Arrivederci Ortigia

Breakfast...comme d'habitude...at Café 41!  The young man who greets us every morning explained to me that he has fine-tuned my long black (almost always referred to as caffè Americano in Sicily), giving it more time to process through the machine.  I found that a doppio (two shots of espresso) was too strong, but often the Americano is too weak.  Getting to know your barista...that's why you should always find the spot to make your own!  The coffee is perfect...and so is my Italian donut!

We wandered through the pearly concrete of the Piazzo Duomo and visited the Siracusa cathedral, Duomo di Siracusa, learning the story of Saint Lucia, patron saint of Siracusa and of the blind.  The cathedral is fabulous and we loved every hushed moment.

Our final meander through the streets, then lunch at a gorgeous wine bar Evoè.  I had a tomato salad with anchovies, red onion, capers and olives.  Oh my goodness, the tomatoes here are just amazing, as they were in Venice!  The owner offered us a fico d'india...the fruit of a Sicilian cactus plant, opened and sliced, its hot-pink coloured flesh drizzled with honey and sprinkled with ground pistachio nuts.  Alongside the fruit treat, a ricotta and candied orange cannoli...mm'mmm!

Then back to the apartment to pack...tomorrow morning we head to Palermo.

Ortigia has been relaxing and a complete get-away for us.  We have loved the beachfront apartment(s!) - I'm sitting in front of wide open doors while I write this, a view across the sea and the breeze blowing into the room, and the sound of motor scooters zipping along the road below - happy days!  We have also fallen for the aperitivo hour and, secretly, I've fallen for the handsome man who brings me a cold glass of vino bianco with a box of mixed fish with chips...a white t-shirt and jeans just couldn't look better!

Which reminds me...it's aperitivo hour...ciao!