Hello friends.
My first official Sadara holiday has come and went and it was wonderful. 2 weeks of Malta and Sicily. 24 hours layovers in Amsterdam on each end plus quick connections thru Istanbul, Turkey.
Kids, you'll probably recognition this question: "So what was your favorite part of your trip?." 2 part answer below, one for Malta and one for Sicily. The bikes and my bike ride in Amsterdam, which blew my mind due to the sheer number of bikes and cyclists, will be noted here instead.
Malta
1. Feast of St.Paul. The original plan was 6 days Malta and 6 days Sicily but my Maltese neighbour on the plane told me of a national holiday happening on "day 7" which including celebration in the streets of Valetta. Made that happen! It was a marching band meets soccer huligans on packed-full streets while people throwing paper down from the windows above. Good fun.
2 Fortresses and ruins. Malta has much history and much of it has to do with fighting as its ownership changed hands multiple times. Knights of St.Peter being the notable one that I retained from the tours.
3. No go to Gozo on bike but opted for town to town car rally instead. Frightened by a few extreme wind gusts, that could have easily slammed us into either the railing or close-by traffic, we turned around and parked our two-wheeled transport. In the car, we used Google Maps to guide us thru the same itinerary we were to do by bike. Many great view in this very small island.
4. Cliffs and other coastal wonders like the Blue Lagoon. It also included a day of snorkeling in the cool waters. Luckily the wetsuits were very thick (and tight) to the point you could hardly move in them.
5. Driving in Malta. In summary: right side steeting wheel, left-hand gear chaning all happening on the left- side of the road. Narrow, narrow streets (same case in Sicily especially in Taormina) - never quite sure if the road fits two cars nevermind big buses. Always being prepared to cede way to oncoming traffic. And lastly, the countless clockwise traffic circles.
Sicily
1. Mount Etna in Sicily. Is it really there? After choosing a condo with a Mt.Etna view BUT not seeing the volcano for 5 days of our 5 day stay, as it was cloudy the whole time, it almost went unnoticed. But the venture to explore it happened on that last day. It started with a drive up to the ski lodge on a road that has been part of a Giro d'Italia stage finish on a few occasions (10 kilometer, 10% steady climb.) The gondola then broke through the clouds and voilá: a little paradise above the clouds alone with an active exploding volcano, puffing our blast every 3-4 minutes some actually sending out lava bombs which are large rocks included in some blasts. A snow cat then brought the group to the base of the actual active portion where we were a few 100 meters from the active crater. A guide took us on the edge of another massive crater that blew in 2003, on it there was no snow plus it was steaming due to the retained heat from 13 years prior.
1. Mount Etna in Sicily. Is it really there? After choosing a condo with a Mt.Etna view BUT not seeing the volcano for 5 days of our 5 day stay, as it was cloudy the whole time, it almost went unnoticed. But the venture to explore it happened on that last day. It started with a drive up to the ski lodge on a road that has been part of a Giro d'Italia stage finish on a few occasions (10 kilometer, 10% steady climb.) The gondola then broke through the clouds and voilá: a little paradise above the clouds alone with an active exploding volcano, puffing our blast every 3-4 minutes some actually sending out lava bombs which are large rocks included in some blasts. A snow cat then brought the group to the base of the actual active portion where we were a few 100 meters from the active crater. A guide took us on the edge of another massive crater that blew in 2003, on it there was no snow plus it was steaming due to the retained heat from 13 years prior.
Well after this wonderful day, Mt.Etna was in full view on check out morning - complete with its puff clouds and right beside the mediteranian sea. To boot, check out what Etna has been up to HERE in the weeks since this visit! Wow: Magma and all!!
2. Pizza in Catania! Best pizza ever! With equally awesome olive oil and spray-on balsamic vinegar!
2. Pizza in Catania! Best pizza ever! With equally awesome olive oil and spray-on balsamic vinegar!
3. Hike from Taormina to Castelmola. Two small towns perched on the mountain-side.
4. Beach day including a walk to Isla Bella at low tide. Mindless rock collecting and dreaming of finding treasures washed up on shore!
5. Private Cooking class in Catania. Starting with a trip to the street market below where Roma, the chef, selected fresh ingredients: fennel, oranges, tomatoes, garlic, bread, bread crumbs, pasta and squid (yes, squid). The outcome after a few hours of washing, chopping, cookung, reducing, and sharing stories: deep fried fennel balls, orange fennel salad, brushetta, and the totally BLACK seppia de nero. A skid and pasta dish blended in the squid's ink to give it its color and unique taste (the closest I can describe is that of black olive.)
Now...back to work and countdown to the next get-away!
We have toured the walled city of Malta, but have never been to Sicily. You are getting some very cool get-aways !! (envy).
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