120506 Catania & Taormina, Italy

Thanks to the hard work of my colleagues of the European offices, I have the wonderful opportunity to visit a customer in Catania, a city in Sicily, Italy, in early May 2012.  A bit of research reveals Phoenix is a sister city of this Mediterranean town.  I wonder about the criteria for cities to become sisters.  Phoenix is a metropolis in the middle of a desert, with no ocean or sea in sight; Catania is a small town on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean sea.  Curious pairing of cities, but wonderful nonetheless.

My travel plan calls for flights from Phoenix to Washington DC, then onto Munich, and finally to Catania.  While the journey is long, it is uneventful.  Catania welcomes me with warmth and sunshine.  The receptionist at the hotel gives me the typical cost of a taxi ride from the airport.  When I inquire the taxi driver about the ride to my hotel, he quotes me a price matching my information;  I do notice the driver does not activate the meter.

After a nap to recover from my long journey, I take the shuttle bus of the hotel to downtown Catania.  The time is late Sunday afternoon. Most businesses are closed except a few souvenir shops and restaurants. The town square is mostly empty.  I am a bit surprised to find a small church nearby still opened and step in.  It turns out to be the "Basilica della Collegiata".  The painting on its ceiling is amazing.  

Ceiling of the "Basilica della Collegiata".

After a simple, yet delicious, dinner of spaghetti with seafood, I wait for sundown and take the picture below. The main structure is the church of Sant'Agata, which is also called the "Duomo di Catania".  The hour is late and I must catch the last shuttle back to the hotel.

Duomo di Catania.

Morning morning affords me some free time. The weather is perfect. It is a great chance to get to know Catania. A short shuttle ride takes me back to downtown. What a pleasant surprise! I am dropped off right in the middle of a bustling open-air market.  I suspect, from my research of Catania before my trip, that this is the famous fish market. But it is much more than that. Fresh fruits and produce, poultry, lamb, meat, cheese are on sale everywhere. Merchants set up their tables and stalls along pedestrian alleys and sidewalks, offering their products for sale and calling out to customers. 

Fishmonger at street market in Catania.

Tuna on sale at street market in Catania.

Merchant of wine and cheese at street market in Catania.

Street market in Catania.

Large fresh strawberries at street market in Catania.

As much as I like to stay and experience more of this wonderful market, Catania has more to offer.  But I only have a short time.  A quick tour of the city introduces me to the rich history of Catania.  I learn the elephant in the middle of town square is the symbol of this city, with its own legend.

u Liotru, or the Fontana dell'Elefante, is the symbol of Catania.

The rest of the week is taken up by work at the office of my customer, located in the industrial zone at the outskirts of Catania. The workdays pass quickly though.

I hear so much about the local active volcano, Mount Etna. During my entire stay, Mount Etna spews a plume of steam or white smoke. The haze during the day makes photographing this scenery difficult.  So I make the point of getting up before sunrise on my last day in Catania. I want to photograph Mount Etna during the early morning hours when pollution is at its lowest level. I set up my camera on the beach across the street from my hotel and take a shot of the volcano as the sun peeps over the horizon. The dawn light helps the plume of white smoke from Mount Etna stands out better. Seeing it in the early morning sun light makes me wish I can climb and have a closer look.

Mount Etna at dawn.

Acting on the advise of my customers, I take the train to Taormina, a picturesque little town full of interesting history just north of Catania. Taormina has many of Greco-Roman ruins and little shops highlighting local products and produces to tourists along its many charming little streets.  A short ride on the cable car from center of town takes me to the edge of the Mediterranean sea, with clean beaches, crystal-clear water and very gentle waves. There are few tourists enjoying sun and surf; but the summer vacation season is yet to begin.

Taormina in Sicily, Italy.

Ancient ruins in Taormina, Sicily, Italy.

My return to Catania is greeted by several school bands performing at the center square of town.  There is enough distance in between so their performances do not interfere with one another, yet I can walk from one side of the square to another to enjoy a different kind of music. These kids have musical talent.

School band playing at town square in Catania, Sicily, Italy.

As with other locales I visited, I wish I have more time to explore and get to know Sicily. Undoubtedly, its history is fascinating to learn; its customs and traditions rich in significance; and its cuisine wonderful to enjoy. But I am very thankful for this fabulous opportunity to have a peek to the lives of local Sicilians. 

More pictures are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/120505Catania.

Until next time, I thank you for visiting and bid you peace. 
Paul