Archive | Lena

Catania

August 14, 2011 at 4:32 pm

The last 2 days of INDOC (our orientation to life in Sicily) included a couple trips to the largest city near the base: Catania. We’d read about the famous Catania fish market before we arrived in Sicily, and it did not disappoint!

Fresh swordfish, anyone? We ate swordfish fillets later that day for lunch during a five-course Italian meal that the INDOC coordinators organized for our group. One of the Italian group leaders described it as “the chicken of the sea” because it’s a fairly bland fish, excellent with many seasonings. Italians eat a lot of it after grilling it with olive oil and lemon.

Little Lena seemed indifferent to the sounds, sights, and smells. We’ll give her a couple years to develop a love for it. Hopefully she’ll love seafood one day as much as we do.

The next day we took a trip to the beach in Catania. The INDOC coordinators took us to one of the sandy beach “lidos” where you pay an entrance fee for a couple beach chairs and an umbrella.

Next time we might try the rocky beaches of Catania. The volcanic rock of Sicily cleans the water until it’s crystal-clear and irresistible, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

0 :: in Lena, Sicily, travel

Catania

August 14, 2011 at 3:32 pm

Little Lena seemed indifferent to the sounds, sights, and smells. We’ll give her a couple years to develop a love for it. Hopefully she’ll love seafood one day as much as we do.

The next day we took a trip to the beach in Catania. The INDOC coordinators took us to one of the sandy beach “lidos” where you pay an entrance fee for a couple beach chairs and an umbrella.

Next time we might try the rocky beaches of Catania. The volcanic rock of Sicily cleans the water until it’s crystal-clear and irresistible, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

1 :: in Lena, Sicily, travel

Snapshots from Motta Sant’Anastasia

August 7, 2011 at 7:12 pm

A few photos from Motta, the town where we plan to live:

This is inside the castle, which is 20 feet from our new home. We were impressed with the historical displays inside. All high quality and beautifully done.

Our future house! This photo was taken out one of the windows of the castle looking down on the house. (Can you see the shadow of the castle?)

We will live on the bottom floor. There’s a large balcony on the other side of the house that overlooks the valley. The fruit trees look so far away from the house because they are. This house is built on the edge of a volcanic cliff! There’s a steep drop on the other side of the house.

Beside the dungeon’s trap door in the castle.

We walked around Motta with our gelato: strawberry and lemon for Elliott and pistachio and chocolate for me. They also have mulberry flavor–called gelsi–which Elliott wants to get next time! I love the cute houses and steep cobblestone streets of this little town. The neighborhood surrounding our house is called the medieval section of town and is so classic with flowerpots on tiny balconies, narrow and brightly colored houses, and cathedral churches with old fashioned water fountains outside.

And Lena, patiently enduring a car ride in a friend’s car, and getting to know Sophie, her giraffe.

1 :: in home sweet home, Lena, Sicily