Day 13: Slow day in Catania...winding down

Our host, Peppa, gave Doug juice in a wine glass after he proclaimed that he was the only one drinking the juice that was poured for him!

Tankers today, not cruise ships

Old theater

The market never gets old.

I asked mom if she napped this afternoon, because all of us crashed...she said, "I don't  nap."

Doug's cavallo burger. Cavallo means horse.

Last night here, the boys splurged for Blantons. 

Day 12: Siracusa

X

The Etna is smoking

Siracusa

One of our top 3 dinners. Da Mariano

Street festival in Biancavilla

Patron saint San Placido..they walked him around the town and back to the church for fireworks.

Elena's hometown! Leah met Elena at UW-Madison. I messaged her to say we were close by, and she invited us to her town festival in Biancavilla, at the base of Etna. Wonderful hospitality.

Fireworks

Day 11: Mount Etna

We had a sweet young woman named Bella who trained to be a tour guide for "the Etna"...she was charming and funny. What a treat.

We went into a lava river cave with torches. We taught the tour guide the word "flashlight."

Isabella

Lava crater from late 1800s

2001 lava crater

Active explosion on Etna

After olive, wine, honey, and olive oil tasting, a fabulous meal at Fermata Spuglini to end the tour. 4 wines, grappa, meats and cheeses and olives, Pasta alla Norma, and semi freddo...we were very happy.

It was a long day for Doug! Poor Joe found a scrape on the car, and 2 parking tickets...

Frying crispelle

Wine heading back to Wisconsin!

The wine shop

Dinner at Mm!