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Italy

Catania Sicily.

We spent a few days in the heart of the beautiful city of Catania. Our hotel was located beside the Piazza Duomo with a great view of the Basilica Cattedrale di Sant’Agata. 

View of the Basilica from our hotel room window.
View of the Basilica Cattedrale di Sant Agata from Piazza Duomo.

In the centre of the Piazza Duomo there is a fountain with a statue that is the symbol of Catania known as u Liotru.  It is a small looking elephant located on the fountain.

The history of this elephant is believed to originate around 900 AD  when Catania was part of the emirate of Sicily.  In that time the city was known as the “the City of the Elephant”. It was believed that the elephant was a talisman that provided protection against enemies, both human, natural or geologic.

We saw several symbols of elephants while exploring the city.  

 

One of the elephant symbols in Catania

There is a very popular place called Don Peppinu which apparently sells the best gelato in Sicily.  There were people lined up outside the door waiting to buy a gelato, so of course we lined up and had to try the best gelato in Sicily. 

People lined up for Gelato at Don Peppinu in Catania Sicily
Gelato in Don Peppinu

After our gelato we walked along the streets exploring some of the city before our next adventure to Mount Etna. 

One of the many statues in Catania
Ray at a donut store in Catania
Fountain statues in Catania
Fountain in Catania
One of the many interesting restaurants in Catania

We enjoyed Catania, it was an interesting city with a rich history. 

“A mio avviso, la più grande ricompensa e il lusso del viaggio è quello di poter vivere le cose di tutti i giorni come se fosse la prima volta, di essere in una posizione in cui quasi nulla è così familiare da essere dato per scontato”. – Bill Bryson

Italy

The Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele

One of the unique and interesting historic buildings in Palermo was the Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele. It is known as the opera house  and is located on the Piazza Verdi in Palermo.

Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele.

We decided to take a tour of the inside of the largest opera house in Italy. It is known for its perfect acoustics and was featured in the Francis Ford Coppola’s film The Godfather Part III (1990).

Entrance foyer area of the opera house.

The inside is quite ornate with many marble and unique features.  The main theatre area is designed in a horseshoe style and has seating for up to 1381 people.

View of the main theatre area

It was built in 1897 and dedicated to King Victor Emanuel II. It is the biggest in Italy, and the third largest in Europe and also renowned for its perfect acoustics. 

The inside lights and ceilings were unique and ornate.

We saw the stage area which had the system for the pop up sets for the opera. 

View from the presidential box of the stage with the pop up sets for the opera

The opera house has some very ornate areas and it had a unique feel to it. The seats are very comfortable and covered in velvet. There was lots of leg room and it was said the architect who designed it was a tall man.

Orchestra seating are lower than the stage area of the opera house.
The box seats and ceiling of the Palermo Opera house
The presidential box with a perfect view of the stage.
Curved walls within the opera house with some false doors along with doors to certain rooms.
Shelley and Ray on the main floor of the opera house in Palermo, Sicily.

It was an interesting and well worth taking the time to explore this historic landmark of Palermo.

“L’avventura più grande è quella che ci aspetta”

Camino de Santiago, Spain

Camino redo from Lugo

In September of 2021 we started the Camino de Santiago known as the Primitivo route. It begins in Oviedo and is 321 kilometers to Santiago. We left from Oviedo and after incuring an injury we had to stop in Lugo. See this entry for the details  https://chaputfootprints.com/?p=18542

After two years we returned to Lugo to complete what we had started two years earlier..

Shelley and Ray on their way to start Camino de Santiago

Our trip began with an 8 hour train from Alicante to town of Ourense in Galicia then we took a bus to Lugo. 

Ray and Shelley on the bus heading to Lugo

We arrived in the early evening in Lugo and checked into our Hotel.  Excited and anxious to start our camino the next day. Our day began early and we started out at sunrise.

Shelley on our first early morning trek on the Camino de Santiago from Lugo

We reached the camino marker that also marked the end of the camino for Shelley two years earlier.

Shelley at the camino marker outside of Lugo

She stopped and put a new rock on the marker and then we continued along the camino. There were many beautiful spots along the camino and over the next five days we would wake up early and walked long hours.  Below are some of the spots along the way. 

Although the journey was hard, it was very rewarding with special spots and memories along the way.  The experience was enhanced when we finally reached Santiago de Compostela. To stand at the Cathedral of Santiago and look at it gave us a sense of accomplishment. It was a happy and emotional time even though our bodies were sore and tired. 

Shelley and Ray at the Cathedral of Santiago

We managed to find a nice table near the cathedral and sat down to relax and take in the moment.

Shelley and Ray near the Cathedral of Santiago

After checking into our hotel and settling in we headed to get our compostela. We arrived at the compostela office and within 10 minutes had our certificates.

Ray and Shelley’s certificates of completion -Compostela de Santiago and camino stamp passport

We spent the day relaxing and had a nice meal to celebrate the adventure and achievement.

Shelley and Ray toasting the finish of the Camino de Santiago

The following day we headed home to prepare for our next adventure.

Shelley and Ray heading home from the Camino de Santiago

“Hasta la próxima, buen Camino y disfruta de cada paso de la vida.”

Tanzania

Saying goodbye to Tanzania

Our last day on safari we drove to the Seronera airstrip that is located in the middle of the Serengeti National Park. The airstrip and flight was quite unique and interesting.  Our waiting area was under a canvas tent on the side of the airstrip.

Shelley under the tent waiting for our flight.
Ray and Shelley under the tent waiting for the flight to arrive

We sat under the tent and watched the airplanes landing and taking off on the dirt airstrip while we waited for our flight.

One of the aircraft on the dirt runway

We climbed aboard the plane and settled into our seats for the 2 hour flight out of the Serengeti. The plane was well used and the seatbelts had some wear and tear.

Ray and Shelley in the plane leaving the Serengeti
Shelley’s seatbelt which was a little worn.

The plane was small and had very little extra space.

We took off and about an hour into the flight we flew over the Ngorongoro Crater. We could see this amazing place from our window.

A view of the Ngorongoro Crater from our plane

After a few hours we landed in Karatu a town just outside of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From here a driver took us to Arusha for our last night in Tanzania. We stayed at the Gran Malia Hotel in Arusha which was an amazing hotel. 

Gran Melia Arusha Tanzania

The hotel was truly eco and bio focused and felt like an oasis. The Gran Melia is  on 18 acres of beautiful landscaped coffee plantation and garden.

Shelley and Ray in the garden area of the Gran Melia Hotel in Arusha

They grow their own food and most of the decorations in the hotel were made locally with recycled materials. This has provided support for the local charities and community.

Paths and bridges in the Melia 18 acres hotel
Art looking bench along the path in Gran Melia Hotel Arusha

They have a walking path throughout the 18 acres which also contain many different vegetables and fruit trees. We took a walk along the path and came across a gardener that was so proud and took us for a tour.

Coffee plantation in the Gran Melia Hotel in Arusha

We went through the coffee plantation and saw them drying and roasting the coffee beans.

Coffee Beans being dried on large racks
Banana trees that produce the bananas for the hotel
Different herbs and vegetables in the Hotel gardens

The Hotel also uses the entire roof system of the hotel for growing vegetables and herbs.

View of the roof with gardens in Gran Melia Hotel

After exploring the gardens paths of the hotel, there was a path that led us to the Shanga & Shanga Foundation. This is a social enterprise, which employs people with disabilities to create unique and high-quality handmade jewelry, glassware and homewares incorporating recycled materials. The hotel works in concert with them and has bought many of their materials and art pieces to decorate the Hotel. 

Lion Head made by Shanga facility using recycled materials
View of the interior of the Hotel with decorations from the Shanga facility

We were greeted at the entrance and given a tour of the Shanga facility. 

Shanga entrance to facility making recycled art

The workers were so proud to show us their skills and what they were working on. 

One of the 38 workers working at the Shanga recycling material into weaving material.
A worker showing how to make a glass ornament using recycled glass.
Recycled material made into Christmas ornaments.

After touring the Shanga facility and buying a few items we went to the hotel terrance. We ordered a drink to celebrate our safari adventure and enjoy the last views of Tanzania before heading back. 

African wine on the terrace of the Gran Melia Hotel with view of Mount Meru in the background.
Shelley and Ray on the terrace

From the terrace we could see the beautiful view along with Mount Meru.

View of the Mount Meru from the terrace of the Gran Melia Hotel in Arusha.

The next morning we packed our gear and prepared for the long flight home. 

Shelley and Ray waiting for the ride to the airport to head home.

We arrived at the airport and waited for our flight. Ray taking one last picture before boarding our flight and heading home. 

Our plane with Ray in the reflection of the glass.

This was a trip of a life time and one that we will remember for years.

“Kumbuka na kufurahia wakati wako wote wa furaha.”

Tanzania

The Sausage tree

We noticed a tree in Tanzania that was quite different. It had a large looking fruit which hung from the branches.

Shelley our Guide Omare and Ray

We asked our guide Omare about the tree and he stated “oh that is a sausage tree”  Really?  He explained that the tree is quite common and has a large fruit that looks like a sausage hence the name Sausage tree.

A “Sausage tree” in Tanzania

The actual name of the tree is Kigelia africana known locally as the sausage tree. When we were driving through the Serengeti we would come across these trees. We had our guide Omare stop and we were able to take a closer look at this “Sausage tree”

Kigelia africana, known as the sausage tree
The fruit of the tree which looks like a giant sausage casing

The “sausage” fruit on the tree is quite big and it can grow up to 60 cm (2 feet) long and weighs 7 to 10 kg (15 – 22 pounds).  They definitely look like the casing of a huge sausage. It hangs down on long rope-like stalk and the fruit pulp is fibrous, containing many seeds.

The fresh fruit sausage is poisonous to humans but some large animals like elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses and monkeys eat them.  However when the fruit is dried it is used several different ways. The skin which is a hard shell of the fruit is hollowed out, cleaned, and made into containers. In parts of Kenya the fruit is dried and used to make an alcoholic beverage known as Muratina. This drink is used during cultural events in central Kenya. 

This is just one of the many unique and interesting things we saw during our time in Tanzania.

“Moja ya mambo ya kuvutia”