Jaimie Lee - Halloween in Sicily

We woke and Etna had shrouded herself in clouds.

Still no use skulking. So off we set for Castiglione di Sicilia, a town recommended by our hosts. The road in was pretty countryside and the first views of the town stunning. Wish they had a proper look out. I took this whilst dodging buses on the road.

The town is off the main tourist route, no buses, only a few self drive types like us. We got there reasonably well and found a park in the main, lower, part of town.

The place is lovely with two Norman castles or keeps at the top of the hill and a number of churches and squares that would look better of they kept cars out of the occasional nook and or cranny. We wandered aimlessly for quite a while an enjoyed the town and the views of the surrounds it afforded.

We then headed down to the Alcatara River. This is a nature reserve for a decent stretch of river and then more broadly around a gorge. We started near the top of the reserve and had a walk. very tricky the basalt was slippery from the rain. Almost had a couple of accidents.

We then decided to head for the gorge. So I punched the location into Jamie Lee and headed off, started OK, then we were on a road that was very narrow, and it got narrower and narrower....barely a car wide and finally it turned into a rocky donkey road. It took us a good five minutes to turn the car around, and that was only because there was a driveway into a vineyard. Jamie Lee had taken us on the wrong side of the river. We were level with the Gorge park entrance but on a goat track on the other side. Back we went. Not sure what we would have done if somebody came the other way. Oh the horror.

By this time tummy and nerves were calling for lunch. We went into a place that appeared to be run by a guy who seemed to be still living in the 60's. He had some awesome music, and sang along and occasionally playing air guitar. The Italian accented version of Ruby Tuesday was a highlight.

Well rock and roll had to wait. Into the gorge we went. We took the tourist option. That meant we got a lift down and up. Lazy, but easier. The gorge is an old lava flow. so basalt columns etc. Freezing water. With all the recent rain, the water was a little milky rather than its normal clear.

We headed back eventually, and Jaime Lee took us through the most circuitous, narrow roaded route possible.

Even to the point where we had to wait behind a flock of sheep wandering down the road.

Still we made it home.