As you see from this map, since leaving Catania and Syracuse on the east coast I have been circumnavigating the island in a clockwise manner: Ragusa, Agrigento, Marsala, Segesta, Cefalu, Taorminia.

 

 

 

 

 

Agrigento The current town sits above a very large area of ruins that was once the ancient city of Akragas. Founded by the Greeks in the 500’s BC it was a very successful colony having at one time a population estimated in the hundreds of thousands. But this was ground zero in the Punic wars when the two superpowers, Carthage and Rome struggled for dominance of the Mediterranean. The city exchanged hands several times. At one point the Romans besieged the city, sacked it, and sold the entire population into slavery.
Some photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marsala. I wanted to make it to the west coast, but probably chose Marsala just because the name strikes such a happy chord with me, like Veal Marsala or Chicken Marsala. The town is small. It was founded by the Carthagenians, but for some reason the Romans spared it in the Punic wars. It has a very nice little old town. It also has a lot of newish buildings mainly because the Americans bombed the poop out of it in WWII.
Some photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cefalu. A picture perfect tourist town. With an absolutely gorgeous medieval old town. I came here to visit the Cathedral which was originally Norman but modified by the Arabs. Along with a number of similar buildings in the area, collectively a World Heritage site.
Some photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taormina. This is a pretty and prosperous town, hundreds of hotels and restaurants. I guess a lot of tourists come here since it is very close to the ferry terminal across from the boot.

The land rises high and very steeply out of the sea here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main attraction is the large Greek theater right on the edge of town. Actually only the foundations date from the earliest Greeks 2500 years or so ago. What is standing is the remains of the theater from the Romans rebuilding it 500 years later.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some misc. notes on travelling in Sicily.

Truly fine fish, olive oil and wines. Good restaurant food, but best away from the popular tourist sites. A repeat picture but I love it.

 

 

 

 

 

The island is not pretty but has its own scenic beauty. The North is more scenic than the south, particularly the areas around Trapani and Cefalu. This is an old land. Barren denuded hills. Not so many trees. Although plenty of Olive trees.

Lots of smoking, trash, dog poop.

A fair amount of English. Curiously ALL restaurants are playing English popular music/songs.

The motor-ways are tricky, the secondary roads difficult, the towns really scary. 30% of the drivers on the roads are maniacal. All drivers of German cars are suicidal. The speed limits go up and down in very short distances, but everyone ignores them, they also ignore no passing signs, lane markers, etc. etc. Driving here was very stressful.

Breakfast in the hotels are long on sweets.

Advance your normal daily schedule by 3 and a half hours to get onto their time.

They like this primitive characteristic pottery.

 

 

 

 

 

In the mornings all the open places are full of heavily dressed old men sitting around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For me there were many small and fun surprises, like the technology this travelling vegetable salesman is using:

 

 

 

 

 

There are ruins everywhere. This little Norman church is a curiosity. About 900 years old, it was built on an island. But is now connected to the shore by lava flowing from Mount Etna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And speaking of her. I am leaving tomorrow, but shouldn’t someone be concerned that the volcano is smoking ????