Catania - Our Last Day
Trip Start
Oct 03, 2006
1
21
22
Trip End
Oct 18, 2006
Catania, Sicily, Italy
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Onboard we were treated to a bit of a rough sea. As the boat cut through the waves, we were pitched up and then we'd smack back down with the waves crashing up over the windows. Three young women had joyously claimed the front seats of the boat to watch out the window...they were soon rushing to the head and finding more stable seats. It was very cool to me. Back in Milazzo we went to our new favorite Bar and got some breakfast before we found a taxi to take us to the train station for our ride to Catania.
The train was only a few minutes late and it was uncrowded but we had to change trains in Messina. At Messina we found out we could wait an extra hour or so and take a train with only 2 stops into Catania but we'd arrive later than the earlier train that made several stops. So, we opted to take the earlier train and keep moving to give ourselves some time to see Catania.
Again, the Gods did not want us to see Etna. We passed through the towns we'd been to, Letojanni, Taormina, Calabiano...but no way would the clouds move off of Etna. Being on the train gave us time to talk about the trip, our favorite parts, the volcano....it was a good way to travel.
I admit, we should have looked at a map before we booked our last B&B. The operator had said they were 15 minutes from Catania airport. But when we asked a taxi driver in Catania to take us to the B&B he said it was 90km away! I found the tourist bureau and the woman said he was right. So, with the help of the nice ladies in the tourist office at the Catania train station, we found a hotel for the night. A bit more than we'd plan to spend but it was in the middle of town and we could still see Catania and make it to airport without hassle.
Off to the Hotel Gresi we went, checked in and out to explore Catania in the fading afternoon of our last day in Sicily.
We explored the old Roman theatre, below street level in Catania. We were the only ones there and it was quite fun to wander around without a crowd. The Bellini monument and theatre were beautiful but we were headed to the Cathedral and the elephant fountain. We'd also seen a sign for a Hard Rock Café and I wanted to add to my pin collection. The HRC turned out to be closed which was sad but, another visit maybe? The Cathedral was very impressive and crowded that late in the day. We spent the rest of the day there in the church, the square, and the shops.
The hotel clerk had suggested a restaurant for dinner so we freshened up and went there. It was out of the way and dining was above the kitchen so we got a chance to view the food as we were led upstairs. It was a wonderful dinner. In fact, we enjoyed ourselves so much neither Tom nor I remembered to take a picture of our last dinner together...but the memories will always be there!
