It's been a while. I know that you guys couldn't get an ounce of sleep because you didn't know what was going on with our lives. I am here to let you know that it is safe at night, now that you know what we did in Sicily.
From Rome to Palermo
Read last blog. We went to this one street/ally that was known for really cheap cocktails. Miya got a flaming B52 (grenadine, kalua, baileys, and then lit on fire), and I got a mango colada. all for 3 euros. HUGE deal. Then we went to try out the Sicilian kababs, but they sucked compared to the ones we get in Rome. We drank more at this kabab place (they spelled kabab "kabap" which was funny). We were then drunk. and went home to sleep it off.
Palermo to Monreale and Segesta. Monreale is known for an amazing cathedral, all covered in gold. Segesta is known for an amazingly preserved temple and an amphitheater. During the summer they still perform plays/dramas at the amphitheater. The amphitheater was nested on top of a mountain where we climbed a few kilometers up. It was tiring but extremely well worth it. It overlooked the plains and fields of agricultural land. It stretched for miles and miles. Probably 80+ miles away there were a heard of sheep and you can hear their bells all the way from the amphitheater. Nuts, I know.
Palermo to Agrigento
Much shorter ride, about 4 hours-ish. Agrigento is known for the "Valley of the Temples", about a mile and half of ancient greek ruins, including 5 temples, some in ruins, some in great condition. There were some amazing restaurants in Agrigento, the problem was that they were always closed when we wanted to go eat. In general, southern Italians eat dinner much later, around 9:30-10, but restaurants open really early around 7ish, but on random days they would be closed. We ate at this one restaurant, it got a Michelin (spelling?) food reward. We were the only customers that night and the owner pulled up a chair and sat with us while we ate and we had fun italian conversations with him. He was extremely nice, his name was Carmello. That dinner took almost 2 and a half hours because he took his time cooking, and he gave us a break from eating before serving us more food. He also gave us a lot of food for free/ discounted prices. We were extremely full.
We rented a car (don't tell my school because its prohibited) and we drove to Selinunte (another ancient greek ruin) and Villa Romana (famous for almost perfectly preserved floor mosaics of a house thought to be owned by a roman emperor). Driving was fun, although we almost died once.
The last 4 days it rained non-stop and it also hailed. It was the first time Sicilians have ever seen water fall from the sky for such a long time.
Sicilians are extremely nice. We wouldn't have survived without their kind hospitality. I left my Camelback waterbottle in the rented car after we returned it and the owner drove into town to give it back to me, and then offered me and Miya and ride back to the central train station. Too nice, that man. It was also cool for the owners of the restaurant would come and talk to us in Italian. Miya really got to practice her italian. She wouldn't let me speak so i just sat there feeling dumb. haha. We met a really nice travel agent who hooked us up with the car, 80 euros for 2 days, unlimited kilometers. Too good to be true.
Agrigento to Catania
We stayed in a youth hostel. We entered the place with loud noises coming from the mouths of loud drunk people. the beds were full of bugs. I got bit over 10 times. I even got bit on my left eyelid and when i woke up i could barely see out of my left eye. It reminds me of the main character of the hunchback of Notredame, without the hump on my back. Just the weird looking eye. We had to wake up really early to catch the train back to Rome, but we couldnt sleep until 3am because everyone was being way to loud and obnoxious.
The train boards a boat to cross the strait between sicily and italy (just to let you know, sicily is an island off of italy. just for those who don't know geography all too well) so the train boards the boat, and you are free to wander around the boat. the view was amazing.
tomorrow: going to a small town named Tivoli. which means hardian's villa. which means awesomeness. which means that there will be another blog to describe the awesomeness that is Tivoli.
ciao-ness!
