Sicilia - The Etna edition

Sicilia, it is a beautiful, beautiful place. I am amazed at how it is not more popular with tourists when it has all that one could ask for. History, nature, fabulous food and wine, beaches, sun... I mean what does it lack? Oh yes, it isn't glamorous. But, to me, that is the attraction. I don't know what influence the mafia has there any more, if it is still so big or if it is nominal but it could be a great place to live. After falling for the western end of the island around Trapani, Erice and Favignana a few years back we ventured to the eastern end around Etna to start to see what we could find. Let's see what it is....

The view from our airbnb location, beautiful.

Being there in early spring we got to see wild flowers everywhere.

The almonds were in blossom.

There are prickly pears everywhere.

The accommodation had some great nature around.

It wasn't my bad photography the tracks are this angle.

Lots of terracing on the steep hills around Etna.

The classic Mediterranean life. 

I guess you have to have pasta sometime in Sicily, why not start with it and some local home made wine.

The local church, looking a little worse for wear.

Train station for the train from Catania to Taormina 

Maybe it was time for a drive, head off to the beautiful volcano side town of Zafferana Etnea and grab a local pastry and coffee.

It was the height of oranges and artichokes too.

A little meat.

The little volcano of Etna.

The pretty little town of Sant'Alfio

Sometimes old and loved is beautiful

And there ends the day.

More meat and greet

So after a couple of weeks of sickness, snot and sleep for the house on Makolagwy Street, we decided to run out into the night to try and forget.

We went to Svejk Restaurant (http://www.uszwejka.pl/index.php?lang=en), it is a great place and full of hustle and/or bustle. On Friday night it was bursting at the seams and we were waiting for a table in the non-smoking section (yes smoking is still legal in eating establishments here).

Once in and seated we had a great seat, in the sense that it was between the kitchen, the bar and the stairs to the bottom floor, and we could watch lots of different food and drinks passing by. This made us super hungry, and so after seeing another massive plate of meat go past, we knew we had to have something crazy. So we ordered the Svejk platter, which is insane (please see photo above). The platter was huge as was the beers (photo also attached below). So we had a great meal and I didn't even have room in my sweet corner, aka dessert pocket, of my continually expanding belly. That is indeed quite a feat!



Also attached is a photo of a great little trout that Miss Marta made me as a surprise dinner one evening when I was a little sick. It was amazing as she was able to make trout taste nice, something not everyone can do! Otherwise it has just been the end of snot and coughing hopefully on the way to a great week and weekend. Come on sunshine!