Day 9 - Riviera dei Ciclopi and Punta Secca

Riviera dei Ciclopi

Today we left the Hilton and shifted from the east coast of Sicily to the West. Sounds like a long drive but it was only 3 hours including a side trip to see the Riviera dei Ciclopi (Cyclops Coast). Of course the name is purely to lure tourists, but I'll pass on the story. The name comes from the Homeric legend according to which the towering black rocks that rise out of the sea – actually great hunks of solidified lava – were thrown by the blinded Cyclops, Polyphemus, in a desperate attempt to stop Odysseus from escaping. Maybe. Interesting but I'm not sure a long drive to see them would be worth it.

Montalbano's House

We are in Punta Secca to see and stay at the House of Montalbano. Montalbano is a policeman in an Italian TV crime series that dates back almost 20 years and his house, now a B&B, is featured in the film. The show is hugely popular in Italy and Europe but not in the US. With my Italian class, I have seen almost every episode and likewise the other people staying here are here for the same reason. In fact I had a long discussion with a British couple on the balcony about the show and the world in general. The wife was a big fan and they were here 4 days and are coming back next year. The world discussions are always interesting but I'm a bit getting tired of apologizing for Trump.

Beach at Sunset (from our balcony)

We had some quality beach time although it is getting near the end of the season and the water is a bit cool. Really probably like New Jersey beaches at the best of times, but still a bit cool for us. Best beach I've been to in Italy as many of them are rocky, but this was a flat sand beach and you could walk out 50 meters before it went over your head.

For dinner we drove to the Ristorante Agrituristico Rosacambra, which was recommended to us. I think that agrituristico kind of means farm-to-table but much more like eating with a large family. It was fixed price and you eat what they have cooked for the day. 6 appetizers, 2 pasta courses, 2 main courses, dessert, fruit, wine, water, coffee and limoncello. All for the ridiculously low price of 22 EUR each. We were totally stuffed and still they insisted on sending some of the leftovers home with us.