Sun 30.Apr.2023
Syracuse, Sicily
Light grey drizzle today in Sicily. A good day after coffee to go back to my apartment, turn on
the air heater, and work up some of the pictures I've accumulated here on the Mediterranean's
biggest island.
Two weeks and two cities so far. We start with Syracuse (Siracusa as they spell it here).
And now for something completely different - Sicily!
Syracuse was founded as a Greek colony in the 700's BC.
The city promotes its Greek heritage first and foremost, though Romans, Phoenicians, Normans,
and even Swabians (!) also had kingdoms here.
The Fountain of Diana (Greek goddess) anchors Archimedes Square, named for
the city's most famous ancient native.
The (ancient Greek) temple of Apollo.
The better to see you with!
The eyes and eats of the world.
Sign Spotting
You can get anything you want in this crossroads corner of the world. This restaurant offers
Italian and Sri Lankan fare.
Apparently a nationwide bookstore chain. I didn't go in, but their name - from a seriously
weird old science-fiction novel - suggests a touch of the obscure / esoteric.
Happiness is having a clean neighborhood.
The pink lettering is hard to read (for me at least): OPEN 12:30-22:30
and SUNDAY LUNCH 12:30-15:??
A weed vending machine?! As near as I could tell, the products included CBD goods
and accessories, but no actual weed or hash.
Ortigia - an island and my base neighborhood, was the original Greek
settlement of Syracuse.
No sign exactly - a scene of lines and patterns, on a battlement of the (medieval?)
fort at the entrance ot the harbor..
Ortigia's streets are narrow, its buildings stone. I had no phone signal in my apartment, or inside
restaurants I frequented. The apartment's wi-fi was good, though, and phone signals outdoors worked.
OK
Next: More Syracuse