupenda città.

With our bus leaving at 11.30 to Catania we decided to get one more arancini and do one last sweeping tour of the market, that move nearly cost us our seat, OK we were the last ones to get a seat but we didn't get to sit together, mind you we didn't have to stand for the 3 hour journey, so things could have been a lot worse.

Catania is a laid back city, much of it is constructed from the black lava which poured down the mountain and engulfed the ...

... dass wir im zug lösen konnten. Der schaffner bedeutete uns, dass dies nicht möglich sei und sagte, an der nächsten haltestelle warte der zug 10minuten, sodass ich rausgehen und ein ticket lösen könne. Evi blieb sicherheitshalber im zug beim gepäck, falls seine aussage nicht stimmen würde (weil bis anhin nur sehr selten die aussagen der sizilianer stimmten). Doch er versicherte uns, dass dies ganz ganz sicher so sei. Ich rannte raus und suchte den automaten, als evi bereits nach ...

... geschlossen zu halten und die türen zu verriegeln, denn dies sei ein ‚very dangerous‘ quartier :-), was er als ur-catanier zu genüge wisse.

Er nahm uns mit bis an die tal-station der ätna-seilbahn, wo alle anderen touris auch mit ihren cars und autos hinfahren konnten. Dort steigen wir zusammen auf einen der seitlichen neben-krater, wo jeder pauschal-tourist raufkraxeln konnte. Ich dachte, dies sei der beginn und wir würden dann wirklich in die h ...

A lovely quaint very old area. Stayed in a lovely hotel with great attentive staff would recommend it to any couple looking for a romantic break or second honeymoon. Just off the main shopping street of Corso Umberto but found that the shopping was over priced so don't go expecting any bargains.

... an emotional bunch. In fact, they pride themselves on their emotions, their passion.

This emotional bent is also apparent by the many idols – statues of Mary, churches, looming dominance of God, crosses nearly everywhere you look. A sign of devotion as part of the Italian Culture.

Refugio

We stayed at a Refuge on Mount Etna – menu scant.

... clouds. It looked as though it was going to clear, but it never did so I free wheeled back the way I came and a drop of 1000 metres from 1800 to 800. My the time I reached the bottom I was shivering with cold. Waterproofs, gloves and thermal top were not enough. Then in the shadow of the mountain I followed the road that skirts the north face until time to camp. A glance back reveiled the full size of the cone shortly ...