Happy Birthday

My Mt Etna hike was all that I hoped it would be.  On our hike there was a family with roots from Wakayama, the same place my family is from in Japan.  That was interesting.  The mother’s mom and dad live in Wakayama and she married and moved to England with a Spanish husband and they have 2 teenagers.  They speak English, Japanese, Spanish.  It was fun to listen to them speak to each other in a combination of Japanese, Spanish and English.  How great!

We started fine, but the wind was so bad our guide changed the course.  It was a bit scary to hike with a strong wind. So i was glad when he changed course.  We hiked a different way but made it to where we wanted to.  The view was great.  Not too cold, actually a beautiful day.  The hike was easy but, of course, with my slow pace I held out the back of the pack.  Don’t know why everyone is in such a rush. I like to take my time and enjoy the scenery.  We were walking on black lava sand nearly the whole way. 
My guide gave me a piece of lava from the latest eruption for my birthday.  He said it was ok to take it.  It’ll be a nice keepsake from my 71st birthday!

I enjoyed the rest of my Catania visit.  Walking through the streets, shops, fish market and strolling along the waterfront all made the essence of Sicily come alive. The next day I took bus to Siracusa.

It was easy walking to the bus station.  It was the same one I arrived at on the train. Then I followed Google maps to my new place.  The host and her husband me there. The I walked around town to get the layout.  Found the open market and got some fried fish. 
The next day walked to the Archeogical Park.  It was a nice walk, about 2 miles.  I was expecting a little more at the park.  I guess after seeing Pompei this wasn’t too exciting.  Perhaps the most interesting part was the quarry area and the artwork on display there.  Built in the 5th century BC by slaves was the Roman Amphitheater and Greek Theater in Siracusa. 

Decided to take the bus for a day trip to Noto.  The historical baroque town center was massive.  Lots of baroque churches and buildings.

After coming back from Noto, I decided to go the the church of Santa Lucia because I really wanted to see the painting by Carravagio – “The Burial of St Lucy”.  I made it there before they closed and got some great pictures.  Carravagio is a Roman artist who was known for his technique to work with light and dark. His paintings were dramatic and realistic, perhaps drawn from his own turbulent live.  He fled from Rome due to his killing of a man.  He found refuge in Naples, then in Sicily and Malta before he almost killed a man and was again sentenced to death.  He escaped from prison and ended up dying under strange circumstances at the age of 38. 

Well, now on my way to Pozzallo, the town where I catch the ferry to Malta.  The trip to Pozzallo was fine.  Actually the same bus ride as yesterday to Noto but further along the way.  Seems like a very small town.  Only stayed there one night, but long enough to walk the beach area and check out the town.  The beach was nice.  Little waves, which I have not seen for awhile.  This is the Mediterranean Sea and there is sand – nice sand.  I wouldn’t mind coming back here.  Seems like a nice laid back town.  I may want to come back one day.