Catania, 9th August 2011

My cousin Rossario Sciacca, takes me on an outing with friends Elio and Renzo to Catania. Rossario has a passion for history and Architecture and what a better way to see Catania than to be chaparoned by a local.

Catania is a huge city and there is no sky scrapers like there is in Australia, this is very much a earthquake zone and still is an amazing place.

The usual morning starts with a Granita and Briosche and time to try a different flavour...Lemon and Peach. I also tried a Sicilian Cassatta and an Iris which is like a briosche but filled with a custard, Cocoa or Vanilla, then rolled in fat and dipped in a almond meal before being deep fried. Yes I can hear you all saying FAT, FAT, FAT!!! Hope you are all laughing out loud!

We visit a few sights....The Cathedral which is dedicated to Santa Agata the patron Saint of Catania, the main square and the fish markets and Teatro Bellini.

We returned to have lunch with my cousin Giovanna and her children Camillo, Vera and Paola. In the afternoon it was time to relax away from the heat of the day, so I spent the time with my cousins in their court yard.

In the evening more visitors poured in to visit their cousin from Australia and this time it was time to catch up with Ketty and Maurizio.

After our guests had left Pina, Saro and I took a trip to Penisi to the country property once owned by my Zia Venera and Zio Camillo which I had visited 22 years ago. My cousins Giovanna and Rosario are now the new owners and were entertaining a number of friends including two Nicola and Monica which we picked up in Catania. Unrelated and Strangers they were made welcomed. A lovely couple. For dinner it was a barbeque of Liver, sausages, heart and lungs with a lemon, olive oil, garlic and chopped parsley dressing. Delicious... Desert was watermelon and to finish off...Limoncello Liquor but in a creamy form...Hmmmmm!

Well all I can say is that I am really enjoying this hospitality, the generosity of my cousins is enormous. I will have to chuck a fit soon as they won't let me take a Euro out of my pocket.

Ciao, Baci xoxox