November 11th

I went out on my own this morning. First of all I went to church, and then to the Panificio, to get some bread…it was just by chance that I found out that it was open. I didn’t want to go back to apartment yet, so I sat in the square, had a fanta and a piadina. The place was packed, everyone drinking wine and eating, chattering. Sundays must be a very special day for them, not like at home, where it is DIY and shopping and catching up with chores. We have got it all wrong. The cafes on the square would not work though…Arni and I were talking about it last night. Well for a start we don’t have the weather or the views!!!

The Café Colombo has “Happy Hour” which starts at 6 pm everyday except Mondays, when it is closed. The bar is full of a buffet, with Cheeses, Bruschetta, Tomatoes and anchovies on little sticks, Wurst, Salami on bread, Prawn cocktail, Chicken Mayonnaise, Olives, sun dried tomatoes, and capers... They have large cocktail sticks, you can use these if you are stood at the bar, and you just pick or you can get a plate of food and sit at your table. Around 8pm the Pizzeria next door, brings in pizza already cooked, and this is added to the buffet. Café Colombo opens very early in the morning, but it closes at 9.00 pm.

Another thing we noticed to today, was the cyclists…hundreds of them, trying to find out why. We do remember the same in Sicily. We were there one year ago this week, Amazing.

17.00 hours – have been for the “walk” again, it is getting easier. Went to see where we could eat tonight. No “Happy Hour” for us tonight. There are a few places still open at this time of year, will just see what takes our fancy.

Tonight we ate at “ La Piazzetta” in the square.(picture top right) Absolutely divine food, the chef is from the south of Italy. I have never tasted spaghetti like it. Spaghetti with prawns and mussels and Pomedori tomatoes, divine. Arni had Fillet steak which was equally has good. The service was brilliant, wine was good. Would highly recommend this place to anyone. Met the big boss, who owns the Café Colombo as well.

Have been reading a book – Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, a truly inspirational book. There is a line on page 111 … Goethe said “"To have seen Italy without having seen Sicily is not to have seen Italy at all, for Sicily is the clue to everything." So to me I did it the right way round!!