Catania

1/n

My ride for the next 30 days.

Almost 1/2 than other agents.

I can drop off at another airport for a 85 EUR extra charge, but I am told that if I want to extend I better comeback and do a 2nd contract, any other option involves too much red tape...

2/n

70 cents a coffee in Catania makes a good start of the day.

Let us see what is going on in Sicily...

3/n – bei Bar Ventimiglia

An outbreak in Randazzo. Almost 100 cases.

This is not far from Catania, roughly on the other side of the Etna.

Active cases in Palermo and Sambuca as well.

4/n – bei Bar Ventimiglia

Newspaper almost reads as a "Covid bulletin for Sicily".

Bars have to stop selling alcohol after 9PM, this was the first weekend the new norm was enforced.

3 pubs in Palermo closed for non-compliance.

5/n

Otherwise other news keep happening.

Two cases of men killing the women who were the object of their obsession reported. Burglars broke into the Church of Termini. "Acqua alta" in Venice, @valgeir?

Weather is 10°C above Geneva but not 15°C as I had in Crete.

Theater walk.

6/n

The theater bears the name of the local hero: Massimo Bellini.

Best known for his opera Norma, that gives the name to the pasta dish I might have for lunch.

I wish there was not a covid epidemic to buy some tickets.

Next time, the last pic is the building opposite.

7/n

In the same square, a KFC, an Indian hall food shop, a sushi restaurant and a cafeteria announcing they do the afternoon tea...

And also one of the kiosks selling coffee, today closed.

You won't see 4 such places in Naples in the same square (only a few in the whole city).

8/n – bei Eat

Streets of Catania on a Sunday morning.

9/n

I came here not just for flaneuring, but on "business".

Here we go to the serious stuff: latte di mandorle as recommended by @aledeniz and cannolo di pistachio as recommended by @Marina_Oliva20.

10/n – bei Pasticceria Savia

As other Mediterranean islanders, these Sicilians probably have some secret technology that enables them doing really savory drinks, which puts them between 25-30 years ahead of the Swiss...

11/n https://twitter.com/NachoOliveras/status/1152980647599890434?s=19

More markers of how advanced these people are?

Chestnuts street sellers and public fountains (your periodic reminder).

12/n

Many of these street fountains are a part of a urban regeneration project that yours truly can only encourage.

Monument to Bellini and Roman amphitheatre next to Saint Agathe church.

13/n

In 1669 Catania missed total destruction after an eruption of the Etna.

Their fate was accomplished afterwards (1693) when an earthquake devastated the city.

As a result the city has the best baroque 18th century buildings in Sicily, along with Noto, for similar reasons.

14/n

Above you saw Saint Michele church, here the Basilica del Carmine.

Flaneuring towards the station now, out of the "obvious" visiting places...

15/n – bei Basilica Santuario Del Carmine

I came here as a young man ~15 years ago, by train, from Barcelona.

I have a vague souvenir of a market selling livestock close to the station. But either that does not exist anymore or that is closed on Sundays.

Back to the historic centre, hence.

16/n – bei Fontana Di Proserpina

Fontana Dell'Elefante, city's symbol.

17/n – bei Fontana dell'Elefante - u Liotru

Before having lunch, I ask myself an important question for which I know a certain gentleman I follow has an answer. But I Google it anyway.

What languages did Catanese speak in the 2nd century BC?

It is complicated.

By analysing surnames and graffiti some researchers...

18/n

came to the conclusion that the Catanese were almost perfectly bilingual. Siracusa leaned Greek, Palermo leaned Latin.

Christianity would contribute later to "Latinify" the island...

Spaghetti "alla Norma" as promised @Porkchop_EXP and Nero d'Avola for lunch.

Perfection.

19/n