Mt Etna - Still Active After All These Years!

Time on my own to explore Mount Etna, an active volcano with daily pluming affecting the skies.


Evidence of new life ...











From Mountain to sea...











Walking the crater...

Can you see the pattern of rocks formed into a heart??

Seattle to Sicily

For the sake of getting these photos posted, I've bypassed the story telling opting for quick notes along the way.  This trip was pure energy in coming together within a month on mileage, all business and first class service via Alaska and KLM, and a fabulous little villa in the countryside just outside of Syracusa.
 
Once again, I'm off to meet Leo in another part of the world for the third time ~ and his his partner, Sony.







First course, fresh mixed green salad, smoked fish and that was plenty!  I don't even recall what the main course was...oh, in the little box?  A tiny bottle of olive oil, butter and minute timer of salt and pepper.  How lovely, indeed.

Breakfast: yogurt, chèvre and salmon, eggs and potatoes.  This time...it's a little blue box!

This is Citizen M - a unique hotel suggested to me by my older brother.  Designed to provide you everything you need in a very compact space.  For those of you who know what my apartment looks like, you know very well that I "get" compact space!






Interesting layout.  The first thin you see is the bed BUT the toilet and shower are in clear vision with glass wrap around doors that form cylinders of "privacy."  It worked, but then again I was the only occupant.



Landed in Catania at 11:15pm, got my rental car and on the road by 11:45 driving to meet my host along the freeway exit an hour later.  The next day, I slept practically the whole day then dragged myself out for a drive and into town.










After a walk around the island town of Ortygia, found a place to watch the Greece vs Italy soccer match, while enjoying a quattro stagioni pizza and lemon soda.

A day at the pool at Gabriello's place.








The Ortygia farmer's market with Gabriello.  He's a fantastic shopper with impeccable taste for the freshest, ripest in season fruits, vegetables, and seafood.






Tricotta is ricotta baked (or cooked) for the third time!

THE MOST INCREDIBLE cheese I've ever enjoyed!

The funny cheesemonger took a liking...










Leo and Sony met Italian archaeologist Dino Mancuso and French artist Helene Moreau in Spain couch "couch surfing" who introduced me to Gabriello, Simona and Roberto Ferrara whose little "villa" I rented and loved! Don't you love how that works?

This is Helene's shop in Ortygia.  Fabulous paintings on silk - some of the designs are from Sicilian
ceramics.



Helene's friend Tomas, a Lithuanian vagabond choosing to live a life less burdened of material goods with his high pitched steel drum-like instrument.

Gabriello whipped up this quick pasta dinner of dattarino tomatoes, garlic, olives, capers and tuna.
Fabulous!!


Location:Syracusa