Sicily- Trapani

Trapani

After Cagliari we really needed a break. Trapani was a pretty good place to have one... Instead of a 16 hour boat trip to Sicily we decided to fly. It only took 45 mins to fly to Trapani. Sicily is definitely different. Everything outside the bus window is the same pastel orange colour, even the dirt. The buildings all seem to look the same and there doesn't seem to be footpaths. Trapani was a lot more colourful, clean and organised which was a relief.

We stayed at one of the best B&B's so far. Traditional sicilian breakfast included and it was pretty much right in front of the beach

The first night we got there, they were celebrating St Albert's Day- the protrector of the city. There was a parade right past the resteraunt we were eating at... The next day was a public holiday and everything was shut, even the buses were on holiday!! We'd decided to visit Erice (was the Greek Eryx) which is a very well preserved old castle town up on the top of a hill. Unfortunately without the bus we had to walk 3km each way We did, however, discover that religion can be really cool. We saw the Venus castle where Greeks, romans and any random sailors could come and pray. I wondered why people would choose to walk 700m up a hill just to pray. The answer is simple. Prayer involves reaching for the godess Venus or Aphrodite through sexual rites with preistesses housed in the temple. Sounds like a very cool religion! I looked thoroughly but couldn't find any priestesses

Erice photos

The Castle of Venus

The well of Venus

The Duomo in Erice

Some castle.. In Erice

The view of Trapani from Erice at night in the cable car

Going home (to Trapani) in a cable car

Trapani photos

Walking along the coast - on top of the mountain in the background is Erice

The old fish market

St Lorrenzo church.. They were celebrating St Albert's day that night

The Spanish tower

The 'beach' by the spanish tower.. Looks like you can make it a beach anywhere

The biggest seagull we have seen. Probably some crazy military experiment

Day Trip on the Bus

The Greek Theater and Temple of Segesta, east of Trapani

Incompleted temple of Segesta

Castellammare del golfo- habour of Segesta

Scopello

Salt mines near Saline

The Food

At trapani, we had the best seafood, but also the worst food on this trip- a pasta in Erice with cheese and ham that just tasted like spew. It was inedible Luckily we didn't take any photos of it.. It was terrible.

But..

Trapani speciality- cous cous and smoked fish- very tasty

Mussel 'soup'- the mussels are huge over here

Antipasti with eggplant, meatballs, sausage, capsicum, zucchini, etc

Trapani pesto pasta- tomato, basil and nuts.. Very bland

The best pizza-seafood!! With lots of mussels.. Blake reckons it is the best pizza he has ever had

Eggplant stuffed with pasta and baked with cheese.. So good

And that is Michelle's food blog..

xoxo B&M