Historical Syracuse, Sicily

Syracuse was the home of Archimedes and history is rich and runs deep. There is an archaeological park which is UNESCO listed (along with the entire city of Syracuse) and really fun to walk around, although there are/were plenty of big group of tourists, so makes it hard to enjoy the enormity of it all sometimes, as you feel you are being pushed along. But, fight the urge to be swept along and enjoy taking your time around the site, it is really a nice thing. In summer they also use the amphitheatre for concerts so you can feel like a Greek or Roman enjoying a cultural event, but maybe don't throw fruit and veg if you aren't happy with the performance.

No matter what you think of human history, nature will always eventually take over.

Concession stand and poster advertising for up coming events, I swear that is what it is.

When the tourists clear out, it gets more etherial 

Orecchio di Dionisio ("Ear of Dionysius") a cave built by slaves, it is 23m high and 65m deep

The "Inner Ear" 

A couple of birds having a drink in the sun.

Sicily in Spring is such a great experience, there are wild flowers everywhere.

and everywhere

and everywhere

Sicilian flag first of course.

The man and his mirror to burn boats with a parabolic reflector.

street cat. It was so small, but the meow echoed throughout the hallway.

One of the great reasons to go to Sicily (or anywhere in Italy) is the wine. Regional wine in Sicily is great! Nero D'Avola one of our favourites.

Then the night comes, the last one in Sicily, always a great place to visit. We'll be back.

Syracuse, Sicily.

After the driving and the freakishly narrow roads it was time to park the car and not drive for a few more days. It was our last stop before we were to head back home and it was to be Syracuse, a city which has around 2,700 years of history to it. Having been part of differing groups history such as the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines, who all used this city as a safe harbour and base to rule Eastern Sicily.

In more recent years you could see distinct quarters dedicated to different trades and skills. Even now walking around if a door is open you can catch a glimpse of someone working on a boat, a fishing net or stone plinth. It makes the winding laneways an adventure no matter how many times you walk them.

winding ways

The antenna brigade.

Yep, more stone churches

But this one had a wedding

All the locals dressed in their finery 

Notice the drone top left

Bald spot photos must be all the rage in Italy.

Back to my growing collection of Sicilian street cats.

looking tasty.... for ceramics.

Back to Piernikiton or more commonly called Torun

This post will be a heck of a lot of photos, as most of the day we toured around the town on our little hooves and saw lots of beautiful things. It is certainly a different town to Warsaw in many ways, some good, some not so good. Over all I think Torun is really a beautiful place and I think I could easily find myself there running a bed and breakfast, maybe called something like "Nicolas Copperpipes" "Copierniki" "Kopernicus not Konfucius" or maybe "Domek Piernikowy bez baba jaga".

So Torun shall now be coming to you in 20 photo packages, as to be honest I went nuts there! It really is a pretty place.

The view from the elevator in the hotel, yes the wall was glass

Early morning sun on the changing leaves

I imagine in winter it would look cool with snow here and bright sun.

The New town market square

Markets in said market square

More of said markets in said square

Either batman or a light fitting, you decide

I hope they didn't pay extra money for a "sun-filled balcony" The tower shows its wrath

A martasaurus

Every Pigeon was kungfu fighting

Beautiful facade on a tasty street. What street is that? I hear you think

You guessed it gingerbread maker street

More facade details of the gingerbread maker street

Even the doors want you to know it is gingerbread maker street

A really pretty mural, a little confusing as you aren't near the sea but..... still pretty enough

 See the whole mural here, smartly done in black and white so you didn't know it had lovely colours!

That's be grate

Yes the roof was not made exact..... still I would LOVE to buy this building and do it up. Any recent lotto winners about?

This is Peter, Peter Griffin.... get it? ahhh wasted on you people!

After this early morning tramping about we were hungry, and wanted to sit outside, alas we found the first real fault with Torun, no one really served breakfast. We had to wait until 1000 to get served here at Manekin. It was however, worth it. I had the cheese, sundried tomato, and ham crepe with spicy (never really in Poland) sauce. It was fantastic!

Marty had gingerbread flavoured one! It too was quite delicious

We got to watch a granny get attacked by pigeons.

For some reason I really like this photo.

So breakfast on day two. Done.