My little perch on the balcony
I spent all day yesterday (Friday) recovering from the three days I spent climbing the hills of Ragusa as well as those of Noto and surrounding small towns. Did I really say hills? They’re mountains! Much of Sicily is mountainous, you could call it one big volcano with a few outlying ridges.
I ducked out to La Farmacia early in the morning (not the same farmacia where I had the mix-up with supposta, I’m too embarrassed to go back there) and got myself some extra strength codeine for my long suffering hip and decided to spend the day resting. My legs were still complaining about their unaccustomed labours too!
I’m glad I’ve given myself so much time in Siracusa. Time enough that I can spend a full day on my balcony.
The lady directly opposite me hangs out her washing every morning and we wave to each other. Today we had a chat across the street. You don’t even have to raise your voice to hold a conversation across narrow streets like this.
Posso fare un photo? I called across. Can I take a photo?
Perché no? Why not, she laughed.
Also just across the road some workmen have been doing something to one of the apartment buildings. Not sure what it is but it involves carrying bucket after bucket of cement upstairs.
They appear every morning about 8.00 a.m, lounge about for a bit, smoking their cigarettes, then disappear around the corner for a good half hour. I assume they’re having a coffee before work.
The Gelateria opens early, necessitating a vigourous sweeping of the street outside the doors.
I’ve bought icecream from here and I could seriously eat my way through the whole shop. It’s utterly different from any icecream I’ve had in Australia, and not for the kiddies. Mostly lashed with liqueur. Heavenly!
People stop and confer with each other in the street.
There aren’t too many cars in Siracusa but I still don’t fancy having a palaver in the middle of the road.
It’s considered OK to stop for a gossip and let the cars drive around you. These two gentlemen engaged in quite a long conversation, long enough to allow a car to park.
Life goes more slowly here. I’ve adjusted to the pace very well.
And always the smell of the sea from the Porto Piccolo just 5 metres away.
