Gina and Andrew's Dolce Vita

Bus, train and ferry. Did I really outsmart myself? Yes, I don't trust the first round of information provided to us when asking  for directions anywhere here. First, I research online and then I match the information to the info counter at the bus stop, train station, other tourists seemingly going the same way and anyone who looks official. First tip, never assume. Always ask and ask again.  Today was a big day of travel. Bus ,train and last leg by ferry. With no fixed dates, the beauty of remaining flexiable served us well today. We will island hop our way up the coast to Naples. Siclily has two groups of islands , northwest the Egadi islands, magnificent, tick done and today we made our way to the Northeast, Aeolian islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Our plan, after a few nights here is to get to Tropea , mainland in Calabria , Sth Italy. The Aeolian islands  offer a spectacular mix of history, small town atmosphere, intens ly flavoured cuisine and natural ...

On our third and final day we rode the number 23 bus out of town. Our plan to ride the funicular (chair lift to most) to Erice.   The €18 trip was well worth it.       This is the highest point in Trapani and allows an amazing view of the city, the port and regional areas. It is said that on a clear day you can see North Africa, clearly today was not a clear day.    This is a beautiful, almost medieval town on a hill, boasting narrow cobble stone streets, lot a of little houses and a few shops and restaurants. We meandered the town and felt really at peace in the surroundings. after a meal of pasta vongole we are are getting ready to call it a night as we prepare for the long bus haul north east to Milazzo

It was a dark and stormy night...... As we lay in bed thinking how we were going to scoot across town to the bus station with our suitcases during a storm. We were to make our way from Palermo to Trapani by bus, a 2 hour trip for the princely sum of €18 each. Well enough drama, it stopped raining and all was well in the world. When we arrived in Trapani it was warm and sunny, around 26 degrees. We arrived at our accommodation, Ciuri Apartments only to find we'd booked the wrong nights! Well butter me on both sides if we were not a bit miffed at our error. No probs, with the power of the internet we found a night elsewhere to tie us over......on the other side of town! Trapani is on the north west coast of Sicily and is a busy port city and gateway to the beautiful Egadi Islanads We arrived on a Sunday and it was pleasantly quiet. The Sicilians came out in the evening, well dressed, and ready for dinner, a gelato and a stroll. The Italians do lifestyle well ...

We read in our travel guide the history of this magnificent place. Palermo fell first to the Romans, then Arabs , who chose this for their capital. It's so evident the rich history of this powerful city. The city ruins tell the tale of 8th - 15th century palaces and monumental buildings. Today the Sicilians have converted many crumbling yet romantic courtyards into restaurant's and pizzeria's. The famous Godfather church, the killing scene of Michael's brother in law stands before us, definitely a refresher of the movie is in order when we get back home. It may have been the sister who dies? The  Godfather church scene Weaving through the back streets, taking in the local culture sets the perfect place to reflect. From palaces and multiple churches, stopping to watch a local wedding where bride, groom and guests are dressed to the nines. How life has changed. What once would have been a horse and cart as the means of transport, is now replaced with Ferrari...

Oh geez, who would have thought a stolen wallet could cause so much grief. We're now in Catania, Sicily and that random act of farkery bites us again. We have a car booked at Hertz for the remainder of our trip, but without a licence you don't get a car. I know what your thinking. I didn't have mine with me either. Tempers rise a little, as we try to reason with the Hertz lady, she is sympathetic to our plight, but the law is the law. So what to do? Over a coffee and canoli we regroup and devise yet another Plan B. Looks like we're now busing it from Sicily to Rome. We've burned half a day in this dirty, awful, run down city of Catania. Don't bother visiting here, rather use it as the gateway to the rest of the island. With tickets in hand, we get on the bus to Palermo. We're sitting separately, me next to a stinky old man, and Andrew five rows ahead trying to keep it together. He's pissed but 2.5 hrs on the bus should reset him. We've really ...

As you can imagine, we have narrowed down the pastry shops serving the best, crispy & tasty pastizzi both plain ricotta and then with spinach. Aussie's don't have a monopoly on pies! The Maltese love their pastries and come in all varieties but the ricotta being the most popular. Today we came across an octopus pie. Yep thanks, one each will do nicely. We passed on the specialty dish of rabbit as it just didn't sit with us. Speaking of rabbits, we had to do the double take as we passed a little girl walking her pet rabbit in a doll pram, past a restaurant claiming that Jamie Oliver voted their rabbit the best in Malta! Ok, maybe you had to be there!  Bugs should have turned left at Albaquerque!  Last night the celebrations commenced for Malta's Independence Day and continued throughout the city today. We witnessed an impassioned speech by Adrian Delia, the newly elected National Party leader. We didn't understand it but it definitely got the audienc...

It had to be said....hehehe. Anyway before we start, a little story about the night before. Whilst enjoying a bottle of the local red - Medina Merlot and some Braggioli for dinner we engaged with the blokes sitting next us. Vince introduced himself to us and began to tell us about life in Malta and then leaning in, told us about his beginnings. "I was the biggest pimp in Valletta" he says, "my nickname is Concorde, coz I used to have so many girls".  He was a noble man apparently, did it to raise and support his family! Whether true or not it made an interesting tale. He then offered Gina a job....no just kidding! Anyway, off to Gozo we go. A 1.5 hour bus trip to the ferry port in Cirkewwa to the ferry terminal, we cheated and caught a taxi in the interest of time. Then a short trip on the ferry to Gozo. Forget Gozo's history for a moment, much of Game of Thrones S1 was filmed here! Words can't describe this island. The fortified city extends to pl...