Sunday in Catania

We checked out of our apartment in Taormina and caught the bus to Catania where we put our luggage in at the railway station and spent the day seeing Catania. Everything is closed on Sundays, including the churches! Catania was destroyed by an Etna eruption in the 1690s and also suffered war damage during WWII. The central square is spectacular however and the palazzi / stately homes are amazing. It was extremely hot so we took a scenic tourist bus ride around the city to see the wider area.

 Saint Agatha and the elephant combine to be Catania's patrons and symbols of the city.

Look what they found in the middle of the old city when they were digging. A theatre!!

Now, I said it was hot so here is what I had for lunch (after I had had something healthy first of course). It is a brioche filled with pistachio gelato.

and this was afternoon tea - real lemon granite.

Kel is still honing his selfie skills. It was a cool and delightful fountain behind us.

Late in the afternoon we walked back to the railway station, collected our luggage and went by bus to the airport. Our Air Malta flight departed at 10.15 pm and we were asleep by the time the wheels lifted off the tarmac. Next thing we knew the other passengers were applauding a safe landing in Malta. This is quite common in the Mediterranean areas.

We needed to applaud a safe arrival after our shuttle bus went through two red lights at break-neck speed on the way to our hotel! It was after midnight when we arrived at the Grand Harbour Hotel.