The title of this post says it all… really. What did I learn in my first couple of days wandering around Sicily? Parma ham is both gross and expensive. It cost me no less than 2 euros for two slices… and it was just rubbish.
While I was doing my usual two hour long supermarket shop I also discovered that packet dinners are probably your best bet when cooking for one. Especially since buying fresh tortellini and eating it over a period of three days gave me the poos at the most inopportune time. More on that later.
I spent my first day in Sicily (and my first real day in a new place on my own) schlepping around the old town. I spent a few minutes being sociable with local fishermen in the harbour and I sat down for a cheese and ham toastie. Which I was overcharged for. No tip for you.
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| Twin clock tower, Palazzo Senatorio |
My plan was to spend the afternoon laying in the sun on the beach near my apartment, but it was windy as fook. Instead, I walked the whole length of the coastline. There was a small beach area with some ruins and boats at the end but there was also this creepy looking guy in speedos so I didn’t go any further.
When I made it back to the road, near the abandoned hotel, another pleb started following me and was tapping my shoulder. I told him to do one and reminded myself that I was probably asking for the attention… being a woman and all. *End sarcasm*
I stood for a while imagining what it would be like to own the hotel. How I would make it an amazing little getaway in Sicily at an affordable price for people like me and my family to enjoy. It was quite fun actually… I sorta realised that I can do anything I want. I have no life plan. How liberating!
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| The White Horse, an abandoned hotel |
The next day, I chose to visit Erice at the top of the hill/mountain. Only… no post bus on Sundays.
I waited well over an hour for my bus to arrive and it just didn’t. A lady who visited the day before said that I could walk to the top but I shrugged her off and assumed she was bat shit crazy. Instead, I walked to the cable car at the bottom of the hill.
Following the bus signs was actually pretty easy and then I came across this little handwritten sign and two men who directed me through a car park and to the cable car. And it really wasn’t that far. In fact, waiting for and getting on a bus would have taken more time than just walking in the first place.
The cable car was about 8 euros return, apparently it doesn’t run on Mondays so if you’re ever there be sure to factor that one in. It’s a good ten minute ride to the top so I think it’s worth the money and the views were spectacular. The windows were a bit dirty, but the whole experience was a positive for me.
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| On the cable car |
Erice is a beautiful town at the top of the hill overlooking Trapani and surrounding regions. I spent a few hours taking pictures of the views in every direction and looking for that perfect shot of the little castle in the hill. If I wasn’t feeling so tight I’d have had pizza in the restaurant on the right side of town.
Instead I ate half of my shit Parma ham and spreadable cheese sandwich and got an expensive Coke from the first bar I saw. Whose Wifi didn’t actually work when I sat down. And where I was given a plastic cup, not a glass one.
All in all, I had a fairytale day in Sicily. I spent an awfully long time getting very lost trying to find my apartment again… but getting lost has become standard for me. When I eventually did get home, I packed up my stuff ready for travel to Palermo the next day.
Onwards to Naples!
