Siracusa, Sicily

After an easy two day sail down from Stromboli, we arrived at Siracusa on the southeast coast of Sicily. What a charming town full of life and vitality. The harbor is right beside the old town and an easy walk to everything. Beautiful fountains, plazas, and old ruins all within the city.



Church in the plaza.















Old ruins of an Apollo Temple.




Town Plaza








So we have enjoyed long walks in the old town, eating wonderful Italian food. Although we have to admit to being tired of Italian food (no matter how good), as so far this season we have been in Italy (other than our 3 days in Tunisia). Not just Italy, but Italian islands where the variety is limited. Makes us appreciate the great variety of restaurants in the good ole US of A.
We did find a good Chinese restaurant and ate there 2 nights in a row. There is just so much pasta one can eat!!!! But we found fresh, homemade canolli at the market and we have eaten more than our fair share of it.....

The outdoor market was the highlight of entertainment. Abundant fresh fruit and veggies with all manner of smelly, stinky fish. Everyone is there shopping every day and the stall owners are yelling and hawking their wares with great enthusiasm. Very, very theatrical and sometimes just too much sensory overload but always great fun.



Willow and Rover at the market.




So many fresh cherries, peaches and watermelons.








Notice the big swordfish lying there.






We took a day and went to the old Grecian and Roman ruins just outside of the city. Impressed and amazed at the advanced structures of aqueducts, theaters and stadiums built by the Grecians and Romans way before the time of Christ.
We went to the old Christian Catacombs---tunnels underground that held 20,000 bodies within a 2.5 acre radius. We were unable to take pictures of the catacombs but we were astounded.







We have been so appreciative of our time here in Siracusa as we found a great "do-it-all" kinda guy named Piero who was able to take care of some of our boat projects that needed to get done. The challenge (which seems to be an ongoing one for us) is the communication issue. His English was picollo and our Italian is almost non-existent. He tried so hard and would get frustrated and we would try so hard and get exhausted. But "bless his heart" he was able to fix our Raymarine radar, our frig, and pump up our batteries. All very, very important projects---and he was even able to find us a new and different kind of anchor that we will need in Greece and Turkey for weed and mud anchoring.
When we are in "Tucson home" and something needs repair we just go to Ace Hardware or Home Depot, buy the part and fix it ourselves. Or worst case scenario, we have to call a repairman who speaks English and he fixes it. Sometimes here on our "EcstaSea home" we find it so difficult and frustrating that we have to remind ourselves why we are doing this. And we remember that all of these challenges are a part of our desire to push our comfort zones and expand our awareness and consciousness. We find ourselves more in the "here and now" as everything is new and challenging and we can't rely on old, easy habitual patterns that require no awareness. All of the adventure and travel to such beautiful places is magnificent and magical, but the real purpose and magic lies in "being here now". And we just need to remind ourselves of that once in awhile.....

Thank you Siracusa, thank you Sicily, and thank you Italy!!!!!! And now we sail off on a new adventure to a new country, new language, new food and new customs.
Greece, here we come............