SICILY & SIRACUSA

When we planned and dreamt about our trip from Menorca to Greece I was not to keen on visiting  the home of the Mafia, Sicily

However Mandy persuaded me to visit and I am really pleased that she did.

The Island is stunningly beautiful when viewed from the sea.  Mountains with hilltop towns and villages cascade into the Aeolian sea.

However the jewel in the crown for us was the amazing must visit city of Siracusa, situated on the SE corner of the island

This old city was trading with the rest of the Mediterranean sea and beyond several hundred years before Christ and rivalled and even surpassed Athens in its power and status. It is said that at its peak 700 yrs BC it had a population of 2.5 million people.

The old city is a labyrinth of narrow winding streets and alleyways, magnificent squares,  churches and of course a cathedral   

   The open market was an experience in its self.  Stalls selling beautiful fresh veg and salad, and incredible fish stalls.

Locally caught Swordfish and Tuna  was everywhere, the traders shouting there produce .

We bought fresh Tuna and ate it with a mixture of sun dried tomato's and Mediterranean vegetables in olive oil. 

Sicily was a great experience and is well worth visiting.  The people were very friendly and help full and everywhere seemed to have a relaxed and happy atmosphere.

We left Siracusa on Sunday19th May and had a 270 NM windy trip across to Cephalonia and we are presently moored in Argostoli.

On our second day here a gale was forecast and duly arrived in the afternoon and created havoc with the boats moored in the harbour.  As the photograph shows we were moored stern to with 50 meters of chain pulling us well of the wall and four springs. this however was not enough and we had to beat a hasty and exciting retreat to get off and anchor in the middle of the harbour.

Our journey from Gosport to Greece is now over and we are looking forward to the next phase of our journey exploring Greece and its numerous islands.

RAY & MANDY

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