Princeton, Saturday April 27, 2024 So it has been an action-packed spring! We returned from Northern California on Sunday (where we joined in the joyous celebration of Harvey R.’s 75 years), and now, on Saturday evening, we’re heading for JFK. For complicated reasons, we’re flying the newish budget airline, Norse Atlantic Airways, to Rome; thereContinue reading “With the Vikings to Rome”
Category Archives: Rome and Sicily 2024
Don’t come if you value your personal space…
Rome, Sunday, April 28 Opinions were divided on Norse Air! It does give new meaning to “no frills:” You get nothing, not even coffee in the morning. I had to virtually beg for a cup of water (the first flight attendant told me water was only for passengers who had purchased meals). And Sue foundContinue reading “Don’t come if you value your personal space…”
Is there a more fascinating city?
Rome, April 29, 2024 Both of us woke up in the middle of the night and had trouble falling asleep again; Sue woke with a start and realized that it was after the time we had agreed to meet the B’s for breakfast. Once on our feet, we settled in at a cafe around theContinue reading “Is there a more fascinating city?”
To the Slaughterhouse
Rome, Tuesday, April 30 Vladimir was eager to visit the Vatican Museums, and who were we to spoil his fun? He had procured advance tickets which helped us avoid a no doubt horrendous wait. The scene at the entrance was a bit chaotic, since the guards made sure that you entered only at your allottedContinue reading “To the Slaughterhouse”
On to Sicily!
Rome and Palermo, Wednesday, May 1 Getting to Palermo was a snap: cab to the airport, pretty comfortable ride on ITA, maniac cabbie from the Palermo airport, and before we knew it we were being shown around the same apartment we’d stayed in in September inside the Palazzo Ajutamicristo. Even though we had a niceContinue reading “On to Sicily!”
Out and About in Palermo
Palermo, Thursday, May 2, 2024 We started the day at the charming tea and coffee cafe across the street; the staff is quirky and enormously friendly. We were soon on our way to the Ballaró market, which we hadn’t seen at full cry last year. it lived up to its billing, with hawkers hawking, shoppersContinue reading “Out and About in Palermo”
The Golden Cathedral
Palermo, Thursday, May 2, 2024 We started the day again at the charming cafe across the street, sampling their cheesecake which probably was the best in Palermo. A very nice Uber driver fought the traffic up to Monreale where there was a festival on the last day of the May Day labor celebrations. The cathedralContinue reading “The Golden Cathedral”
Cefalú!
Cefalú, May 4, 2024 We started our travel day with an Uber to the airport, picking up our snazzy Citröen C4 X and jumping right on the autostrada toward Cefalú. Like every French car I’ve ever driven, it has its quirks. And like most of them, it has pretty sloppy steering and adequate, though byContinue reading “Cefalú!”
A Circumnavigation of a Volcano
Enna and Giarre, Sunday, May 5, 2024 After a nice breakfast buffet at Hotel Kalura, we struck out for the very middle of the island, the town of Enna, referred to as the belvedere or omphalos of Sicily. As we followed the autostrada into the mountains, the landscapes became increasingly dramatic, with steeply pitched wheatContinue reading “A Circumnavigation of a Volcano”
Life Grows in Lava
Taormina and Randazzo, Monday, May 6, 2024 We started the day with a long, leisurely and above all delicious breakfast on the terrace at Zash. The table groans with fresh baked treats, ranging from the savory (arancini) to the dolce (cornetti, tarts, cakes, etc.), fresh fruit, and juice; and you can then order a mainContinue reading “Life Grows in Lava”