KALLIKOROS TO VENDICARI BAY - DAY 6

We awakened to beautiful weather, and after another great breakfast went out to see the view.

Looking out over the fields and orchards we could see clouds in the distance but the temperatures were mild and the day promised to be a good one.

We gathered on the patio for our daily briefing and entertainment because our guides Sandro, Marco and Mauro, besides being great bikers were comedians too. The morning ride was mostly downhill to a natural reserve by the sea where we to spent some time exploring.

Being the oldest and slowest of the group by far, we took off early so I could grab some shots of some flowers I had seen the day before.  This was the first opportunity I had to photograph poppies.

The country roads were lovely and free of traffic - my kind of biking.

We reached the Vendicari Park and Bay and Sandro, who was already there with the van gave us directions to this blind looking out over the marsh lakes, already alive with birds.

Walking along the boardwalk to the sea we saw many flowers and lizards.

At the upper edge of the beach were these curious brown balls which we thought were seed pods, but found out they came from the Mediterranean - a form of algae that washes up on the beach when dead.

From the beach we could see the ruins of an old tuna fishing and packing factory that closed after WWII.

We walked to it and spent some time exploring the ruins, and enjoying the flowers there.

                   Ruins of the Tonnara (fish factory)

We continued our walk along the beach enjoying the sea and the vegetation on land.

The ride back to our hotel in the afternoon was of course a lot of up-hill, and I was glad to reach it.


The two younger couples from Boston wanted a photo of themselves in their biking shirts from the Wilson Farm ( owned by Jim and Cindy on the left).  We hope  to visit them there this summer.

That evening at out hotel, the Kalliloros, a cooking demonstration was planned.  Aubergine       Parmesan  appetizers were compiled by Peggy under the watchful eye of the chef.

                          

Cindy shows off her successful creation, and Dave works on eggplant parmigiana rolls.

                                                 The results were beautiful and delicious.

After dinner we all enjoyed the "Cannolo Sicillanos" for dessert, which we stuffed earlier.

And I couldn't resist snapping a photo of our guides Mauro, Marco and Sandro who also had a good time.

KALLIKOROS TO BORGO PANTANO - DAY 7

Since the morning ride was to be a steep, long uphill and the afternoon downhill to our new hotel, we decided to skip the morning and take the van.

 

However this didn't bother most of the younger riders.

At the top of the hill we met the rest of the group to explore Noto Antica.

Noto Antica was an ancient city that was destroyed by the terrible earthquake of 1693.  It is enclosed between two great ravines which made the city easy to defend.  Its streets were once crowded with people and are now surrounded by vegetation.

The Castello Reale was started in 1091 by Duke Giordano, boosted in 1430 by Duke Peter, modernized in 1545 under Charles V, and finally in 1675 provided with guns during the              France-Spanish War.

 

Doorways are all that remain of once sturdy homes.

            The new Hospital, along with the small church was built here in the mid 16th century.

Part of the old wall remained intact along the edge of a ravine, with the remains of a watch tower in the distance.

Peggy who rode up the hill with us got back on her bike for the trip to Agriturismo Agri Milo.

It is a teaching farm of 22 Hectares.

 At the farm we saw stone walls and flowers galore.  Owned by 3 brothers who also have a restaurant
 where they prepare local specialties from their home grown vegetables.



 When we were there several classes of school children were  taking turns riding in the donkey cart, while others were making kites (which probably wouldn't fly)!

This is only a part of the delicious lunch that we were served while we were there.  We were well fortified for our DOWNHILL ride to our next hotel.

Hotel Borgo Pantano was a very pleasant surprise when we arrived there.  The patio was filled with
                       interesting objects of various kinds and had comfortable places to sit.

But best of all it led to the pool, outside bar and a cabana!!

OGNINA TO PLEMMIRIO - DAY 8

Our last day of biking began more beautiful than the day before. Weather wise each day seemed to get better and better - we will hate to leave.

Our three guides give us the riding instructions outside again, under s huge umbrella.  Since it was a short morning ride and mostly downhill to the sea, we got an early start again.

We spotted a small harbor as we reached the coast and stopped to see the fishing boats there.  One fisherman was just coming in with his morning catch, and the van and the first of the others bikers caught up with us.

We biked along the rocky coast, until we reached  one of the most popular beaches south of Syracuse.

The van was stopped there with the usual array of snacks  and we continued our walk along the coast to see what we could see.

One of our new friends took this picture of us and in this one we weren't tired.

     

There were always wildflowers to appreciate and photograph this time of the year, and this stop was no exception.

As we rounded a corner with our guide I was mesmerized with this view of Syracuse across the water
with Mt. Etan in the background.  We had signed up for the post trip which began the next day.

We were headed towards our lunch spot on the
property of Guisi, the owner of the Hotel Borgo.
As is always the tradition in Italy our guides has prepared a special picnic lunch for us there

   They were deserving of a well earned rest.

It was a great trip with wonderful people -
who we now consider special friends!!!