More of Northern Sicily

25 May 2016

Palermo has a striking backdrop.

This is bulk olive oil. These are 200L drums, and the picture shows only a small part of the drums stored. This is big, big business here. 

Another huge industry is farming prickly pear! Yes prickly pear! Now my Italian friends may not think much of this but the Australians  (particularly the Queenslanders) will be horrified. 

These are prickly pear farms, seen over a wide area of Sicily, and also elsewhere in Italy. What do they market them for? I don't know! The fruit? For jam? The whole plant is actually edible. You can fry the "leaves" if you shave off the prickles. and slice them. We didn't see them in shops. and I haven't tried the leaves. The jam is good though! 

26 May 2016

We drove today towards Messina where we will cross by ferry to Calabria, on the Italian mainland. 

During the journey we saw Mt Etna once again, this time sitting quietly. She seems like an old friend now, seen through the haze which plagues Italy, and much of Europe. 

We can also see the Aeolian Islands of the North Coast, also through the haze, but rather pretty. 

Stromboli, one of the Aeolian Islands is also an active volcano. Between this and Etna there is often a smoke haze over northern Sicily. Some say it is the volcanos, some say Saharan dust. Others say it is simple pollution, aggravated by the volcanoes. Since it is all over Europe I think the latter explanation might be close to the truth. 

We stopped for a lunch break. This was our view! Notice the sailing boat. Cafe Matilda popped up again and we had bruschetta for lunch.

We reached Missina and caught the ferry at about 4pm. We arrived in Calabria at about 4.20 pm, after a very efficient and smooth passage. 

This is our track in Sicily,1331.4 km. and we enjoyed it all!