Sunday, August 20, 2006
Catania Take 2
Yesterday afternoon, we drove down to Catania with a couple of friends. The guys were in search of a tattoo studio. When Tony asked if I wanted to go, I said, "Sure... as long as we get to do something else too, like eat dinner in town or something." So that we did. The drive to Catania is about an hour from home, and Carlee hates being in the car for more than fifteen minutes.
We arrived in the middle of riposo so driving into town was a breeze since no one was on the road. Our friend said that the last time he drove through the same street, it was three cars wide in a street with barely enough room for two. We also easily found a free parking spot! woohoo! So, we began our search for the tattoo studio, in the hottest part of the day no less.... we finally found it after asking a local where the street was, but it was closed. So, we went to a second studio which was open and looked around. I wasn't too impressed with the flash on the walls. Tony found one that he liked, but wasn't convinced to get it there. Our friend made an appointment, and we left.
We walked down the street a ways, and stopped at a bar. The guys had beer, and Carlee and I shared a water. And I almost got ran over by a vespa. lol... the tables were out in front of the bar, and no cars are supposed to drive down there, but people on vespas do about anything. So one drove right behind me, probably less than an inch away. Anyway, after that we headed back to Mineo, and stopped at a restaraunt about ten minutes before home.
The restaraunt was pretty good. Fast service like American restaraunts, unlike the one we went to in Caltigirone the other night (we waited for two hours to get our food, and another hour for our check.) We'll probably eat there again someday, since it's the closest thing to the house.
Anyway, so the overall feeling of the day was that we weren't impressed with Catania like we were the very first time going. After being amazed at the old buildings and such, you then start to notice all the other things, like trash all over the place, pointless grafitti saying stupid pointless things everywhere, even on the nice department stores. Anyway.... that was our day yesterday.
Today it seems we're just going to hang out around the house. Tony thought about going to Auchaun's (which is like Italy's walmart) but it's in Catania... and we don't feel like driving all the way back up there and wasting all that gas... so... yeah, we miss all the convenient things that the States has to offer. lol... :D ¶ 5:32 AM
We arrived in the middle of riposo so driving into town was a breeze since no one was on the road. Our friend said that the last time he drove through the same street, it was three cars wide in a street with barely enough room for two. We also easily found a free parking spot! woohoo! So, we began our search for the tattoo studio, in the hottest part of the day no less.... we finally found it after asking a local where the street was, but it was closed. So, we went to a second studio which was open and looked around. I wasn't too impressed with the flash on the walls. Tony found one that he liked, but wasn't convinced to get it there. Our friend made an appointment, and we left.
We walked down the street a ways, and stopped at a bar. The guys had beer, and Carlee and I shared a water. And I almost got ran over by a vespa. lol... the tables were out in front of the bar, and no cars are supposed to drive down there, but people on vespas do about anything. So one drove right behind me, probably less than an inch away. Anyway, after that we headed back to Mineo, and stopped at a restaraunt about ten minutes before home.
The restaraunt was pretty good. Fast service like American restaraunts, unlike the one we went to in Caltigirone the other night (we waited for two hours to get our food, and another hour for our check.) We'll probably eat there again someday, since it's the closest thing to the house.
Anyway, so the overall feeling of the day was that we weren't impressed with Catania like we were the very first time going. After being amazed at the old buildings and such, you then start to notice all the other things, like trash all over the place, pointless grafitti saying stupid pointless things everywhere, even on the nice department stores. Anyway.... that was our day yesterday.
Today it seems we're just going to hang out around the house. Tony thought about going to Auchaun's (which is like Italy's walmart) but it's in Catania... and we don't feel like driving all the way back up there and wasting all that gas... so... yeah, we miss all the convenient things that the States has to offer. lol... :D ¶ 5:32 AM
