5/28/2015 – Messina/Mortelle

Our first full day in Messina was Thursday. We hadn’t set an alarm and so we slept very late. When we woke we had breakfast. At the airport Rino had met us with a food called Arancini which Conrad loves. He had some on the way home form the airport but this morning he had the leftover one for breakfast. Delicious.

Conrad having Arancini for breakfast.

We went into the town of Messina where there is a very famous church. At noon the church bell rings and the many different gold statues on the different levels of the tower move to tell a story. The lion roars, there is a dove that flies over the church, some statues of people and other things. It’s quite beautiful and draws quite a crowd.

Close up of some of the church statues that move

A view of more of the church bell tower

We also went inside of the church to take some photos and to light a candle.

Inside the church at the altar

After we visited the church we went to a market in the town. They sell fresh Swordfish caught fresh from the boats, all kinds of produce, breads, and many other things. It was sort of an outdoor market but permanent and mostly under a roof.

Fresh Swordfish – pesce spada

Lala was an expert at making her way around the market stalls. It was fun for us to watch and follow.

Market

After the market we came home for lunch and a siesta. Lala cooked a wonderful pasta dish called Pasta Forne that we enjoyed very much.

The Chef!

The views from the veranda around the house are spectacular. There are all kinds of ships that pass through the straights of Messina from large military ships to cruise ships to little sailboats. The water is an unbelievable color of blue.

Sailboat

After our siesta we took a ride to into the nearby town where the Mussel fisherman collect mussels and where the Swordfish Boats are docked.

Mussel fisherman

The fishing boats are very colorful and they are always painting them so they look very nice.

Fishing Boats

The swordfish boats have a very tall tower that goes many feet above the boat where the spotter stands and then a very long walkway that extends ahead of the boat where they go out to spear the fish and bring them in.

Pesce Spada boats

The walkway that they stand on to spear the fish

We took lots of pictures of the sunset and then came home for a big dinner. After dinner we had Cannoli but here when you buy cannoli they give you the cream in a separate tub, the shells, and some nuts and powdered sugar to sprinkle on them. Then you make them at the table. They were better than any cannoli in the US so we may be too spoiled now to eat them there. They were delicious.

Goodnight until tomorrow.

Goodnight from Mortelle

#MediteraneanCruise2015