Have just returned from a trip to Andalucia.
Lots of impressions to pass on, but, sadly, not much activity
in rec.travel.european these days? I.e. not that many
to pass the story on to?
Nevertheless, I'll give it a go:
Shortly: Andalucia has certainly been influenced
by a lot of people over the centuries.
From roman emperors, onwards to muslim caliphates,
followed by Viking raids (Vikings who later settle in the
area, selling cheese) and forward to Spanish kings,
who started expeditions to the rest of the world from
the Andalician heartland.
Between all the wars you certainly don't get the impression
that the past was such a glorious time of stability
that you sometimes see it portrayed as in the media ...
But, well, the land is still there.
And well worth a visit.
You can see some pictures from my trip here: http://www.simonlaub.net/Fortunecity/Andalucia2017/index.html
best wishes
-Simon
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del
Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places evoked >similar responses.
On Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:46:56 -0700, poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote:
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del >Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places evoked >similar responses.
A pretty similar kind of sigh. The Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge
connecting the Palazzo Dogale with the prison cells. It's not called
the "bridge of sighs" because of any sighs of people sighing when
looking at it from the outside.It has a small window in it, and
prisoners were said to sigh as they crossed the bridge, looked out the window, and saw their last glimpse of daylight before being locked up.
On Monday, July 10, 2017 at 9:27:50 PM UTC+1, Ken Blake wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:46:56 -0700, poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote:
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del
Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked
out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places evoked
similar responses.
A pretty similar kind of sigh. The Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge
connecting the Palazzo Dogale with the prison cells. It's not called
the "bridge of sighs" because of any sighs of people sighing when
looking at it from the outside.It has a small window in it, and
prisoners were said to sigh as they crossed the bridge, looked out the
window, and saw their last glimpse of daylight before being locked up.
"Vikings who later settle in the area, selling cheese"?
Well, that really enhances our historical knowledge of the del Sol.
I agree, though, that sadly this group has largely lapsed.
We've just returned from a fascinating first amble around Sicily, but I
doubt if anyone is interested .............. ?
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message >news:e69ea612-7d2d-4d2f-ac13-19ed8d40836a@googlegroups.com...
On Monday, July 10, 2017 at 9:27:50 PM UTC+1, Ken Blake wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:46:56 -0700, poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote:
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del
Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked
out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places evoked >>> >similar responses.
A pretty similar kind of sigh. The Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge
connecting the Palazzo Dogale with the prison cells. It's not called
the "bridge of sighs" because of any sighs of people sighing when
looking at it from the outside.It has a small window in it, and
prisoners were said to sigh as they crossed the bridge, looked out the
window, and saw their last glimpse of daylight before being locked up.
"Vikings who later settle in the area, selling cheese"?
Well, that really enhances our historical knowledge of the del Sol.
I agree, though, that sadly this group has largely lapsed.
We've just returned from a fascinating first amble around Sicily, but I
doubt if anyone is interested .............. ?
yes please :-)
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:42:36 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com>
wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message >>news:e69ea612-7d2d-4d2f-ac13-19ed8d40836a@googlegroups.com...
On Monday, July 10, 2017 at 9:27:50 PM UTC+1, Ken Blake wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:46:56 -0700, poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote:
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del
Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked
out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places
evoked
similar responses.
A pretty similar kind of sigh. The Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge
connecting the Palazzo Dogale with the prison cells. It's not called
the "bridge of sighs" because of any sighs of people sighing when
looking at it from the outside.It has a small window in it, and
prisoners were said to sigh as they crossed the bridge, looked out the >>>> window, and saw their last glimpse of daylight before being locked up.
"Vikings who later settle in the area, selling cheese"?
Well, that really enhances our historical knowledge of the del Sol.
I agree, though, that sadly this group has largely lapsed.
We've just returned from a fascinating first amble around Sicily, but I
doubt if anyone is interested .............. ?
yes please :-)
Me too!
"Martin" <me@address.invalid> wrote in message >news:pob9mc9rrti5crc8dd0mibpchbfnivifkn@4ax.com...
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:42:36 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com>
wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message >>>news:e69ea612-7d2d-4d2f-ac13-19ed8d40836a@googlegroups.com...
On Monday, July 10, 2017 at 9:27:50 PM UTC+1, Ken Blake wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:46:56 -0700, poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote:"Vikings who later settle in the area, selling cheese"?
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del >>>>> >Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked >>>>> >out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places
evoked
similar responses.
A pretty similar kind of sigh. The Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge
connecting the Palazzo Dogale with the prison cells. It's not called >>>>> the "bridge of sighs" because of any sighs of people sighing when
looking at it from the outside.It has a small window in it, and
prisoners were said to sigh as they crossed the bridge, looked out the >>>>> window, and saw their last glimpse of daylight before being locked up. >>>>
Well, that really enhances our historical knowledge of the del Sol.
I agree, though, that sadly this group has largely lapsed.
We've just returned from a fascinating first amble around Sicily, but I >>>> doubt if anyone is interested .............. ?
yes please :-)
Me too!
to be clear that I'm not just asking in order to keep the group alive ...
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in Italy
This was pre internet, without a guide book, flying by the seat of my pants >stuff
I knew a few places that I had to go to: Mt Etna, Agrigento, Palermo etc
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of Italy and >on the Island - travelling by train. It was November BTW, glorious weather >all week, though it did piss down the previous week when I had been in >Naples :-(
I'm sure that I missed some places. I remember that I got the train to >Enna, fully expecting that if the station wasn't in the town centre (it >isn't by about 5 km) there would be as bus as the had been at *every* other >random Italian town that I had visited. But there wasn't and still isn't >(actually I found a web site that says that there us, but there are no bus >stops on street view!) - and there isn't even a sign of a taxi rank, though >no doubt there's now a phone number on the wall that you can ring with your >mobile - something that I, of course, didn't have in 82.
Now, with 35 years of traveling experience behind me, I think I should go >back and fill in the gaps.
I'm minded to hire a car, but I am concerned by the overly cheap prices that >are charged and whether it is possible to avoid all the scams that you read >of to bump up the costs when you get there.
Or I can again go by train (and bus) though this time using the internet to >plan properly.
Or I could see if I can add on some organised day trips from hotels in the >mains towns - I don't rate that option much, but sometimes it works.
or there is this:
http://www.secretitalia.it/tours/sicily-cultural-tours-the-sicilian-splendours-tour/
but plus flights (and therefore no obligation on the tour company to help >you if the flights are late/cancelled) the price is just silly
So am generally interested in how you travelled around and any out of the >ordinary places that you visited.
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 20:35:25 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com>
wrote:
"Martin" <me@address.invalid> wrote in message >>news:pob9mc9rrti5crc8dd0mibpchbfnivifkn@4ax.com...
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:42:36 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com>
wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message >>>>news:e69ea612-7d2d-4d2f-ac13-19ed8d40836a@googlegroups.com...
On Monday, July 10, 2017 at 9:27:50 PM UTC+1, Ken Blake wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:46:56 -0700, poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote:"Vikings who later settle in the area, selling cheese"?
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del >>>>>> >Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked >>>>>> >out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places
evoked
similar responses.
A pretty similar kind of sigh. The Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge
connecting the Palazzo Dogale with the prison cells. It's not called >>>>>> the "bridge of sighs" because of any sighs of people sighing when
looking at it from the outside.It has a small window in it, and
prisoners were said to sigh as they crossed the bridge, looked out the >>>>>> window, and saw their last glimpse of daylight before being locked up. >>>>>
Well, that really enhances our historical knowledge of the del Sol.
I agree, though, that sadly this group has largely lapsed.
We've just returned from a fascinating first amble around Sicily, but I >>>>> doubt if anyone is interested .............. ?
yes please :-)
Me too!
to be clear that I'm not just asking in order to keep the group alive ...
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in Italy
This was pre internet, without a guide book, flying by the seat of my pants >>stuff
I knew a few places that I had to go to: Mt Etna, Agrigento, Palermo etc
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of Italy and >>on the Island - travelling by train. It was November BTW, glorious weather >>all week, though it did piss down the previous week when I had been in >>Naples :-(
I'm sure that I missed some places. I remember that I got the train to >>Enna, fully expecting that if the station wasn't in the town centre (it >>isn't by about 5 km) there would be as bus as the had been at *every* other >>random Italian town that I had visited. But there wasn't and still isn't >>(actually I found a web site that says that there us, but there are no bus >>stops on street view!) - and there isn't even a sign of a taxi rank, though >>no doubt there's now a phone number on the wall that you can ring with your >>mobile - something that I, of course, didn't have in 82.
Now, with 35 years of traveling experience behind me, I think I should go >>back and fill in the gaps.
I'm minded to hire a car, but I am concerned by the overly cheap prices that >>are charged and whether it is possible to avoid all the scams that you read >>of to bump up the costs when you get there.
Or I can again go by train (and bus) though this time using the internet to >>plan properly.
Or I could see if I can add on some organised day trips from hotels in the >>mains towns - I don't rate that option much, but sometimes it works.
or there is this:
http://www.secretitalia.it/tours/sicily-cultural-tours-the-sicilian-splendours-tour/
but plus flights (and therefore no obligation on the tour company to help >>you if the flights are late/cancelled) the price is just silly
So am generally interested in how you travelled around and any out of the >>ordinary places that you visited.
Places: Palermo, Monreale, Segesta, Erice, Agrigento, Selinunte,
Siracusa, Taormina.
I've always rented a car when I went to Sicily, and that's what I
recommend.
I have just one other recommendation. If you are going to be in
Naples, instead of taking a train to Sicily, you might want to take
the overnight ferry to Palermo or Catania, and then return to the
mainland from the other. I haven't checked the prices recently, but
the last time I went, the cost was about the same as staying in a
hotel, which means that it costs nothing extra for that night. And
since you will be asleep for most of the trip, it doesn't take any
time out of your overall trip, the way a train would.
"Ken Blake" <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote in message >news:3jdamc5v06ss5pdpjn4lpb474l5iad8295@4ax.com...
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 20:35:25 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com>
wrote:
"Martin" <me@address.invalid> wrote in message >>>news:pob9mc9rrti5crc8dd0mibpchbfnivifkn@4ax.com...
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:42:36 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com> >>>> wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message >>>>>news:e69ea612-7d2d-4d2f-ac13-19ed8d40836a@googlegroups.com...
On Monday, July 10, 2017 at 9:27:50 PM UTC+1, Ken Blake wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:46:56 -0700, poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote: >>>>>>>
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del >>>>>>> >Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked >>>>>>> >out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places >>>>>>> >evoked
similar responses.
A pretty similar kind of sigh. The Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge >>>>>>> connecting the Palazzo Dogale with the prison cells. It's not called >>>>>>> the "bridge of sighs" because of any sighs of people sighing when >>>>>>> looking at it from the outside.It has a small window in it, and
prisoners were said to sigh as they crossed the bridge, looked out >>>>>>> the
window, and saw their last glimpse of daylight before being locked >>>>>>> up.
"Vikings who later settle in the area, selling cheese"?
Well, that really enhances our historical knowledge of the del Sol. >>>>>> I agree, though, that sadly this group has largely lapsed.
We've just returned from a fascinating first amble around Sicily, but >>>>>> I
doubt if anyone is interested .............. ?
yes please :-)
Me too!
to be clear that I'm not just asking in order to keep the group alive ... >>>
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in Italy >>>
This was pre internet, without a guide book, flying by the seat of my >>>pants
stuff
I knew a few places that I had to go to: Mt Etna, Agrigento, Palermo etc
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of Italy >>>and
on the Island - travelling by train. It was November BTW, glorious >>>weather
all week, though it did piss down the previous week when I had been in >>>Naples :-(
I'm sure that I missed some places. I remember that I got the train to >>>Enna, fully expecting that if the station wasn't in the town centre (it >>>isn't by about 5 km) there would be as bus as the had been at *every* >>>other
random Italian town that I had visited. But there wasn't and still isn't >>>(actually I found a web site that says that there us, but there are no bus >>>stops on street view!) - and there isn't even a sign of a taxi rank, >>>though
no doubt there's now a phone number on the wall that you can ring with >>>your
mobile - something that I, of course, didn't have in 82.
Now, with 35 years of traveling experience behind me, I think I should go >>>back and fill in the gaps.
I'm minded to hire a car, but I am concerned by the overly cheap prices >>>that
are charged and whether it is possible to avoid all the scams that you >>>read
of to bump up the costs when you get there.
Or I can again go by train (and bus) though this time using the internet >>>to
plan properly.
Or I could see if I can add on some organised day trips from hotels in the >>>mains towns - I don't rate that option much, but sometimes it works.
or there is this:
http://www.secretitalia.it/tours/sicily-cultural-tours-the-sicilian-splendours-tour/
but plus flights (and therefore no obligation on the tour company to help >>>you if the flights are late/cancelled) the price is just silly
So am generally interested in how you travelled around and any out of the >>>ordinary places that you visited.
Places: Palermo, Monreale, Segesta, Erice, Agrigento, Selinunte,
Siracusa, Taormina.
I've always rented a car when I went to Sicily, and that's what I
recommend.
and what should one pay for this.
I have just one other recommendation. If you are going to be in
Naples,
why would I be in Naples on this trip?
I shall be flying from London
I was only in Naples the previous time because I got the overnight train
from Milan,
instead of taking a train to Sicily, you might want to take
the overnight ferry to Palermo or Catania, and then return to the
mainland from the other. I haven't checked the prices recently, but
the last time I went, the cost was about the same as staying in a
hotel, which means that it costs nothing extra for that night. And
since you will be asleep for most of the trip, it doesn't take any
time out of your overall trip, the way a train would.
is there no longer a night train for that journey?
(Google, google)
yes there is:
ICN35455
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in
Italy
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of
Italy and on the Island - travelling by train.
I'm sure that I missed some places. I remember that I got the train
to Enna, fully expecting that if the station wasn't in the town centre
(it isn't by about 5 km) there would be as bus as the had been at
*every* other random Italian town that I had visited. But there
wasn't and still isn't
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 20:35:25 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com>
wrote:
"Martin" <me@address.invalid> wrote in message >>news:pob9mc9rrti5crc8dd0mibpchbfnivifkn@4ax.com...
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:42:36 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com>
wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message >>>>news:e69ea612-7d2d-4d2f-ac13-19ed8d40836a@googlegroups.com...
On Monday, July 10, 2017 at 9:27:50 PM UTC+1, Ken Blake wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:46:56 -0700, poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote:
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del >>>>>> >Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked >>>>>> >out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places
evoked
similar responses.
A pretty similar kind of sigh. The Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge
connecting the Palazzo Dogale with the prison cells. It's not called >>>>>> the "bridge of sighs" because of any sighs of people sighing when
looking at it from the outside.It has a small window in it, and
prisoners were said to sigh as they crossed the bridge, looked out >>>>>> the
window, and saw their last glimpse of daylight before being locked >>>>>> up.
"Vikings who later settle in the area, selling cheese"?
Well, that really enhances our historical knowledge of the del Sol.
I agree, though, that sadly this group has largely lapsed.
We've just returned from a fascinating first amble around Sicily, but >>>>> I
doubt if anyone is interested .............. ?
yes please :-)
Me too!
to be clear that I'm not just asking in order to keep the group alive ...
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in Italy
This was pre internet, without a guide book, flying by the seat of my
pants
stuff
I knew a few places that I had to go to: Mt Etna, Agrigento, Palermo etc
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of Italy
and
on the Island - travelling by train. It was November BTW, glorious
weather
all week, though it did piss down the previous week when I had been in >>Naples :-(
I'm sure that I missed some places. I remember that I got the train to >>Enna, fully expecting that if the station wasn't in the town centre (it >>isn't by about 5 km) there would be as bus as the had been at *every*
other
random Italian town that I had visited. But there wasn't and still isn't >>(actually I found a web site that says that there us, but there are no bus >>stops on street view!) - and there isn't even a sign of a taxi rank,
though
no doubt there's now a phone number on the wall that you can ring with
your
mobile - something that I, of course, didn't have in 82.
Now, with 35 years of traveling experience behind me, I think I should go >>back and fill in the gaps.
I'm minded to hire a car, but I am concerned by the overly cheap prices >>that
are charged and whether it is possible to avoid all the scams that you
read
of to bump up the costs when you get there.
Or I can again go by train (and bus) though this time using the internet
to
plan properly.
Or I could see if I can add on some organised day trips from hotels in the >>mains towns - I don't rate that option much, but sometimes it works.
or there is this:
http://www.secretitalia.it/tours/sicily-cultural-tours-the-sicilian-splendours-tour/
but plus flights (and therefore no obligation on the tour company to help >>you if the flights are late/cancelled) the price is just silly
So am generally interested in how you travelled around and any out of the >>ordinary places that you visited.
Places: Palermo, Monreale, Segesta, Erice, Agrigento, Selinunte,
Siracusa, Taormina.
I've always rented a car when I went to Sicily, and that's what I
recommend.
I have just one other recommendation. If you are going to be in
Naples,
instead of taking a train to Sicily, you might want to take
the overnight ferry to Palermo or Catania, and then return to the
mainland from the other. I haven't checked the prices recently, but
the last time I went, the cost was about the same as staying in a
hotel, which means that it costs nothing extra for that night. And
since you will be asleep for most of the trip, it doesn't take any
time out of your overall trip, the way a train would.
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017, tim... wrote:
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in
Italy
Well, as far as tourism is concerned when I was in Sicily I did it with organized tours, except when I was there for work (but that was just in Palermo and Catania, and Erice which is a conference place ... the
conference organizers, there and in Catania, took care of appropriate
tours)
I do not consider it a public transport friendly place. Recently a disable friend (in wheelchair) wanted to spend a weekend in Palermo (without
hiring a car as sometimes the person who accompanies him does), and I
guess he missed some places like Monreale.
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of Italy
and on the Island - travelling by train.
You were very brave (*). The sicilian railways have poor fame (slow and unfrequent), apparently the locals prefer buses.
(*) or are you a railway fan ?
"Ken Blake" <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote in message >news:3jdamc5v06ss5pdpjn4lpb474l5iad8295@4ax.com...
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 20:35:25 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com>
wrote:
"Martin" <me@address.invalid> wrote in message >>>news:pob9mc9rrti5crc8dd0mibpchbfnivifkn@4ax.com...
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017 10:42:36 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com> >>>> wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message >>>>>news:e69ea612-7d2d-4d2f-ac13-19ed8d40836a@googlegroups.com...
On Monday, July 10, 2017 at 9:27:50 PM UTC+1, Ken Blake wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jul 2017 12:46:56 -0700, poldy <poldy@kfu.com> wrote: >>>>>>>
When I think of Andalucia, I remember the story about the Puerto del >>>>>>> >Suspiro del Moro, the way the sultan left Granada after being kicked >>>>>>> >out.
Then of course there's the Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice.
Different kind of sigh but interesting that two different places >>>>>>> >evoked
similar responses.
A pretty similar kind of sigh. The Ponte dei Sospiri is a bridge >>>>>>> connecting the Palazzo Dogale with the prison cells. It's not called >>>>>>> the "bridge of sighs" because of any sighs of people sighing when >>>>>>> looking at it from the outside.It has a small window in it, and
prisoners were said to sigh as they crossed the bridge, looked out >>>>>>> the
window, and saw their last glimpse of daylight before being locked >>>>>>> up.
"Vikings who later settle in the area, selling cheese"?
Well, that really enhances our historical knowledge of the del Sol. >>>>>> I agree, though, that sadly this group has largely lapsed.
We've just returned from a fascinating first amble around Sicily, but >>>>>> I
doubt if anyone is interested .............. ?
yes please :-)
Me too!
to be clear that I'm not just asking in order to keep the group alive ... >>>
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in Italy >>>
This was pre internet, without a guide book, flying by the seat of my >>>pants
stuff
I knew a few places that I had to go to: Mt Etna, Agrigento, Palermo etc
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of Italy >>>and
on the Island - travelling by train. It was November BTW, glorious >>>weather
all week, though it did piss down the previous week when I had been in >>>Naples :-(
I'm sure that I missed some places. I remember that I got the train to >>>Enna, fully expecting that if the station wasn't in the town centre (it >>>isn't by about 5 km) there would be as bus as the had been at *every* >>>other
random Italian town that I had visited. But there wasn't and still isn't >>>(actually I found a web site that says that there us, but there are no bus >>>stops on street view!) - and there isn't even a sign of a taxi rank, >>>though
no doubt there's now a phone number on the wall that you can ring with >>>your
mobile - something that I, of course, didn't have in 82.
Now, with 35 years of traveling experience behind me, I think I should go >>>back and fill in the gaps.
I'm minded to hire a car, but I am concerned by the overly cheap prices >>>that
are charged and whether it is possible to avoid all the scams that you >>>read
of to bump up the costs when you get there.
Or I can again go by train (and bus) though this time using the internet >>>to
plan properly.
Or I could see if I can add on some organised day trips from hotels in the >>>mains towns - I don't rate that option much, but sometimes it works.
or there is this:
http://www.secretitalia.it/tours/sicily-cultural-tours-the-sicilian-splendours-tour/
but plus flights (and therefore no obligation on the tour company to help >>>you if the flights are late/cancelled) the price is just silly
So am generally interested in how you travelled around and any out of the >>>ordinary places that you visited.
Places: Palermo, Monreale, Segesta, Erice, Agrigento, Selinunte,
Siracusa, Taormina.
I've always rented a car when I went to Sicily, and that's what I
recommend.
and what should one pay for this.
I have just one other recommendation. If you are going to be in
Naples,
why would I be in Naples on this trip?
I shall be flying from London
I was only in Naples the previous time because I got the overnight train >from Milan,
instead of taking a train to Sicily, you might want to take
the overnight ferry to Palermo or Catania, and then return to the
mainland from the other. I haven't checked the prices recently, but
the last time I went, the cost was about the same as staying in a
hotel, which means that it costs nothing extra for that night. And
since you will be asleep for most of the trip, it doesn't take any
time out of your overall trip, the way a train would.
is there no longer a night train for that journey?
On Tue, 11 Jul 2017, tim... wrote:
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in
Italy
Well, as far as tourism is concerned when I was in Sicily I did it with organized tours, except when I was there for work (but that was just in Palermo and Catania, and Erice which is a conference place ... the
conference organizers, there and in Catania, took care of appropriate
tours)
I do not consider it a public transport friendly place. Recently a disable friend (in wheelchair) wanted to spend a weekend in Palermo (without
hiring a car as sometimes the person who accompanies him does), and I
guess he missed some places like Monreale.
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of Italy
and on the Island - travelling by train.
You were very brave (*). The sicilian railways have poor fame (slow and unfrequent), apparently the locals prefer buses.
(*) or are you a railway fan ? The actor Marco Paolini and the journalist Paolo Rumiz did a full railway tour of Italy using only local trains and starting just from Sicily if I remember well. The book is called "L'Italia
in seconda classe" (Italy in 2nd class, I do not know if it was
translated)
I'm sure that I missed some places. I remember that I got the train to
Enna, fully expecting that if the station wasn't in the town centre (it
isn't by about 5 km) there would be as bus as the had been at *every*
other random Italian town that I had visited. But there wasn't and still
isn't
I guess I'd never consider Enna as a destination worth visiting. I still think the station is poorly connected. In the last years on a transport
forum we run a contest "virtual tour of Italy with public transport" where
we had to plan trips from place to place using information on web sites,
and for Enna almost every participant used buses.
Anyhow ... I'd never taken the ferry from Reggio Calabria to Messina,
though the sight of the strait should be nice, and I've never visited
Messina (which was destroyed in the quake of 1908), always skimmed around
it.
Anyhow there is a main railway line from Messina to Palermo but I am not
sure how comfortable it is for the main sights along the route.
Tindari has a shrine up on the hill (not of artistic or historic interest) with a beautiful view on the dunes below.
Milazzo is the main port going to the Lipari islands, but I thin the
harbour and the station are not near (we came from Catania airport with
a van). The islands (Vulcano, Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli are the ones
I visited, the others are farther) are definitely worth visiting.
Cefalu' has a nice norman cathedral, and possibly it is the best located
for what railways connections are concerned.
Bagheria near Palermo should host some nice villas, but I am not sure if
they are open for visits.
Palermo you possibly know and should be visitable within walking distances
or using urban buses. I guess they go even up to Monreale with a VERY nice norman cathedral with mosaics.
AFAIK the railway connection to Palermo airport is closed for
refurbishment (I always used the frequent bus connection, when I went
there the railway link was not existing).
It should be a branch of a line going to Trapani and Castelvetrano.
In Trapani I visited only the Pepoli museum (we came down half a day from Erice), but it should be the main port towards the Egadi islands (where
I've never been). Erice is up on the hill (sometimes in the fog) and
worth visiting (I do not know about connections, there used to be even a funicolar, I always used the coach of the conference centre).
I've never visited Marsala, the saline (salt flats) and the western coast.
The railway line to Castelvetrano (on the southern coast) should have a
stop near the Segesta temple (but I guess a fair walk).
Was there with tours both from Palermo and Erice. It is an unfinished doric >temple built by the Elimi, fully isolated (the theatre and other remains
are behind a hill, possibly the archeological site has a shuttle connecting >them.
As far as I know there are no operating railways on the south-west coast (near Selinunte temples,
or Sciacca).
The main lines from Palermo to Agrigento and Catania go through the
interior (you know Enna), which I never visited.
The station in Agrigento is near the old centre, but the excellent archeological site, as the name "Temple Valley" says, is down in the
valley.
I do not know about transport connections to Piazza Armerina, nor about
the distance to the roman Villa del Casale (which has an impressive collection of floor mosaics).
Another main line goes from Messina to Catania and Siracusa. It stops at Taormina (but the city is up on a hill)
and Acireale. I guess not very frequent (when we had a conference at Capo Mulini, I preferred to take the tour to Etna rather than going myself by train to Siracusa).
Two things I never done in that area are the railways tour around Etna
with the Circumetnea railway, and the visit to the Alcantara gorges.
Siracusa has a nice archeological area.
Can you sleep on overnight trains? Fine, if you can. But I can't. I
find sleeping in a seat uncomfortable, and besides, I worry about
thievery if I'm asleep.
Can you sleep on overnight trains? Fine, if you can. But I can't. I
find sleeping in a seat uncomfortable, and besides, I worry about
thievery if I'm asleep.
Well, it's the long version or the short version! We'll keep to the latter pro tem.
Our normal travelling is usually very much DIY. So, based in the east in Taormina, we had sketched out two weeks in May of moving around most
sights in the island.
However - thank you travel industry - we were advised with far too little notice that G7, of which we'd never heard, was causing a lockdown and cancellation of all hotel reservations in Taormina for the duration.
We wanted to stay with the hotel carefully chosen (within all this was a family celebration) so we ended up in Taormina a month late, and in uncustomary heat and humidity (even for Sicily!) that foreshortened too
much activity.
So we stayed centred in the east, cut our various overnighting stays
planned in the west and, in the reduced 'charging around' time relied on conducted tours more than we usually would.
Here's a precis of some notes I sent to a friend who's also shortly
visiting for the first time.
Aeolian islands: Beautiful. Get cruises for the day from the port near Messina. Do include the version that stands off at sea in the dark of the evening so that you can watch Stromboli erupting - we saw 4 good
bangs/flames within 45 minutes. Great stuff!
Etna: Can't be missed - we were very lucky and apart from heat haze had exceptional views. Depending on your preference you can stop at the end of the road access (with views up towards the main craters, plus small old craters nearby to look at), or go on the cable car rather higher, and then take 'jeep coaches' higher still, and then move as high as the guides will let you trek depending on volcanic action. Your choice! We saw copious
smoke action from two top craters plus some black ash eruption. Marvellous day!
Syracuse: Its history is rather more interesting than what is left (!)
but nevertheless well worth walking around if you have spare time. Good
stuff from ancient Greek to Roman/Byzantine/Norman and later, but
relatively sparse. A half-day conducted walk would ensure you saw the highlights.
Taormina: Our base, which proved exceptionally good for that, and very attractively sited below Etna. It appears on numerous excursions from
other parts of Sicily, but I wouldn't have thought it was worth any significant diversion by travellers unless close anyway, but it's
certainly very pleasant, with several good mediaeval piazzas.
On Wed, 12 Jul 2017 09:23:59 +0100, "tim..." <tims_new_home@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Can you sleep on overnight trains?
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of
Italy and on the Island - travelling by train.
You were very brave (*). The sicilian railways have poor fame (slow
and unfrequent), apparently the locals prefer buses.
(*) or are you a railway fan ?
I was 24, "poor" and with zero experience of driving on the wrong side
of the road, and IME (as a pedestrian) Italy is not the best choice of
county to change that - I have still never driven there.
a van). The islands (Vulcano, Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli are the ones >> I visited, the others are farther) are definitely worth visiting.
I hadn't really considered visiting the Islands
The ferries don't seem to be overly helpful when visiting for a day
trip, but accommodation on the islands is so limited that you really
have plan ahead to get it right
spending 3 or 4 days on these islands definitely works against touring
by car
And don't get me started on maps that are orientated the wrong way round
I've never visited Marsala, the saline (salt flats) and the western
coast.
didn't know of the salt flats
The railway line to Castelvetrano (on the southern coast) should have a
stop near the Segesta temple (but I guess a fair walk).
would that be the stop called Segesta tempio?
Oh, looking on DB I see that all the Trapani services are via
Castelvetrano, so the direct line's not still open
On Wed, 12 Jul 2017, tim... wrote:
a van). The islands (Vulcano, Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli are the
ones
I visited, the others are farther) are definitely worth visiting.
I hadn't really considered visiting the Islands
The ferries don't seem to be overly helpful when visiting for a day trip,
but accommodation on the islands is so limited that you really have plan
ahead to get it right
spending 3 or 4 days on these islands definitely works against touring by
car
You won't need a car except perhaps on Lipari which is a bit large to be walkable (some 6 km across and hilly), if you want to collect pumice and obsidian.
Actually there are no cars at all at Panarea (we walked from the harbour
to the archeological site), and I'm not sure about Stromboli (the two inhabited points should not be connected by road). Even Vulcano should be walkable.
As far as I know the boat and hydrofoil service should be acceptable.
Problem can be rough weather. We were in an organized tour with a small group. We went by van from Catania airport to Milazzo (getting an
impressive thunderstorm on the motorway just as we left the shade of
Etna), and found all boats were cancelled. Our guide found an hotel at
Capo d'Orlando, and found that the morning after there was a boat from
there to Vulcano and Lipari (Italian Touring Club guides usually have a budget to cater for situations like these).
We did a day trip to Vulcano by regular service boat (it's just across the strait), and another to Panarea, and Stromboli coming back in the evening, but I guess this was a chartered boat (not just for our small group, we weren't alone). It stopped off Panarea to let people have a swim, and
after dinner toured a bit around Stromboli to see Strombolicchio and the Sciara (the incline where lava gets down into the sea). We had a van to go round Lipari (not the one we left on the mainland), and came back by hydrofoil.
And don't get me started on maps that are orientated the wrong way round
Don't tell me. I cannot stand the hybrid stuff ATM (the Milan transport agency) has placed at tram stops. They are not linear line DIAGRAMS, and
they aren't regular maps, north up, but sort of Peutingerian maps, long
and thin, made cutting pieces of regular maps and joining them "rectified" along the tram route.
I've never visited Marsala, the saline (salt flats) and the western
coast.
didn't know of the salt flats
Uh, actually I had to look up the word, so I may have got the wrong one.
We call them "saline" (plural, sing. "salina"). They are flat areas where they let sea water in to evaporate, and then collect the salt.
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message news:e241dbd0-c5a3-448c-bfae-b38f35911c1e@googlegroups.com...
Well, it's the long version or the short version! We'll keep to the latter pro tem.
Our normal travelling is usually very much DIY. So, based in the east in Taormina, we had sketched out two weeks in May of moving around most
sights in the island.
However - thank you travel industry - we were advised with far too little notice that G7, of which we'd never heard, was causing a lockdown and cancellation of all hotel reservations in Taormina for the duration.
We wanted to stay with the hotel carefully chosen (within all this was a family celebration) so we ended up in Taormina a month late, and in uncustomary heat and humidity (even for Sicily!) that foreshortened too much activity.
So we stayed centred in the east, cut our various overnighting stays planned in the west and, in the reduced 'charging around' time relied on conducted tours more than we usually would.
Here's a precis of some notes I sent to a friend who's also shortly visiting for the first time.
Aeolian islands: Beautiful. Get cruises for the day from the port near Messina. Do include the version that stands off at sea in the dark of the evening so that you can watch Stromboli erupting - we saw 4 good bangs/flames within 45 minutes. Great stuff!
Etna: Can't be missed - we were very lucky and apart from heat haze had exceptional views. Depending on your preference you can stop at the end of the road access (with views up towards the main craters, plus small old craters nearby to look at), or go on the cable car rather higher, and then take 'jeep coaches' higher still, and then move as high as the guides will let you trek depending on volcanic action. Your choice! We saw copious smoke action from two top craters plus some black ash eruption. Marvellous day!
Syracuse: Its history is rather more interesting than what is left (!)
but nevertheless well worth walking around if you have spare time. Good stuff from ancient Greek to Roman/Byzantine/Norman and later, but relatively sparse. A half-day conducted walk would ensure you saw the highlights.
Taormina: Our base, which proved exceptionally good for that, and very attractively sited below Etna. It appears on numerous excursions from
other parts of Sicily, but I wouldn't have thought it was worth any significant diversion by travellers unless close anyway, but it's
certainly very pleasant, with several good mediaeval piazzas.
All the above using locally arranged day trips?
On Wed, 12 Jul 2017, tim... wrote:
I've never visited Marsala, the saline (salt flats) and the western
coast.
didn't know of the salt flats
Uh, actually I had to look up the word, so I may have got the wrong one.
We call them "saline" (plural, sing. "salina"). They are flat areas
where they let sea water in to evaporate, and then collect the salt.
On Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 8:24:54 AM UTC+1, tim... wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:e241dbd0-c5a3-448c-bfae-b38f35911c1e@googlegroups.com...
Well, it's the long version or the short version! We'll keep to the
latter
pro tem.
Our normal travelling is usually very much DIY. So, based in the east
in
Taormina, we had sketched out two weeks in May of moving around most
sights in the island.
However - thank you travel industry - we were advised with far too
little
notice that G7, of which we'd never heard, was causing a lockdown and
cancellation of all hotel reservations in Taormina for the duration.
We wanted to stay with the hotel carefully chosen (within all this was
a
family celebration) so we ended up in Taormina a month late, and in
uncustomary heat and humidity (even for Sicily!) that foreshortened too
much activity.
So we stayed centred in the east, cut our various overnighting stays
planned in the west and, in the reduced 'charging around' time relied
on
conducted tours more than we usually would.
Here's a precis of some notes I sent to a friend who's also shortly
visiting for the first time.
Aeolian islands: Beautiful. Get cruises for the day from the port near
Messina. Do include the version that stands off at sea in the dark of
the
evening so that you can watch Stromboli erupting - we saw 4 good
bangs/flames within 45 minutes. Great stuff!
Etna: Can't be missed - we were very lucky and apart from heat haze had
exceptional views. Depending on your preference you can stop at the end
of
the road access (with views up towards the main craters, plus small old
craters nearby to look at), or go on the cable car rather higher, and
then
take 'jeep coaches' higher still, and then move as high as the guides
will
let you trek depending on volcanic action. Your choice! We saw copious
smoke action from two top craters plus some black ash eruption.
Marvellous
day!
Syracuse: Its history is rather more interesting than what is left (!)
but nevertheless well worth walking around if you have spare time. Good
stuff from ancient Greek to Roman/Byzantine/Norman and later, but
relatively sparse. A half-day conducted walk would ensure you saw the
highlights.
Taormina: Our base, which proved exceptionally good for that, and very
attractively sited below Etna. It appears on numerous excursions from
other parts of Sicily, but I wouldn't have thought it was worth any
significant diversion by travellers unless close anyway, but it's
certainly very pleasant, with several good mediaeval piazzas.
All the above using locally arranged day trips?
Aeolians, Syracuse & Etna, yep.
On Wed, 12 Jul 2017, tim... wrote:
a van). The islands (Vulcano, Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli are the ones >>> I visited, the others are farther) are definitely worth visiting.
I hadn't really considered visiting the Islands
The ferries don't seem to be overly helpful when visiting for a day
trip, but accommodation on the islands is so limited that you really
have plan ahead to get it right
spending 3 or 4 days on these islands definitely works against
touring by car
You won't need a car except perhaps on Lipari which is a bit large to
be walkable (some 6 km across and hilly), if you want to collect pumice
and obsidian.
Actually there are no cars at all at Panarea (we walked from the
harbour to the archeological site), and I'm not sure about Stromboli
(the two inhabited points should not be connected by road). Even
Vulcano should be walkable.
As far as I know the boat and hydrofoil service should be acceptable.
Problem can be rough weather. We were in an organized tour with a small >group. We went by van from Catania airport to Milazzo (getting an
impressive thunderstorm on the motorway just as we left the shade of
Etna), and found all boats were cancelled. Our guide found an hotel at
Capo d'Orlando, and found that the morning after there was a boat from
there to Vulcano and Lipari (Italian Touring Club guides usually have a >budget to cater for situations like these).
We did a day trip to Vulcano by regular service boat (it's just across
the strait), and another to Panarea, and Stromboli coming back in the >evening, but I guess this was a chartered boat (not just for our small
group, we weren't alone). It stopped off Panarea to let people have a
swim, and after dinner toured a bit around Stromboli to see
Strombolicchio and the Sciara (the incline where lava gets down into
the sea). We had a van to go round Lipari (not the one we left on the >mainland), and came back by hydrofoil.
And don't get me started on maps that are orientated the wrong way round
Don't tell me. I cannot stand the hybrid stuff ATM (the Milan transport >agency) has placed at tram stops. They are not linear line DIAGRAMS,
and they aren't regular maps, north up, but sort of Peutingerian maps,
long and thin, made cutting pieces of regular maps and joining them >"rectified" along the tram route.
I've never visited Marsala, the saline (salt flats) and the western
coast.
didn't know of the salt flats
Uh, actually I had to look up the word, so I may have got the wrong
one. We call them "saline" (plural, sing. "salina"). They are flat
areas where they let sea water in to evaporate, and then collect the
salt.
The main ones still in use for commercial purpose should be in Puglia.
I guess the ones near Trapani are also still active, but part of them
is a museum/park. So for the smaller ones near Cervia (northern
Adriatic), which produce a particularly sweet salt (I am not sure if
depends on the concentration of which oligo-element). Some amateurs >supporting the salt museum in Cervia run "manually" a salina in the old
way, and this salt is for sale at the museum.
I heard there are also salt mines in some place in the interior of
Sicily (should date back to the "Messinian salinity crisis" when
Gibraltar strait closed and the Mediterranean evaporated)
The railway line to Castelvetrano (on the southern coast) should have a >>> stop near the Segesta temple (but I guess a fair walk).
would that be the stop called Segesta tempio?
the name makes sense, I cannot locate it on google maps. I'll try >openstreetmap (rather good at computing walking paths though
underestimates walking time) or openrailwaymap
hmm, according to openrailwaymap that's tagged "abandoned track", but >Calatafimi looks near, wikipedia lists Segesta Tempio as in use, but >https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrovia_Palermo-Trapani says "service >interrupted"
Hmm ... actually zooming in on openrailwampa one sees that the
"abandoned track" goes south through "Calatafimi-Segesta", but
Calatafimi station is on the east and Segesta Tempio to the north of
the archeological area ... but on the suspended service line ! :-(
Some other site quotes a "Tarantola Bus" company.
Oh, looking on DB I see that all the Trapani services are via >>Castelvetrano, so the direct line's not still open
I tend also to use a DB site to get railway timetables across all
Europe, though one has to use the Trenitalia site to get tickets (but
that mainly for Le Frecce, "the arrows" i.e. the high speed trains,
which haven't got south of Naples), but I found instead useful this site >http://www.rfi.it/rfi.html (RFI is the owner of the infrastructure,
rails and station). If you click on "Quadri orario online" you can get
a pdf of the arrival and departure timetables of each individual
stations, exactly the ones present in the station.
http://www.viaggiatreno.it is instead the utility to get real time
situation of trains (both long distance, and by region). For Lombardy,
where Trenord runs regional train, the qeuivalent service is >http://www.my-link.it/mylink/
Have just returned from a trip to Andalucia.
Lots of impressions to pass on, but, sadly, not much activity in rec.travel.european these days? I.e. not that many to pass the story on
to?
Nevertheless, I'll give it a go:
Shortly: Andalucia has certainly been influenced by a lot of people over
the centuries.
From roman emperors, onwards to muslim caliphates,
followed by Viking raids (Vikings who later settle in the area, selling cheese) and forward to Spanish kings,
who started expeditions to the rest of the world from the Andalician heartland.
Between all the wars you certainly don't get the impression that the
past was such a glorious time of stability that you sometimes see it portrayed as in the media ...
But, well, the land is still there.
And well worth a visit.
You can see some pictures from my trip here: http://www.simonlaub.net/Fortunecity/Andalucia2017/index.html
best wishes -Simon
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in Italy
This was pre internet, without a guide book, flying by the seat of my pants stuff
I knew a few places that I had to go to: Mt Etna, Agrigento, Palermo etc
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of Italy and on the Island - travelling by train. It was November BTW, glorious weather all week, though it did piss down the previous week when I had been in
Naples :-(
I'm sure that I missed some places. I remember that I got the train to
Enna, fully expecting that if the station wasn't in the town centre (it
isn't by about 5 km) there would be as bus as the had been at *every* other random Italian town that I had visited. But there wasn't and still isn't (actually I found a web site that says that there us, but there are no bus stops on street view!) - and there isn't even a sign of a taxi rank, though no doubt there's now a phone number on the wall that you can ring with your mobile - something that I, of course, didn't have in 82.
Now, with 35 years of traveling experience behind me, I think I should go back and fill in the gaps.
I'm minded to hire a car, but I am concerned by the overly cheap prices that are charged and whether it is possible to avoid all the scams that you read of to bump up the costs when you get there.
Or I can again go by train (and bus) though this time using the internet to plan properly.
Am Dienstag, 11. Juli 2017 21:36:20 UTC+2 schrieb tim...:
I first (and only) visited Sicily in 82 when I was working a year in
Italy
This was pre internet, without a guide book, flying by the seat of my
pants
stuff
I knew a few places that I had to go to: Mt Etna, Agrigento, Palermo etc
I scheduled a two week holiday which I spent in the very south of Italy
and
on the Island - travelling by train. It was November BTW, glorious
weather
all week, though it did piss down the previous week when I had been in
Naples :-(
I'm sure that I missed some places. I remember that I got the train to
Enna, fully expecting that if the station wasn't in the town centre (it
isn't by about 5 km) there would be as bus as the had been at *every*
other
random Italian town that I had visited. But there wasn't and still isn't
(actually I found a web site that says that there us, but there are no
bus
stops on street view!) - and there isn't even a sign of a taxi rank,
though
no doubt there's now a phone number on the wall that you can ring with
your
mobile - something that I, of course, didn't have in 82.
Now, with 35 years of traveling experience behind me, I think I should go
back and fill in the gaps.
I'm minded to hire a car, but I am concerned by the overly cheap prices
that
are charged and whether it is possible to avoid all the scams that you
read
of to bump up the costs when you get there.
Or I can again go by train (and bus) though this time using the internet
to
plan properly.
Although the Train Station has not been included to
the local bus network http://wwwnew.saisautolinee.it/public/userFiles/Servizi-Urbani/Mappa-S.U..pdf
http://wwwnew.saisautolinee.it/?cmd=orari Shows
Solutions for weekdays if entering/choosing Enna F.S. as the first
and Enna as second point.
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message news:86c1be2a-6915-4a22-b3e5-60e79d08f23b@googlegroups.com...
On Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 8:24:54 AM UTC+1, tim... wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:e241dbd0-c5a3-448c-bfae-b38f35911c1e@googlegroups.com...
Well, it's the long version or the short version! We'll keep to the
latter
pro tem.
Our normal travelling is usually very much DIY. So, based in the east >> > in
Taormina, we had sketched out two weeks in May of moving around most
sights in the island.
However - thank you travel industry - we were advised with far too
little
notice that G7, of which we'd never heard, was causing a lockdown and
cancellation of all hotel reservations in Taormina for the duration.
We wanted to stay with the hotel carefully chosen (within all this was >> > a
family celebration) so we ended up in Taormina a month late, and in
uncustomary heat and humidity (even for Sicily!) that foreshortened too >> > much activity.
So we stayed centred in the east, cut our various overnighting stays
planned in the west and, in the reduced 'charging around' time relied >> > on
conducted tours more than we usually would.
Here's a precis of some notes I sent to a friend who's also shortly
visiting for the first time.
Aeolian islands: Beautiful. Get cruises for the day from the port near >> > Messina. Do include the version that stands off at sea in the dark of >> > the
evening so that you can watch Stromboli erupting - we saw 4 good
bangs/flames within 45 minutes. Great stuff!
Etna: Can't be missed - we were very lucky and apart from heat haze had >> > exceptional views. Depending on your preference you can stop at the end >> > of
the road access (with views up towards the main craters, plus small old >> > craters nearby to look at), or go on the cable car rather higher, and >> > then
take 'jeep coaches' higher still, and then move as high as the guides >> > will
let you trek depending on volcanic action. Your choice! We saw copious >> > smoke action from two top craters plus some black ash eruption.
Marvellous
day!
Syracuse: Its history is rather more interesting than what is left (!) >> > but nevertheless well worth walking around if you have spare time. Good >> > stuff from ancient Greek to Roman/Byzantine/Norman and later, but
relatively sparse. A half-day conducted walk would ensure you saw the
highlights.
Taormina: Our base, which proved exceptionally good for that, and very >> > attractively sited below Etna. It appears on numerous excursions from
other parts of Sicily, but I wouldn't have thought it was worth any
significant diversion by travellers unless close anyway, but it's
certainly very pleasant, with several good mediaeval piazzas.
All the above using locally arranged day trips?
Aeolians, Syracuse & Etna, yep.
okey dokey
On Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 7:50:56 PM UTC+1, tim... wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:86c1be2a-6915-4a22-b3e5-60e79d08f23b@googlegroups.com...
On Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 8:24:54 AM UTC+1, tim... wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:e241dbd0-c5a3-448c-bfae-b38f35911c1e@googlegroups.com...
Well, it's the long version or the short version! We'll keep to the
latter
pro tem.
Our normal travelling is usually very much DIY. So, based in the
east
in
Taormina, we had sketched out two weeks in May of moving around most
sights in the island.
However - thank you travel industry - we were advised with far too
little
notice that G7, of which we'd never heard, was causing a lockdown
and
cancellation of all hotel reservations in Taormina for the duration.
We wanted to stay with the hotel carefully chosen (within all this
was
a
family celebration) so we ended up in Taormina a month late, and in
uncustomary heat and humidity (even for Sicily!) that foreshortened
too
much activity.
So we stayed centred in the east, cut our various overnighting stays
planned in the west and, in the reduced 'charging around' time
relied
on
conducted tours more than we usually would.
Here's a precis of some notes I sent to a friend who's also shortly
visiting for the first time.
Aeolian islands: Beautiful. Get cruises for the day from the port
near
Messina. Do include the version that stands off at sea in the dark
of
the
evening so that you can watch Stromboli erupting - we saw 4 good
bangs/flames within 45 minutes. Great stuff!
Etna: Can't be missed - we were very lucky and apart from heat haze
had
exceptional views. Depending on your preference you can stop at the
end
of
the road access (with views up towards the main craters, plus small
old
craters nearby to look at), or go on the cable car rather higher,
and
then
take 'jeep coaches' higher still, and then move as high as the
guides
will
let you trek depending on volcanic action. Your choice! We saw
copious
smoke action from two top craters plus some black ash eruption.
Marvellous
day!
Syracuse: Its history is rather more interesting than what is left
(!)
but nevertheless well worth walking around if you have spare time.
Good
stuff from ancient Greek to Roman/Byzantine/Norman and later, but
relatively sparse. A half-day conducted walk would ensure you saw
the
highlights.
Taormina: Our base, which proved exceptionally good for that, and
very
attractively sited below Etna. It appears on numerous excursions
from
other parts of Sicily, but I wouldn't have thought it was worth any
significant diversion by travellers unless close anyway, but it's
certainly very pleasant, with several good mediaeval piazzas.
All the above using locally arranged day trips?
Aeolians, Syracuse & Etna, yep.
okey dokey
Not as 'touristy' as it might sound.
Bearing in mind that we rarely hire cars ...
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message news:ae1ec976-98bd-4c82-81d2-22c9ae4eed41@googlegroups.com...
On Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 7:50:56 PM UTC+1, tim... wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:86c1be2a-6915-4a22-b3e5-60e79d08f23b@googlegroups.com...
On Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 8:24:54 AM UTC+1, tim... wrote:
"Surreyman" <alanspencer3@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:e241dbd0-c5a3-448c-bfae-b38f35911c1e@googlegroups.com...
Well, it's the long version or the short version! We'll keep to the >> >> > latter
pro tem.
Our normal travelling is usually very much DIY. So, based in the
east
in
Taormina, we had sketched out two weeks in May of moving around most >> >> > sights in the island.
However - thank you travel industry - we were advised with far too
little
notice that G7, of which we'd never heard, was causing a lockdown
and
cancellation of all hotel reservations in Taormina for the duration. >> >> >
We wanted to stay with the hotel carefully chosen (within all this
was
a
family celebration) so we ended up in Taormina a month late, and in >> >> > uncustomary heat and humidity (even for Sicily!) that foreshortened >> >> > too
much activity.
So we stayed centred in the east, cut our various overnighting stays >> >> > planned in the west and, in the reduced 'charging around' time
relied
on
conducted tours more than we usually would.
Here's a precis of some notes I sent to a friend who's also shortly >> >> > visiting for the first time.
Aeolian islands: Beautiful. Get cruises for the day from the port
near
Messina. Do include the version that stands off at sea in the dark
of
the
evening so that you can watch Stromboli erupting - we saw 4 good
bangs/flames within 45 minutes. Great stuff!
Etna: Can't be missed - we were very lucky and apart from heat haze >> >> > had
exceptional views. Depending on your preference you can stop at the >> >> > end
of
the road access (with views up towards the main craters, plus small >> >> > old
craters nearby to look at), or go on the cable car rather higher,
and
then
take 'jeep coaches' higher still, and then move as high as the
guides
will
let you trek depending on volcanic action. Your choice! We saw
copious
smoke action from two top craters plus some black ash eruption.
Marvellous
day!
Syracuse: Its history is rather more interesting than what is left >> >> > (!)
but nevertheless well worth walking around if you have spare time.
Good
stuff from ancient Greek to Roman/Byzantine/Norman and later, but
relatively sparse. A half-day conducted walk would ensure you saw
the
highlights.
Taormina: Our base, which proved exceptionally good for that, and
very
attractively sited below Etna. It appears on numerous excursions
from
other parts of Sicily, but I wouldn't have thought it was worth any >> >> > significant diversion by travellers unless close anyway, but it's
certainly very pleasant, with several good mediaeval piazzas.
All the above using locally arranged day trips?
Aeolians, Syracuse & Etna, yep.
okey dokey
Not as 'touristy' as it might sound.
Bearing in mind that we rarely hire cars ...
It's just that I am wary of hiring a car in these places where the headline price has been dumned down by online booking sites
It's just not credible that 8 pounds per day is a viable price, even off season when the company has spare cars because they are stocked up for peak demand.
And I've been stuffed before by a dishonest hire company (with an international brand name)
tim
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