Monday June 24
Dinner in the Clouds
Castelmola is a small (and small is the correct word) medieval village perched on a rocky outcrop 500m high. The town is named after a ruined Norman castle on the outcrop. The streets are really narrow alleys, but enchanting none the less.
There is only one road to the village – steep and winding, too narrow for the coach, so we had to use a mini-van. Just as well we had ll become friends, because there was little private space in the bus.
The main square is tiny, and paved in a checkerboard pattern with black and white volcanic tiles.
On the edge of the square is a ‘naughty house’ – a bar decorated with what local guide Diana politely referred to as ‘fertility symbols’. Mike and I managed the four flights of steep, narrow stairs to the fourth floor terrace for a cold beer. His description of the glass he was given to sample the local almond wine was evocative and amusing.
The floor tiles give some indication of the decorations in the bar.
Looking from the fourth floor bar down to Margherita in the piazza.
An innocent looking cart, stigmatised by the light fittings.
The symbol of Sicily reimagined.
The dinner was good, but somewhat blighted by the strong sun slanting onto the table.
