Day 20 - Thursday, 11/28/24 - Catania, Sicily

 As we sailed into the port of Catania, Mt. Etna was in full view with a little smoke cloud above it.  As in Naples, our projected arrival was 10am and we were safely secured at our berth by then.  Across the dock was a an Israeli cruise ship, Crown Iris which is a former Norwegian Cruise Line ship, Majestic.




Our little group of 6 met in the 3rd floor atrium just before 10 and when the ship was cleared we joined the hordes trying to exit the ship.  This disembarkation was the most crowded that we have experienced this cruise.  Outside the terminal we walked to the port gate and met our new guide, Manuel, who replaced our booked guide, Roberto, who had become sick.  Manuel was really a licensed driver, and not skilled in guiding although he was a nice enough person.  


He drove us first a short distance to a parking lot by McDonald's and the entry to the Christmas market.  We did check out the menu for the McDonald's and there were a few unique items we don't have in the states.  From the Christmas market we went through a very active fresh fish market before heading to the town square.  At the square is the Basilica which was lovely inside.  There was also another larger Christmas market there.


Back at the van we drove out to Aci Castillo which has a large stone castle shaped like a ship perched on a basalt rock formation .  We found a nice cafe and enjoyed some adult beverages and chips, nuts, & olives. Luca, our server, is a Jamaican studying interior design here also gave us a sample pizza which was yummy.  After about an hour there, we walked back along the terrace where Manuel picked us up and drove us further to the small port area for some picture taking.




Manuel then drove us back to the Catania port area where he dropped Angela and I off to walk around the square area we visited earlier.  It was around 2:30pm and we didn't have to be back to the ship until 5:30pm.  The other 4 wanted to go back to the ship.  We first headed to the McDonald's to use the restroom and then walked back into the square where the now closed Bascilica was located.  A sign caught our attention advertising a trolley train for €5 per person for a 45 minute trip around the city.  It turned out to be the best €5 we've probably spent in a long time.  We were able to see a number of sites including the Roman amphitheater, the Benedictine monastery, & Bellini Gardens among others.  Afterwards we walked around the big Christmas market and discovered the College church which our 'guide' should have pointed out earlier that day.  



The route back to the ship was a bit challenging to find and walk with narrow uneven sidewalks.  But I got us back to the ship with 25 minutes to spare.  There were 20 people behind us.  After I dropped off my backpack, I went up to the Crow's Nest to watch the sail away.  Captain Paul gave his normal departure speech noting we were waiting for 2 passengers.  Angela was watching from the 3rd Deck railing, and saw an elderly couple finally make it to the gangway in a fair amount of distress.  It seems that their taxi driver couldn't figure out how to get into the port.


The staff captain was in charge of the departure. The ship moved away from the dock, backed up, and slowly turned counter clockwise 180° and sailed out of the port of Catania in the black darkness and between the red and green breakwater lights to the flat open seas.


With today being Thanksgiving Day in the USA, turkey & trimmings were the meal of choice tonight and it was good.  Our entertainment tonight was a Spanish flautist, Andrea Amat, who was quite good.  We wrapped up our evening watching a 2008 movie, Life in Ruins about an American teacher who is a tour guide in Greece.  It was the funniest movie i've seen in years for its overstated characterizations of tour bus tourists. Before the movie, Santa made an appearance to steal some popcorn.






Tomorrow is our first sea day after 7 straight port stops.  Piraeus, Greece is our next port of call after the sea day.

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