Sicily - Palermo

Palermo was not my favorite place in Sicily but it was full of contrasts. I let you enjoy the pictures:

Sicily - Bronte

Bronte, a small town in the North East of Sicily, is the world capital of pistachio nuts. Of course, you can see pistachio trees growing everywhere.

Castello Nelson:
Pistachio nuts:

View of the Etna from Castello Nelson:

Some delicacies you can try in Bronte...unfortunately, I couldn't try them all...

Sicily - Agrigento

Agrigento is a city on the southern coast of Sicily renowned for its Greek temples.
From March to November this year, the site is also used for exhibiting Igor Mitoraj sculptures.
I let you enjoy the pix...

Sicily - Etna

Mount Etna is the tallest active volcano in Europe. It is close to Catania and almost constantly active. It last erupted on 12 May 2011. I was dreaming to see some lava fountain while I was there but nothing happened except a constant flow of ashes coming off the summit...

Sicily - Catania

I am just back from 10 fantastic days in Sicily. I went to see my friend Mariaconcetta who spent a few months in Dundee a couple of years ago. I've been welcome like a queen by her family and friends. Sicilian people are the most welcoming and generous people I've met! She drove me everywhere to make sure I see most of the island! So I am going to post pictures of some of the amazing things I saw and ate :o)

Today: Catania.

Bench

I've been painting a lot lately, trying to put my own touch in my new pad. A bench was left on the balcony, the metal part was all rusted and the wood was starting to rot so I dismantled it, sand the wood and clean the metal parts. I used the paint I bought for the balcony rail to paint the metal parts and the paint for the windows for the wood pieces.

Here is the result and I must admit I am rather proud of myself and my brand new bench :o)

Now, if we could have some sunshine I could use it...

It is amazing what a bit of TLC can do!

Tomatoes

I've taken a new hobby: gardening. My new pad has a balcony so I've decided to have a few edible plants. I've got loads of orchids and they are dead easy to maintain (just need to water them once a week) but tomatoes are much more demanding! I've planted them at the end of march and left them behind my south facing window. I've dispatched them in various location now that I've moved. 4 are in the kitchen, 2 on the balcony and 2 on the landing. They all have flowers and the ones in the kitchen have started producing fruits. I have 5 little green tomatoes so far and much more to come :)

I also have some alpine strawberries:

In July I am going to plant a pumpkin as well. I am dreaming of having a huge one on my balcony :o) I'll report on that later....