Nov 1, 2012 - Modica, chocolate and gelato

Gorgeous sunny, warm day, we set out for a short ride to Modica. This city belonged to the Romans, Arabs, and Normans, and Aragoneses ( Spain) . It also suffered from the earthquake of 1693, and recovered thanks to a Baroque reconstruction similar to Ragusa. We arrived,parked, went to a bar for Louise's double espresso after having at least 3 at our B&B, which , by the way Is fabulous ..we have a huge room and it is next to a large dining room and kitchen for the few guests..now only us..so it is like having our own apartment/ palazzo....

Oct 31, 2012 - Ragusa

After an amazing breakfast, as you can see by the photo collages, and chatting with all America guests from Boston, we set out in pouring rain..more like buckets, to drive about 90 min to Ragusa. Louise had had about 4 espressos so she was in good form with me driving and Sophie ( GPS)tacked to the windshield. After checking into B&B in Ragusa Ibla, the old town that was destroyed in an earthquake in 1693, which devastated half of Sicily, we went to explore the charming streets and fab doors to add to my collection. It was rebuilt and now...

Oct 30, 2012 - Palermo to Agrigento to Piazza Amerina

Left Palermo in the pouring rain on the 28 th and drove down the middle of Sicily to Agrigento and Valley of Temples.. Nello at the B&B Camera con Vista, Room with a View., greeted us with " Che Bella " and double espresso after a long drive. I am driving now., since it takes Louise 4 cups of. Espresso in the morning just to be as alert as I am when I wake up, not to mention the stress level. Easier to drive than be a back street driver. Our view was fabulous, directly looking up to the temples which were lit at night. We walked around the...

Jun 8, 2012 - A wee tipple then high on a hill in Agrigento

We have been moving quickly so few posts of late but now we are in Syracusa and settled here for four whole days - bliss. I am having a veg out and washing (ie visit lavenderia) morning and Mr Dynamo is off to the archaeological museum and hopefully to book us tickets to see the Bacchae in the Greek theatre here (in Italian but J knows the play intimately and I know the story). We stayed two nights at Marsala. John has reported on our visit to Selinunte and Marsala Del Vallo while there. Marsala itself is a pretty dead sort of a town. Looks...

Apr 2, 2012 - Agrigento, Segesta and back to Palermo

The last day of the tour. It was a very busy, action-packed last 2 days and I think the tour would be better if there were just 2 days more to break it up a bit, giving a more relaxing finale rather than being so rushed. But, I am not the one who decides such things, so I can only just give my suggestions to the powers that be. Still, I think this was one of my favorite tours. Fantastic scenery, great food, nice people. What else could you ask for? We got up at the crack o' dawn this morning to spend our last day visiting 2 big...

May 16, 2011 - 03. S Stefano Quinquina - Gerace

Day 3 San Stefano Quisquina – Agrigento A beautiful cool crisp morning in the hotel on the hill had us all ready to go. The start time for the ride was 9:00am but many of us were up at 6:00. I tried unsuccessfully to connect to the internet before we set off. I discovered that I had bought the wrong SIM card and calls to Australia were eating up my euros. The ride started with a 16 kilometre downhill run interrupted only by a coffee stop in town. It was hardly worth it as the coffee was quite ordinary. Today's run to the beach was basically...

Oct 15, 2010 - Sicily? Already?

A fresh day, and a fresh start. We had a few days free before we were due to meet Vivien in Taormina, so we decided to head to the south coast. The east coast seemed quite touristy and built up, so it was a real treat to drive through the interior of the island down to Agrigento in the south. It’s a beautiful island at this time of year; really lush and green, with the trees just groaning with the weight of all those oranges, lemons and limes. I always pictured Sicily as being very arid and dusty, so it was a pleasant surprise to find it so...

Sep 28, 2010 - Days 37-39: Sicily

Days 37-39: Sicily The State: golden hills, craggy mountains, agricultural valleys, medieval towns, Greek and Roman remains Spent our first morning at the Catania airport watching baggage conveyor belts go round and round. Lost bag remained lost. With no idea of how we’d reconnect with the bag if it was ever found, we climbed into our cute little Fiat Pinto and headed toward Agrigento, our home base for the next couple days. Driving in Sicily As we’d lost a half day, we had to alter our previously mapped out route that would have taken us...

Mar 19, 2009 - Classical Delights

Wednesday 18th March. Early start going to Agrigento ten miles away along the coast road. Approaching the town shimmering gold in the morning sun we were stunned by the sight of a Greek temple silhouetted against the cloudless blue sky and we were worried that we were not sure where we were going! The valley of the Temples was the most amazing place. The ruins of some eighteen temples stretch over a ridge some two miles long with two in very good order and several with significant sections. It has been the classical highlight so far. We...

Oct 25, 2008 - Agrigento/Palermo

Sicily is much bigger than we expected! It is a huge island. After our last post we went back to the campground and started dinner in the campground kitchen just as it started to pour rain. Along came a lovely young couple (hello Jody and Charlie!) who were at the tail end of a 3 month cycling trip before flying to New Zealand - Jody's home - to live. We spent a nice evening chatting in the kitchen while it poured rain. The rain stopped during the night and we just managed to get the tent down the next morning before it started again. But...

May 3, 2007 - Valley of the Temples, at Agrigento

Today is Charlie's birthday! We remembered all day, and tried to telephone. However, I could not decode the mysterious Italian telephone tones. After about 30 minutes of trying everything I could think of to reach long distance to Canada, I gave up. There is a wireless network in our hotel, but it doesn't seem to be working either. Although we were determined to make contact with Charlie on his birthday, we failed. Here's a great big hug for you, Charlie, and many good wishes for your birthday from two befuddled tourists in Sicily. I hope...

Jun 13, 2006 - Ciao

Ciao, It has been an interesting day today, and without the travel arrangements of Sunday (which was seriously nice). I have taken a day trip down to the south coast of Sicily, to a place called Agrigento which is famous for its Vallei dei Templi (Valley of Temples), although in truth it is a ridge of temples rather than a valley. The temples are classical Greek, and date from the 5th century BC; and until I watched Terry Jones' Barbarians on Sunday morning, I never realised that Sicily was a major Greek settlement in ancient times. The...