Road Trip

We embarked Friday on another road trip, continuing with Karen's quest to hit as many cities as possible.  First stop was Noto, not too far from Siricusa where we went last week.  Noto is about a 20 minute drive inland, and you can catch glimpses of the sea from higher places.  We booked a place at very nice B & B called Marla Rooms.  Being here in off season, it is pretty easy booking last minute accommodations.  We were met at the door by a nice young woman, the daughter of the owner.  She introduced herself as Marta, the Italian version of my daughter Martha's name.  We asked if that was where the name of the B and B came from. She said no, her sister is Laura (name of my third daughter), and hence Marla.  The owner needed to work on a third daughter so he could have named her Sarah. 

Noto is a beautiful town, known for its baroque architecture.   We were a short walk from the center, and spent the afternoon exploring the city on foot.  I'm not good at travelogues and pictures, so you can check Karen's blog if you want to see the city.  I love wandering around these towns, but as I've kidded before, it fills the time before I can find a place for a good meal.

Finding a good meal in Noto in non tourist season, and in the middle of a pandemic, and post holidays was definitely a challenge.  The first place recommended to us was closed for holiday.  We found a couple others that looked promising on line, and they were taking reservations.  But, when we attempted to book, it turned out that they too were closed.  Our B & B recommended another place Toccammia, and that was open.  We were the only customers.  And, when the chef was done cooking for us, he was off duty for the night and came out to join us in conversation.  Our meal was all fresh fish and seafood with the highlight being the polpo (octopus) appetizer.  I never had one so fresh or tasty.  I kidded Karen that we are single handedly keeping the Sicilian economy going, as we were the only clients at the B & B, and the only ones at the restaurant for the whole evening.  It was a bit sad, knowing that the chef/owner and waitress opened up the restaurant for the night, had fresh fish on hand, and treated us royally, only to then close up and go home.  Tough way to make a living.  

We had a very comfortable night at the B & B.  We checked out by 10:00 Saturday. We found a good bar for a cappuccino and cornetto.  Then off to Ragusa Ibla, about a couple hour drive.  I liked Ragusa even better than Noto.  A very beautiful place.  Again, we pretty much had the town to ourselves.  We did a lot of wandering around just taking in the beauty.  It was a great day with sun and temps in the 50s.  We found a small restaurant with outdoor seating, and had a good late afternoon meal with  a good bottle of wine.  Only glitch in the weekend, is I think I may have triggered one of the highway speed check cameras on the way home.  I knew they were there, and Vincenzo points them out to me every time we are driving with him. I've managed to slow down at the right times and had no problems till Saturday.  As I was almost home, driving past the last camera, I must have spaced out for a minute, and as I got to the camera, I'm pretty sure I saw a flash, meaning it caught me going too fast and took  my picture.  The limit is 60 km/hr and I couldn't have been going more than 65 if that.  We'll have to wait and see if the ticket shows up in the mail.  If so, I think it is about $50.  Just like my poker playing.  

After our usual Sunday afternoon feast with the family, and a walk through town, I'm relaxing with a Cuban rum on the rocks.  As a change of pace from Scotch, I picked up a bottle of Cuban rum, mainly because I could.  We also enjoyed some good Cuban cigars on New Year's Eve compliments of Giuseppe.  I still have no idea why the US continues its failed embargo of all things Cuban.  Doing a quick google check on background of the embargo, I came across a section of comments from other world leaders, US politicians from both side of the aisle, and other commentators.  The vast majority of the comments included descriptions of it as "insane", "a historic mistake" "destructive" "a stupid policy" "a failure by every measure" and the one that sums up my view: "The embargo is the perfect example used by anti-americans everywhere to expose the hypocrisy of a superpower that punishes a small island while cozying to dictators elsewhere."  As another leader pointed out, the embargo has not changed the course or nature of the Cuban government.  It has not liberated a single Cuban citizen and has probably made the Cuban people more impoverished.  Obviously, Cuba must be much more terrible than Russia, China or any other example you can think of.  I'm sure if we give the embargo another 60 years, it will finally accomplish something.   Sorry, I guess this is what happens to my Italian blog when I start drinking Cuban rum.  And, if any of you have a good justification for the Cuban embargo, come sit down and explain it to me over a good Cuban rum and cigar.

So, on to a late meal of pasta fagioli cooked by Karen and then to bed.