Sicilia Spring 2020-2, (More like Summer after 4 months)

Ok sports fans, I’ve finally gotten back to the blog. When it became easier to move around within the local area we went to a long sandy beach on the east side of Sciacca, Sovareto, a popular spot for the locals and visitors, when they are here. The sand is fine textured and, because of the pandemic, clean. Usually there’s a lot of washed up trash at the tide lines but not now. At the left side of the panorama you can see a couple blankets with sunbathers. There was another set on the far side of the bar in the middle of the beach. On the right is a small bar and restaurant where the road comes down off the bluff to the beach. The shoreside of the beach is covered in local bamboo and a small stream, now dry, comes into the sea on the right, between here and the bar.

The waters off here must have a lot of cuttlefish because you find the cuttle bones all over the place, not so much the cuttlefish carcasses though. The seagulls get the meaty parts taken care of. Every once in a while you find a body, but they are awfully tough from the sun after a day or two. Kind of like white rubber.

A WW II pillbox on the beach. The area is dotted with them. This one was cemented shut and had locked iron doors on the back to keep people out. Only geckos get in.

The upland resorts have bars on the beach, but not open now……

In the right center is Sciacca. The Capo San Marco is the long ridge at the rear.

A few days later we went to the “rock” beach west of Sciacca, the Giache Bianche Beach. It reminded us of Ruby Beach on the Pacific here in Washington. Giache is all rocks, rounded white rocks, where Ruby’s are flat and black. The ones at Giache are a lot harder to walk on. The surf has created a small rise, not quite a meter in height. in the middle of the beach line. The round rocks do not lock together as you try to move towards the water and it’s easy to slip, I know from experience. And it’s really hard to climb back up because they keep sliding out from under your feet. Makes ya feel old.

Giache Bianche Beach. There is a sand road that runs along the back side of the beach and a campground just west of this spot.

Capo San Marco in the distance.

I’ve got a few more odds and ends to share from our 4 1/2 month trip. One day, while sitting out by the fountain, a red dragonfly came through and hung around in the sun for a few minutes. Luckily I had my phone with me and was able to get some good photos.

We took a short trip to Capo San Marco to see the “light house” one afternoon. Not a great tower, mainly a mast with a light on it at the cape.

We also took a road trip to a small town, San Carlo, that is north of Caltabellota, and avoided that small town which is unfriendly to autos. Much of it accessed by donkey streets, narrow, steep and many with steps.

I think I’ll repost some favorite sunset photos that I’d taken while sitting on the terrace, and add a few of the gardens at Case del Vivaio, and the forest fire that happened.

These gardens were put in while we were there. He’s “creating” soil by breaking up the ground, adding mulch and planting legumes, which will go well in the rocky soil. Great southern and western exposure.

The start of the forest fire about 12 miles, 20Km, away.

The flames really lit up the smoke as it got dark.

Well, that’s it pretty much for Sicily this year of the pandemic. We’re waiting for the vaccine to be distributed here. Cathy checked with Kaiser and after health care and people in care facilities are vaccinated us old farts are next in line. Yes, on the road again, and, hopefully, not too long.

Ciao for now….