We must cram in more activities before our time in Sicily ends. Start with a no-brainer, a final visit to the local fish market.
Squid or Octopus Tonight?
I opt for squid rather than octopus. Gently pull off the little fella’s slimy head, save the savored tentacles, skin the body, and then cut into rings or filet, or both.
Cleaning Squid
Yum!
Cook on high heat and never longer than three minutes unless you prefer rubber instead of tender. Easy-Peasy.
Oh Yeah Babe!
The roasted artichoke and pepper guy recognizes us with a smile. For whatever reason we all laugh long and hard. Perhaps he senses that this is our last visit and hands us an extra helping before we even order. Arrivederci fishermen friends!
Roasting Artichokes
Time for a four-hour drive to the walled city of Trapani, the most northwestern city on the Island of Sicily. Void of tourists, like every other city during our month-long adventure, we have a harbor view from the room with a restaurant below. Another benefit to traveling during the off season comes with cheap prices.
Walled City of Trapani
Deserted streets of Trapani
Room with a View in Trapani
After morning coffee, we strap on hiking boots and drive to the Coastal Trail in Zingaro Nature Preserve.
Driving to Zingaro Nature Preserve
The Road to the Trailhead
Intense winds and sometime sideway rains blow rocks onto the remote road. One disadvantage to traveling during the off season is, well, it is off season for a reason. No hiking today.
Mount Monaco
At the Coastal Trail Trailhead
San Vito Lo Capo near Zingaro Nature Preserve
Onward, despite already seeing that we cannot see it, we drive up to the hilltop Medieval town of Erice, surrounded in fog. A tad eerie roaming around as solo visitors. Of course, we still found a bar.
Deserted streets of Erice
Duomo Erice
Erice
We can find an open bar anywhere
To the salt flats, where magnificent sunset reflection photos make people famous. Uh, not today. Plus, Paceo Salt Pans Visitor Center closed for the off season. At least the flamingos enjoy themselves.
Paseo Salt Pans
Pink Flamingos in Salt Pans
For us, largely due to nasty weather, the best part of Trapani was pizza in bed with Cherubs.
Pizza in Bed
We celebrate finishing the four-hour drive back “home” with toasted bruschetta topped with freshness – sweet tomatoes, basil, tender mild provolone and of course, extra virgin olive oil.
Best Bruschetta Ever!
Do not forget the roasted purple cauliflower. You know by now that we also have plenty of wine.
Sicilian Purple Cauliflower
One last visit to the open-air market for fresh produce, fruit, baked bread and more of that provolone. Oh yeah, and let’s devour our new breakfast favorite, “Brioche Con Gelato,” a warm bun filled with pistachio gelato.
Brioche con Gelato
A clear, sunny day invites us to the coastal frolicking town of Cefalu. Looks like a wonderful place to spend more time, which we no longer have.
Cefalu
Old Town Cefalu
A straight-up hike up to Cefalu Castle helps burn off indulgences. Look out over the city and the sea before exploring the ruins of Tempio di Diana along the way down.
Castle Views
Views from La Roca
Views from La Roca
Temple of Diana
Temple of Diana
The magnificent Cathedral of Cefalu (construction completed in 1131) holds the oldest and most well-preserved mosaic depictive “Cristo Pantocratore,” Christ all Powerful, on the island.
Duomo di Cefalu
Of course, it was covered from being under constant restoration, but glimpses of the most powerful pipe organ I have ever seen makes me wonder how it sounds.
Famous Mosaic unfortunately being Refurbished
Pipe Organ
Our final meal in Catania starts with fresh shucked oysters for breakfast. I catch a couple sea bass at a local seafood shop and roast them along with fresh fennel and leeks. Despite all this eating, we have noticed minimal obesity among this population, and attribute it to one word – fresh food. Well, two words.
Sea Bass
After one month based in Catania, Sicily, we do not want to leave. A rarity for us. For now, we prepare for sixteen or so hours of flights enroute to our next adventure in Bali, Indonesia. We invite you to come along.
Arrivederci Catania
Thank you, Abundant Universe!
I have loved following your adventures in Sicily. Looking forward to the next installment! 😀
We love that you love! Next one from Bali, right next door to you.
Absolutely love Cefalu❤️safe travels on your next journey. Enjoy all your blogs.
Thank you, Mary Jo! Miss you guys!
Italy looks so amazing.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Looking forward to you next adventure!
Thank you so much, Patti. The history here boggles the mind. Our country is so young. Still an experiment. Love all of it.
Love it. Safe travels guys. I look forward to Bali
Always so good to hear from you, Don. Taking longer than it used to for recovery from jet lag! We are in Bali and watching all the young Australian surfer hard bods.
Ron, you saw most of what we saw plus more during our 2017 trip to Sicily–10 days on the Island and then a few more days on the Amalfi Coast which we loved as well. I felt that Sicily must be like what Italy was 30 years ago–not so touristy, a slower pace, tastes, sights, and sounds of true Italy. We absolutely loved it. You are more adventurous–especially with the fish, since my hubs doesn’t like most fish–but we had an amazing time wandering the streets, into shops and restaurants and churches. We were with a tour group made up entirely of hot rod friends, so all 20 of us knew each other, and we actually have a regular tour guide in Italy who has hosted different mashups of the same folks. We’ve toured with him twice. There are plusses and minuses of traveling that way; we got into St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice an hour ahead of everyone else because of his connections but we miss out on sampling unusual foods from strange markets or hiking a mountain (we’re far too out of shape for that anyway!). I loved every pic you posted. I definitely wanted to jump through the monitor for that bruschetta! I look forward to enjoying Bali with you.
Sounds great. Yes, the upside of a tour guide comes with all the info you get. Especially better if you know and like the others in the group. I agree about the bruschetta. The food all over Sicily is so much better than here in Bali!
Bro, Sicily looks like an intriguing place. Between the food and architecture, I would be amused for days. PS, I went to the Kent State alumni gathering, didn’t know a soul, still had a good time drinking beer and talking to several women.
You always were a ladies man!
Love all of this!
Kind of you to say, Jeri. Usually, we are happy to leave a place after a one month stay, but this one was different and a pleasure to share.
OMG I want pistachio gelato in a fresh brioche bun for breakfast too! And then to walk all day amongst spectacular scenery. By now you’re enjoying the warmth of Bali ( I assume not your first time there?) while I’m preparing to go for a dip in the 46F chilly Salish Sea. Wish me a long hot shower afterwards and be well!