SAI provided us the transportation to the airport. Lisa (an SAI director) made sure we all got checked in and saw us through security. Then all of us headed to our terminal. We had a little over an hour before our plane took off, so we just relaxed on the very uncomfortable benches. To board our plane, we had to take a bus to the plane which was located away from the airport. Everyone was seated on the plane and ready for take off when the captain announced that we all had to get off and go back to the airport. The captain was speaking in Italian, so we were all clueless as to what was going on. But we jumped on the bus and went back to the airport.
Turns out that a rock had hit the side of the planes door and they felt that the plane was not flyable. They were unsure of when another plane would be available and offered flight changes to those who wanted them. A large portion of the people went up to change there flight, but we decided it was best to wait it out. The front desk of the airline called out every single persons name and we had to go get the part of the boarding pass that they collected before we got on the plane. It was chaotic.
We found out that the next plane wouldn't be available for another 2 hours. So Bliss and I decided to try and find something to eat. At this point, I was thinking that we were just bad luck and that this weekend would turn out like last weekend. I resulted to getting some McDonalds. We got it to go and were planning on sitting at the terminal and eating. As we were walking back to our terminal, the speaker came on and said that out flight was boarding immediately.
You know when you are sitting in the airport and people watch. Typically you poke jokes at those who are running down the hallway to their terminal. Well....that was Bliss and I. We were on the wrong floor on the airport and on the opposite side. Fumincio airport is huge!
Luckily we made it on time. The sitting on the flight was "free." Meaning we could sit anywhere we wanted. I guess that was their way of saying sorry. The flight was really short. It took us less than 50 minutes to get to Sicily. We literally went up in the air, the flight attendants handed out drinks, and then we were descending for our landing.
Once at the Catania airport, we meet up with the rest of the groups. Then hoped on a coach bus for our hour ride to Siracusa, where our hotel was located. I slept on the entire ride to the hotel!
Bliss and I roomed together at the hotel. We were in a tiny little room and our beds were about 4 inches apart. Which was unfortunate for me, because Bliss was coughing on me all night. Right after getting our stuff situated in our rooms, we went on a walking tour of the Ortigia Historical Center. We saw the temple of Apollo and some other interesting sites from back in WWII. Siracusa is a well known city from WWII.
After our tour we walked to our restaurant for dinner, Osteria Bacco. Here we had an amazing 5 course meal. It was endless amounts of food that just kept coming. After supper, Bliss and I headed right back to the hotel for bed.
Saturday morning started off with a 10am market tour and tasting with a culnery chef from Siracusa. For the most part, the market was filled with fish. Lots of fish and different seafoods. The smell was nauseating. There were swordfish, snails (that were still alive), squid and little octopus. In Italy, there are no health/sanitary codes like in the U.S. All of this food was sitting out in the open. Flies were all over it, costumers were touching it with their dirty hands. The butchers would wipe the sweat off their faces and then use their bare hands to cut the fish.
At the end of the market, we went into a little store to do some taste testing. We tried three different kinds of wines. One was very sweet, more of a dessert wine. We also tried a traditional Italian pizza. I would describe it as a calzone with patatoes in it. We tried some chocolate, which was disgusting. I was very dark chocolate with little sugary pieces in it.
After our market tour, we took the coach bus up the mountains to the Pantalica Ranch. The roads in Italy are very narrow, I would consider them a one way street back home. So as our bus would round the sharp corners going up the mountain, he would have to honk his horn to warn people coming from the other direction. The honking got really annoying after the hunderth time.
We ate at the ranch. It was another 5 course meal. I didn't think I would be able to eat after the previous nights dinner. But it was delicious.
After lunch, we visited the mini zoo located on the ranch. Here we came across a pen of all kinds of birds (chickens, peacocks, peasants). As well as a goose. Which hissed at us and kept skwaking. I was about ready to kill the thing. There were also some goats. Then we came to the horses and the donkey.
I fell in love with the donkey, whom I named Jack (the ranch calls him Splinter). Jack was an extremely dirty donkey. Most people wouldn't even touch him, but Jack and I became good friends. He wouldn't let just anyone touch him, but he loved me. At one point he tried eating my hair...which I believe was a sign of affection. :) I really wanted to take Jack home with me, because he seemed so lonely. He will forever be in my heart.
We got the opportunity to go horseback riding. I was extremely excited to have this chance. I got to ride on a beautiful brown horse named Stella. The girl who rode her before me warned me that all she does is eat and won't take any direction. I had no problems with Stella. Stella and I would gallop around without a care in the world.
We went horseback riding up into the mountains. It was very rocky and the rocks were like slate, so they were really slippery for the horses. At one point, Stella and CC (another horse) got into a little fight. Stella took off running down a rock hill and I saw my life flash before my eyes. Luckily I have experience riding and I could handle the situation.
On the ride before mine, a girl had fallen off her horse when the horse started fast down a hill. She panicked and let go, instead of holding on tighter. Another girl ripped the crotch of her jeans while trying to get on a horse. It was quite interesting seeing all these city girls trying to ride horses for the first time.
The ranch wasn't strict at all about riding. Back in the U.S. we are required to fill out waiver forms. In Italy, you just hop on the horse and go. I liked it this way because we were given more freedom. The man who lead us through the trails let us do what we wanted. He didn't make the horses walk in a straight line. When Stella and I would take off, he got excited about it. He was an Italian man who spoke no English. He enjoyed riding his horse backwards so that he could watch the beautiful women behind him. :)
After riding, we went back to the hotel and had free time for 3 hours. This gave us the opportunity to do a little shopping. It was a challenge finding any tourist areas for shopping. There main shopping street was all designer clothing, which I wasn't interested in purchasing (since I am poor).
At 9pm we had another 5 course meal at Spizzica. This was probably the best meal of the weekend. However, after eating it, I was in a food coma from eating so much. After supper, we went right back to the hotel and hit the hay.
Sunday morning started at 10am at the Archaeological Park where we had a guided tour. Here we saw an ancient Greek theater. We also saw Dioynsis' ear, which is a huge cave. While in the cave, our tour guide sang a Sicilian love song. Her singing echoed throughout the entire cave. We also saw the altar where public sacrifices took place and an ancient ampitheater.
At 12:30pm we headed to the Cantania airport. We had over 3 hours before our plane took off, so we sat and stared out a window the entire time. It was wonderful. The flight back went great and now I am ready to pass out!
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