We got up really early, 5:30, again so we could do an organized tour. This time it was just Aviva and I with a driver, a guide, and a Mercedes. We drove over 2 hours to Ragusa, stopping first at a little placed called Castello di Donnafugata. This wasn’t really a castle, but instead a very large villa.

A painted ceiling

A chariot, or cart, with painted sides - traditional in Sicily

We got back in the car and drove on to Ragusa. There are a number of very old men’s clubs in Ragusa – these are places men go to drink and talk. None of the churches were open so we just walked around and finally had a good lunch at a little place down the hill from the center of the old town.

Men outside a club in Ragusa

Men outside a club in Ragusa

A church facade in Ragusa

Aviva in the public garden in Ragusa

Piling into the car, we spend another hour or so to get to Noto. We went inside the Chiesa di Montevergine. We walked by the Palazzo Nicolaci, which is famous for having the most beautiful balconies in the world, and Palazzo Ducezio. Noto if famous for it’s balconies….

The balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci

The balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci

The balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci

The balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci

The balconies of Palazzo Nicolaci

Floor from Chiesa di Montevergine

Ceiling from Chiesa di Montevergine

Altar from Chiesa di Montevergine

Inside of the dome in Chiesa di Montevergine

The facade of Palazzo Ducezio

Another hour and a half and we were back at Taormina. This was a pretty big trip for us, and we were pretty tired afterwards.

We had a nice lunch at La Nuoua Rusticana in Ragusa.

Our tour guide, Marcello, was a complete pompous ass. At one point he told us that Jesus was killed, of course, by the Jews. Just wonderful…. The driver was a very nice guy and friendly.

When we got back to Taormina we walked up to the main shopping street, then bought a few more trinkets and some pastries for the trip to Palermo tomorrow.

As we did every night here, we ate in the hotel. The dining room here is a large, formal affair, and the food is really good. They lay out a different table of antipasti every night.

And so you can keep up with Aviva’s eye….

Aviva's eye is getting better