Siricusa and we meet up with Matt, Caro and Lucas

Thursday begins our post trip and Matt, Caro and Lucas flew from from Geneva to join us.

It will be fun to have them for a few days with us here exploriing Siricusa, Sicily.

Archeological Park a work in progress. Where Dionisis had many slaves working to build his empire. Many died by the mid 20's they were worked so hard. 

After the Archeological Park we went to the Puppet Museum. Where puppets were made and their story.

 They actually look a little scary to me.

Lucas mastering the art of eating spaghetti.

Sorry my pictures got out of order. This is also the Archeological Park.

Ognina, Plemmirio and Ciane River - Sicily May 22, 2014

Wednesday was our last day of biking. We had a beautiful ride. Chose to do only the first half and not the final loop. That loop included a 3/4 mile slope with a 13% grade.  Have had enough hills.

The hotel we were staying at the last two days of biking was ultra-modern.

We rode through a town called Ognina where we stopped at a seaside park. Here we walked the rocks and could hear the sea rushing up through the rocks and feel the breeze it created. Wish I had audio to go with this. 

 I was trying to get Ken to go down a little farther to check out the rushing waves and he wouldn't. I went a little later and got my feet wet with a splash.

 Taking a break on the rocks listening to the rhythm of the waves.

A little further and we found a lighthouse. Don't remember how old this one is but I recall it is pretty old. Here is where we heard the sea rushing up through the rocks. There were also spots where there were puddles of the sea water.

 Where the sea water had puddled and dried out you have Sea Salt. Pretty interesting.

The sea is such beautiful colors. This was the first day it was warm enough for me to wear this sleeveless top. Had packed thinking I would wear it 3 of the 6 biking days. 

 Ken showing off as he went to the edge of the cliff (almost).

Lunch today was a picnic lunch prepared by Angelo, one of our guides. Caprese salad (tomatoes with basil and cheese, ricotta cheese, arugula with olive oil and olives, proscuitto and cheese, Brushcetta and of course  wine. 

Our guides Alessandro and Angelo. Alessandro is from Puglia and Angelo from Sicily.

Papyrus is typically only in Egypt, but this is the Ciane River and there is some here. There is also some in one of the squares in the town of Siricusa. 

Found a couple different pill boxes along the way. Not sure about the structure with so much open space. Ken was trying to figure out when it was used.

Many such bushes along our way. This one is a bright pink, some great purple ones as well. Our final ride. 

Ognina, Plemmirio and Ciane River Ride May 21

Great ride  - our last day of riding on Wednesday. Beautiful weather and countryside.

We saw a lighthouse, crossed a river that had papyrus growing. It normally only grows in Egypt, but there has been some found here in the Ciane River. On Thursday we are in Sirucusa and there is a  Square with a pond that also has some growing there.


WE had a stop at this park on our ride today. The water was rushing up on the rocks.

 Where Ken is standing, the water has washed an arch in the rock with the way the waves rush in. IT was a cycle of waves you could count. 4 low waves, a Hard left, then right  and the next one washed up the middle right below Ken's feet.

  Ken and I relaxing on the rocks before we start to ride again. Trying to decide if we will take the additional 12 mile ride after lunch that includes a 3/4 mile steep climb at 14% grade....

Cooking in Italy

AT one of our hotels, the chef showed us how to make a few things. Then called from the group to repeat what he showed us. It was fun. Then those were part of the items for our dinner. that night.


Here is Kelly making our Eggplant lasagna. Layered with Ricotta cheese - by the way Riccota cheese here is to die for. Nothing like we get at home. Tomato sauce, basil. and repeat.

Kelly is a US Marshall

Here is Jeannie stuffing a Cannoli - Stuffing is 1/2 Riccota Cheese and 1/2 sugar. Sooooo good.
Sprinkles on the ends were crushed pistachios and chocolate chips. Sprinkled lightly with powdered sugar.  - Jeannie is a Long Island police officer.

Ken caught samplining the Cannoli..... Could not resist this shot.

I got called up to make a roll. It was Proscuito, Provolone cheese, tomato sauce and a basil leaf. Roll and bake.

St Peters Cathedral

A very ornate altar inside St. Peters Cathedral.

Tuesday May 20 - More of the Sicilian Coast

Many pretty flowers. I will have to load some more. 

 We stopped at a teaching farm. School kids come here to learn about different animals. This is a baby donkey.

 This is the appetizer plate   - Yes first course. More to come.

Catching up on travels Monday to Wednesday 5-19 to 5-21

We have had busy days and not much down time.

We have seen some beautiful countryside.

Down by the seaside. A little beach  on our way to the next town. Nice benches and Ken wanted to get in the hammock but it was occupied. He would have fallen asleep.

 Standing in the rocks at another stop - the sea was on our right all the way on todays ride.

 This was our buffet lunch from a Fishermans Wharf as we would call it. To the far left was Mackerl and then Fresh Tuna. Cheese with fig jam in the round plate. Tomatoes both sliced  cut up with olive oil, basil and a little balsamic vinegar.  Proscutto and salami.  And of course wine, yes at lunch. This is Sicily. This was in the town of Marzamemi.

Another old church. It is hard to believe sometimes that there were that many people needing that many churches. This is also in Marzamemi, where we stopped for lunch.

 Fig tree along our way. Not sure exactly when they will be ripe.

 This was near our hotel for Monday and Tuesday night. It is gathering sounds from outer space to see what kind of activity might be out there. This is near Noto.

Church (one of many) in Noto where we went in the evening to find our dinner on our own and tour the town. The ceiling of this church was incredible. 

Across from the church is the Municipal building of Noto.

Our dinner. Dinner always comes in three courses - an appetizer (usually enough for an entire dinner), Second course and third course. This was Ken's Shrimp. 



This is a ruins called Noto Artica - it was destroyed in the 1693 earthquake. Some was restored but not much. We walked these grounds for a bit.

Some of the stones that were carved as decorations in this castle.

Ken and St. Claire pretending to be the missing pillars.

More later, Time to re-pack for our transfer tomorrow to Siricusa where we will also meet up with Matt, Caro and Lucas

Tour of a Chocolate factory

Let me back up a little. Some of the main products of Sicily are Lemons, Oranges, Olive and Olive Oil, Almonds and Carob. The Carob was originally planted during the Arab domination of Sicily. They used it for many things including sore throats.
Tuna fishing was one very big and still has some siginificant influences around.

So on to the chocoalte factory.
We stopped in Modica - We toured a chocolate factory that has been in business for greater than 50 years. Tried a few things. Was going to go back as it was very busy after our tour and it was closed. The chocolate liquore was on the top of my list.

This is our whole group posing with our cover gear on from the Chocolate factory tour

 Close up of Ken and I.

 This was chocolate and meat... it was good.....

 The back of the factory.  Watching them create things.

INternet is a little slow here so will post more later .

We helped fix our dinner last night and had two great rides today. More later.