By the Sea

           With Mt. Etna on the horizon and the Ionian Sea two or three blocks away, Italia is living up to many expectations. I want to take a moment to describe the local swimming area. The area is commonly known as the Zen. It is a bar built on the side of a cliff which you have to walk down to on many stairs. Once you walk down I think it is about 5 euro to enter the bar and swimming area. Then you walk down another set of steps to the swimming area where you drop your stuff and climb down a set of rocks to the water. Now you have to be careful when going into the water because if you step the wrong way you will go in too fast and hit the rocks. Now I'm not an expert but I think that the rocks are a combination of chalk and limestone that when they are washed away by the local water they become sharp. So falling in almost assures a cut. Once you are in you walk to the edge of the rock underwater and jump in. The water is so clear that you can see 30 to 40 feet all the way to the bottom. As many of you know this is the complete opposite of New Jersey beaches. This is also ironic because a local export that is very close to us is a huge petrolium refinery. Now you swim out about 20 to 30 feet to a huge rock sticking out of the water. You then climb 15 to 20 feet up these sharp rocks and jump off. It doesn't look high from the ground, but it is, trust me. Then What I did was use a mask and snorkel and looked at all the wildlife underwater. Holding my nose and blowing every 10 feet I was able to make it all the way to the bottom.  A while later me and Alle spent a while looking for a local animal called 'Riche', which we know as a sea urchin. They live in the cracks of the rock and are hard to catch not because there fast, but because they are very sharp and have to be handled carefully. My finger with many cuts are evidence of that. After swimming you go and get a gratina which I described earlier.

           Two things I haven't said..... I have a maid. Her name is Ambi. She is very nice and comes every morning to clean the house and make all the beds and wash the clothes and so on and so on. She says she comes from a country close to Madegasgar. She is very nice and speaks English, so it is easy to talk to her. She brings her daughter who is about 4 or 5, but I don't remember her name. Second.... on top of going to Naples soon, in September we are all taking a holiday for two day in Venice. My goal is to ride a gondola, see St. Marks Cathedral, and buy a Carnivale Mask. I can't wait to see the city. Alessandro is leaving tonight for Milano to be part or a caneoing team that is representing Sicilia in a national caneoing tournament.
       Ill be sure to post again soon ciao.