Leaving Sicily

Our last moments in Sicily ........

Top left, Catania's emblem. An elephant, surmounted by an Egyptian obelisk. The elephant is the smiliest elephant I have ever seen. He is constructed of the local basalt - like the rest of the city, after it was destroyed in the 1693 earthquake. And in the photo he looks as if he is blowing out swifts from his trunk. There were hundreds in the air. They only land on terra firma in the brief breeding season between May and July, otherwise they are airborne all the time, even sleeping on the wing.

Top right, snails for sale in the local market. All very alive. Yum !

Bottom left, the market was awash with fresh fish. This swordfish is going to feed many people. A magnificent beast. Our fish diet in the UK does look a bit narrow by comparison with what was available here. Although I did worry about the extent to which the Mediterranean could sustain the demand from around it, bolstered as it is by the huge tourist trade (I felt guilty).

And bottom right, as our plane taxied towards the runway, Mount Etna, which forms the backdrop to Catania. It has quietened down from a few days ago, now lightly smoking away. Via Etnea in town is one of the main shopping streets, with the big volcano forming the distant viewpoint as you walk along it. It's as if Deansgate in Manchester had a view of a volcano at it's end, quite some townscape.

So ... A few images for Wild Wednesday.

Glad now to be home - even if the temperature has dropped by 14 degrees and we've put the central heating on !