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Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona
  • Susan and Jim's Travels
  • Susan Halpin
  • Susan and Jim's Travels
  • Susan Halpin

Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona

Cruise across the Atlantic, stops in Azores, Lisbon, Le Harve and Southampton UK. Fly to Sicily, with a brief stop in Barcelona. Read more
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  • Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona

    Walkabout in Le Havre

    April 16 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    When we returned to the cruise ship, we took a walk into Le Havre, about 20 minutes from the cruise terminal quay.

    We found L'Havrais Bière, I had some Normandy Cider (cidre), it was tasty. We had a very nice lunch outside on the sunny plaza!

    Walked around the city center then back to the ship.

    We sail into Southampton UK tomorrow morning. Then fly to Sicily early Saturday morning.

    Sue has more photos that she will post soon...    Read more

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    Day in London

    April 17 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We disembarked about 9 this morning & took the bus to Gatwick airport. We have a hotel room here for the night. We spent the day walking around London. It's a nice day about 60 degrees with sun and clouds. First stop was Buckingham Palace. The palace isn't open to the public, but it was fun to take some pictures. St. James Garden was full of yellow flowers and dark purple tulips. We also walked through Hyde Park Gardens also filled with spring flowers. Next we walked to the Victoria and Albert Museum. We had lunch outside in the garden Cafe and explored the museum for a couple of hours. We have a very early flight to Sicily in the morning.Read more

  • Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona

    Sicily!

    April 18 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Early morning flight to Catania, and 1 hour bus ride to Syracuse (Siracusa).

    Some photos walking around the island portion of the city (connected via two short bridges)

    A late lunch in the outdoor food market.

    An afternoon siesta (up at 4 AM for our 6:30 flight. Then a late afternoon stroll to the supermercato for wine, cheese and crackers on the hotel rooftop patio over looking the sea.    Read more

  • Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona
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    Planes, Buses & AutomobilesI

    April 18 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Our journey started at 4:30 this morning. Flew to Catania, took a bus to Ortigia & an Uber (or an Italian equivalent) to our hotel. We're here in Ortigia Italy! We're staying in a very old, small, boutique hotel right on the water. It is lovely. We covered most of the stuff we are close to on foot this afternoon. The scenery is breathtaking.. Here are some of my pics from today.Read more

  • Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona

    Walking about Otigia

    April 19 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We spent a full day walking around the Isla Ortigia, which is part of the city of Syracuse (Siracusa)

    We followed a self guided walking tour of the island, which allowed us to alter our route when we bumped into any guided tourist groups of 50 people! Those little alleys get crowded quickly.

    Some highlights for me.

    The Statue of Archimedes, who was born in Syracuse.

    Excavated remains of the Greek city gates and a Greek temple.

    A beautiful fountain/statue of the Greek Goddess Diana

    The Syracuse Catherdral, which we did not expect to get into on a Sunday a bonus! We learn the site was originally a Greek Temple of Apollo. When it was turned into a Catholic Cathedral, the original Greek columns were saved on one sidewall and are exposed inside and out.

    Several other churches, Santa Lucia, St. Phillip the Apostle, John the Baptist.

    A fort from the 1200's on the southern tip of the island.

    A few shots of the outside of our wonderful little hotel, including Sue in our balcony window.

    All in all, a great day.

    Tomorrow we are off to the city of Catania.    Read more

  • Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona

    Exploring Ortigia

    April 19 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We started our day around 9 exploring a little more of this island. We used a walking tour by the GPSMYCITY app. This app is very good & free. The highlight was the Castello Maniace. A castle from the 1200's that we could walk through! It has been preserved and there are plans to restore more of it. It's right on the water.
    After that we had a delicious seafood lunch at a tiny restaurant. I had Pasta Siracusan. I chose this dish because I love anchovies. Fresh anchovies are NOTHING like the anchovies I am used to. These were much less fishy & salty. The pasta was cooked perfectly as well, just that little bit of chewiness. The afternoon got warm atleast 75 degrees, and a bright blue sky. The water here is perfectly clear. You can see all of the rocks, sea life and sand. Many people were swimming and enjoying their weekend & the beginning of summer.    Read more

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    Catania

    April 20 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    We took the train to Catania this morning. Checked in early to our hotel, the started wandering around. Catania's reputation as a "gritty" city is well earned. Definitely not your classic tourist stop.

    We survived the grit and found the main pedestrian street/shopping area, Via Etna. We learned how the city got it's name (see top photo).
    Found the ancient Roman Theater ruins and a nice city park. Unobstructed view of Mt. Etna from Bellini Park (except for the summit clouds).

    We will explore the rest of the historical sites tomorrow.    Read more

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    Catania, Day 2

    April 21 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Our full day of walking around the city, roughly following a Rick Steve's self guided tour.

    From the main plaza in front of the Cathedral, Mt Etna dominates the skyline. No clouds over summit for a while today.

    A stop in the wild and chaotic fish market, which was mobbed.

    We toured the archeological site of an ancient (6th century BCE). The Romans used it too, several centuries later.

    Toured the Catania Duomo cathedral, which is beautiful.

    Visited several other churches, Catania has churches like Boston has Dunks, every corner!

    Had a great tour of the former Benedictine Monastery (now part of a university). Tour included stops in two cloisters, an underground vaulted chamber (now a library), another underground chamber that the Abbotts used as food storage chambers and kitchens. Outside is an amazing wall of lava rock, which formed during an Etna eruption. The Abbotts tried to protect the Monestery from the lava flow by building an earthen/sand embankment (they had months to prepare!) It didn't work, but the rebuilt monastery has the huge lava rock wall now.

    A very nice day, in a "gritty" city!    Read more

  • Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona

    A New Perspective on Catania

    April 21 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    When we arrived In Catania yesterday I was feeling a little down. It looks like the dirtiest place I've ever been. Many of the buildings have a gray tinge to them. The city is loud & chaotic. Compared to the beauty we saw in Ortigia I felt like I was in a slum. However, I have learned the gray tinge is not dirt, its "basalt". Mount Etna is a volcano and much of the stone used to build is volcanic rock.. Today we spent the day discovering & exploring what makes Catania unique. We started out in seeing the Cathedral of St. Agatha, the patron saint who protects the city. Next, the fish market, a Roman Ampitheatre, and a tour of the Benedictine Monastery now owned by the University of Cantania. All of that and visiting a bunch of churches interspersed in between. This city is "rough around the edges" but I've learned a lot.Read more

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    Off to Taormina

    April 22 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We caught a late morning train to Taormina, about an hour north of Catania. Got to our B&B for the next two nights about 1pm.

    Survived a brief scare, after dropped by the taxi. I realized I did not have my phone, it was in the back seat. Several calls from Sue's phone caught the Taxi driver's attention, and she ran it right back! Whew!

    We found a Laundromat nearby, just above the main street, Corso Umberto. Put in our clothes, hopped down the stairs (steep hillside town) then back up for the dryer. Repeat, rinse.

    Later we joined the crowds walking the Corso, late afternoon meal.

    It was an overcast, foggy day. No views of Mt Etna. We can now see the mountain's outline through the thinning clouds.    Read more

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    My Heart Rate is Definitely Up!

    April 22 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We arrived in Taormina around noon. We are back to stunningly beautiful waterfront sights! Taormina is in the region of Messina where my Mom's, Dad's ( The Santoro's) come from. It is a classic resort town & it served as a idyllic setting for one of the seasons of HBO's White Lotus (according to Rick Steve's Sicily). The city is built halfway up the side of Mount Tauro overlooking the Ionian Sea. I had to close my eyes as our taxi drove up the steep twists & turns to our B & B. We definitely are getting our cardio exercise! Here are just a few pics from today.Read more

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    Taormina Day 2

    April 23 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    We started off with rain & drizzle. We made the most of it & did walking tour of churches, fountains, gardens & historic sites. The afternoon cleared nicely and we did a steep hike near where we are staying with amazing views. We met nice 19 yr old guy named Vassel from Transylvania. He hiked with us down the steep path near our B& B. I wasn't sure what country Transylvania was in, but now I know--it's Romania.Read more

  • Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona

    A wet morning in Taormina

    April 23 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Woke up to our first rain on this trip, but not heavy. We donned our rain jackets and set off on our self-guided walking tour of the town.

    The city gates at both ends of town.

    The Cathedral, and a couple of other churches.

    A cool fountain.

    A beutiful public garden

    Another ancient Greek Theater that was reused by the Romans.

    By the time we finished a couple of hours later, the rain stopped and the sun was breaking through.    Read more

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    Afternoon Hike

    April 23 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    Taormina is built on the side of a big hill, looking over the Ionian Sea.

    At the top of the steep hill is the village of Castelmola. The road to the top zig-zags across the side of the hill until it reaches the top.

    The hiking trail plows straight up the hill, called the Staircase of the Saracens. Most of the trail is indeed stone steps

    One of the attractions of this hike is great views of Mt Etna, which was still covered in clouds even though we had sunlight in Taormina. So no Etna photos today.    Read more

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    Travel day to Palermo

    April 24 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We woke up early this morning, checked out of our B&B in Taormina. We had a 4 hour train ride to Palermo, with a change in Messina.

    Traveling north on the train, I noticed land on the horizon, over the sea. I realized it was the Italian main land. The Straits of Messina get narrow quickly, from distant hills on the horizon down to a 2 mile channel.

    The Italian train system worked great again today. Our Palermo B&B seemed to doubt it would be on scheduled, sending me their after hours entry code. But the train arrived 10 minutes a head of schedule.

    We did a late afternoon walk about the center of Palermo, an early dinner. The a wine store for some excellent Mt. Etna Vino Blanco to enjoy on the roof top deck. Palermo seems like a nice city.

    Apparently this weekend is a national holiday week, celebrating the end of Nazi occupation in WWII. The city is buzzing with partiers on the street!    Read more

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    Exploring Palermo

    April 25 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We hit the streets of Palermo's old city today.

    A busy street fair, a few parks, the Palermo Cathedral, a few other churches, the marina in Palermo harbor, a giant mural of what we read were the two Italian judges who brought down the Mafia in Sicily.

    Back to the Cathedral Piazza, where we ran into a bachelorette party having fun giving the bride-to-be an interesting costume.

    Today is Liberation Day, a national holiday in Italy, celebrating the Anti-Fascist Resistance overthrow of the Fascists and Nazi's in 1945. The celebrations have been growing all weekend. The streets are loud tonight!    Read more

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    Final day in Palermo

    April 26 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Final day walking around Palermo.

    We found a small street fair. Had a walk along the harbor and marina waterfront.

    Took a guided tour of the Opera House, parts of which were used in the filing of The Godfather III.Read more

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    Rinascente

    April 26 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    So we're in Italy's version of a Lord and Taylor department store. Who knew they would have a lovely rooftop bar/restaurant on floor 5. Thank you Rick Steves! Beautiful panoramic views of Piazza San Domenico. Enjoying some munchies on this perfect spring time day!Read more

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    A Sicilian Sundial

    April 26 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Geek alert!!!

    A mini-footprint from a public park in Palermo, by the waterfront.

    A small pillar in the park's center had a cool (to my geeky mind at any rate), polyhedron sundial. Each face (if you play NYT connections today, raise your hand!) shows time at different portions of the day.

    Three faces accurately showed the time as a bit before 10:00 (11:00 DST).

    Cool!    Read more

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    Segesta Greek Ruins

    April 27 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We left Palermo, picked up a rental car for the rest of our travels in Sicily. Drove to the west edge of the island, Trapani.

    On the way we stopped at the archeological site of Greek ruins. Segesta. A big hill climb to the the ruins of a hill top castel and a well preserved Greek Theater.

    Across a narrow valley, on a smaller hill, ruins of Doric Temple.    Read more

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    Up on the roof...

    April 28 in Italy

    We have a teeny, tiny top floor room in a gorgeous B&B that reminds me of a small Italian manor house. Our private bathroom (which is 15 stone stairs down from our room) is as big as our room. The best part of this space is we have a private sitting area on the roof! Right now we're enjoying a glass of wine on the roof as the sun is setting. It looks like the moon is almost full. Here are some pics of the rooftop space & the house & grounds. Not expensive either (85 euros).Read more

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    Laundry Day

    April 28 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We found a laundromat near a very beautiful church. Exploring the church during the wash cycle was the perfect way to pair the the mundane chore & still see something interesting & beautiful.

  • Cruise, Sicily & Barcelona

    Erice

    April 29 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Today began with a Cable Gondola ride to the hilltop town of Erice.

    Mt Erice towers over the city of Trapani, 2464 feet above sea level. Erice is a classic Italian fortified hill town.

    First stop, Chiesa Madre, the Erice Duomo. Its Bell tower rises above the church, it is not super tall. But because of the hill's elevation, it has great views. I did not think Sue would go up, but she conquered the stone spiral stairs to the top!

    We visited several other churches. A narrow little lane, that Rick Steves encouraged people to navigate. It is a tight squeeze!

    Just past the town's high point at the eastern end of the hill, a big stone manor house and beyond the Castle of Venus. Odd name considering it was built by the Normans. But the stones all came from the ancient Greek Temple to Venus Ericina. We did not walk to exposed ridge to the castle because it was cold and windy. The castle interior is closed due to restoration works.

    The rest of our walk was spent wandering the streets and alleys, working our way back to the Gondola Station.    Read more

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    Mozia

    April 29 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Mid afternoon we drove down the coast towards Marsala, to visit the small island of Mozia.

    The island is home to a very ancient Phoenician settlement, about 8-7th centuries BCE, if I remember correctly. And later the Cathaginians.

    We took a short boat ride across the shallow Laguna Stagnone at 4 PM. Last boat off island was 6PM, so we did a quick tour of the small museum and then as much of the island trails as we could, without getting too far away from the dock.

    We had dinner at a restaurant over looking the lagoon.

    The lagoon is host to the salt flats between Trapani and Marsala    Read more