This post is based primarily on Don's notes, occasionally supplemented with MT's notes from our tour of Sicily in September 2023. When information from other sources is added—for further explanation to readers or to satisfy our own curiosity—that is set off in a text box (as this one).
Most of the photos that accompany this post are from Don’s camera (with a caption indicating the time it was taken); those from MT’s iPhone are indicated by “MT” placed at the beginning of the photo caption. Photos from any other source (such as the public domain Wikimedia Commons), occasionally used for clarification, indicate that source in the caption.
Most of the photos that accompany this post are from Don’s camera (with a caption indicating the time it was taken); those from MT’s iPhone are indicated by “MT” placed at the beginning of the photo caption. Photos from any other source (such as the public domain Wikimedia Commons), occasionally used for clarification, indicate that source in the caption.
We all four went to breakfast in the hotel around 9 am.
MT Sunday, September 24, 2023, 9:12 AM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: painting on wall, probably from old monastery.
MT 9:12 AM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: wine cellar, probably from old monastery.
MT 9:15 AM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: shaded seat near pool (mild telephoto 42 mm).
Having found on the Internet that there was a mass at 10:30 am at the Chiesa Santa Lucia in the nearby town of Floridia, we then prepared to leave for Floridia at 9:50.
Floridia (Sicilian: Ciuriḍḍia),
is a town (pop. 21,406) in the Commune of the same name, in the Province of
Syracuse. The people from Floridia are called Sciudiani in the local dialect. The
town lies 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Syracuse. The town was founded in 1628. After
the earthquake of 1693, the town was completely reconstructed. In 1825, it
became an autonomous municipality. Many buildings were damaged by the
earthquake of 1908 and had to be reconstructed later.
1. The web site of the Commune of Floridia says: “In ancient times, a local road crossed the village, passing in front of the small oratory of St. Flora, from which the village took its name.”
2. The Italian version of the Wikipedia article on Floridia, translated to English, says: “The toponym Floridia could derive from the Latin expression Florae dies meaning “Day of Flora” or the adjective floridus, meaning “florid.” It also says: “The fief was first named Xiridia on 13 March 1617 thanks to Lucio Bonanno Colonna and his wife Flavia Bonajuto. This name was chosen for the licentia polulandi, with the concession to populate the territory.” However, it also says: “In Greek times, in 413 BC the Athenian militias commanded by Nicias camped in what was then called Xiridia.”
3. According to another web site: In ancient times, Syracuse had Floridia within its borders and most likely called it Xorodia, which in Greek means “Choral song.” In past times there was a festival with dances and choirs in honor of the goddess Flora, who later became “Santa Flora.” The ancient name Xorodia eventually gave way to the popular version Xiridia (also spelled Chiridia or Sciridia) and finally to the Italian translation Floridia.
4. According to another web site: The name of the town may come from the Greek word Xiuriddia or Xiridia, which means “song in honor of the goddess Flora.” It may also come from the Latin words Florum Dea or Florum Diva or Florae dies, which means “day of Flora.” When the town was founded in 1627 by Baron Lucio Colonna, it was dedicated to St. Flora.
1. The web site of the Commune of Floridia says: “In ancient times, a local road crossed the village, passing in front of the small oratory of St. Flora, from which the village took its name.”
2. The Italian version of the Wikipedia article on Floridia, translated to English, says: “The toponym Floridia could derive from the Latin expression Florae dies meaning “Day of Flora” or the adjective floridus, meaning “florid.” It also says: “The fief was first named Xiridia on 13 March 1617 thanks to Lucio Bonanno Colonna and his wife Flavia Bonajuto. This name was chosen for the licentia polulandi, with the concession to populate the territory.” However, it also says: “In Greek times, in 413 BC the Athenian militias commanded by Nicias camped in what was then called Xiridia.”
3. According to another web site: In ancient times, Syracuse had Floridia within its borders and most likely called it Xorodia, which in Greek means “Choral song.” In past times there was a festival with dances and choirs in honor of the goddess Flora, who later became “Santa Flora.” The ancient name Xorodia eventually gave way to the popular version Xiridia (also spelled Chiridia or Sciridia) and finally to the Italian translation Floridia.
4. According to another web site: The name of the town may come from the Greek word Xiuriddia or Xiridia, which means “song in honor of the goddess Flora.” It may also come from the Latin words Florum Dea or Florum Diva or Florae dies, which means “day of Flora.” When the town was founded in 1627 by Baron Lucio Colonna, it was dedicated to St. Flora.
Until 1909, little was known of the ancient history of Floridia. However, in that year, in the district called Tabacheḍḍu, near what was the former fiefdom of Monasteri Soprano, some excavations revealed some Siculian* tombs that were looted by the quarrymen without realizing the great historical-archaeological value of the discovery. Fortunately, the eminent archaeologist Prof. Paolo Orsi was notified in time and was able to ascertain without doubt that these were indeed Siculian tombs. According to Prof. Orsi, there must have existed, near Floridia, a necropolis with artefacts he classified as belonging to the end of the Siculan period, i.e., in the 14th-10th centuries BC. In 413 BC, Athenian armies camped in the territory of Floridia and desecrated the Siculian tombs. In the Roman period, many Roman families established their residences in the Floridian territory and built beautiful villas of which some ruins have been found. In 1909, Prof. Orsi discovered a large Christian necropolis (cemetery) in the former fief called Monasteri Soprano, about 3 km from Floridia. He identified skeletons and bronze statues belonging to the period of Constantine the Great, dating this necropolis and the town that must have existed there back to the 4th century AD. Traces of a Christian church there explain how the district became known by the word “Monasterio” and is still known today.
The countryside of Xiridia was once full of Roman villas, but there were also farms that then became agricultural settlements that, as they grew, first took the form of a village separate from the fiefdom of Monasteri, then led to the recognition of Xiridia as the name of the village and the territory (1297) and finally the foundation of the town by Baron Don Lucio Bonanno** in 1628.
The first owner of the fiefdom of Xiridia was Corrado Camerario in 1130, and upon his death the fiefdom passed to the Royal State Property, along with the fiefdom of Monasteri.
In 1297, King Frederick II of Aragon granted the fiefdom to the soldier Gille de Assin in Messina. After his death, the two villages of Xiridia and Monasteri were again restored to the Royal State Property. From Gille de Assin, the lineage of the feudal lords passes through several families, including Perno, Bonaiuto, and Bonanno.
Web site of Commune of Floridia contains part of the 1297 document by which King Frederick of Aragon separated the territory of Xiridia from that of Monasteri and granted the fiefdom of Xiridia to Gille de Assin.
From 1396, the fiefdom of Chiridia (Floridia) belonged to the Perno family until Lucio Bonanno became the feudal lord around 1600.
Around 1600, the fiefdom was purchased by the Bonaiuto noble family, and for her marriage Donna Flavia Bonaiuto brought her fiefdom as her dowry to her husband Lucio Bonanno Colonna, Duke of Montalbano** (a municipality near Messina). In 1627, the viceregal secretariat of Syracuse granted Lucio Bonanno, upon his request, a licentia populandi (authorization to populate) the fiefdom of Floridia. Next to the ducal house, the first houses were built, which would house the inhabitants (about 50) of the new village, founded in 1628.
In 1761, the Bonanno-Spatafora family became extinct, and the fiefdom passed to the Migliaccio family, who held it until the end of feudalism in 1812.
In 1815, Floridia, already a faction of Syracuse, became an independent municipality.
______________
*The Siculi (adjective Siculan), known in English as Sicels (adjective Siculian), were an Indo-European tribe who inhabited eastern Sicily, their namesake, during the Iron Age.
**He is commonly known as Lucia Bonanno, sometimes as Lucio Bonanno Colonna, and (rarely) as Lucio Colonna. There is a square called Piazza Lucio Bonanno Colonna in Floridia, indicating that that was his full name. The genealogy web site geni.com lists Lucio Bonanno, Duke of Floridia, born 1581, as the son of Filippo Bonanno, Baron of Friddani and Antonia Colonna Romano, Baroness of Montalbano, as having a brother called Giacomo Bonanni e Colonna, Duke of Montalbano. (Italia "e" means "and.) So it was not Lucio but his older brother who was Duke of Montalbano.
On arriving in Floridia, we found the rather modern Chiesa Santa Lucia (Church of St. Lucy).
10:15 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Santa Lucia - façade.
The
Chiesa Santa Lucia Vergine e Martire (Church of Saint Lucy Virgin and Martyr) is
also known as Chiesa di Santa Lucia (Church of St. Lucy).
10:19 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Santa Lucia - baptismal font at front of nave with interesting relief of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist on the wall behind it.
10:19 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Santa Lucia - relief with a unique depiction of the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.
Then a man walking around in the altar area, near scaffolding that obscured murals in the apse, told us that the church was closed for remodeling, but there was another church with a mass at 11:00, just "5 minutes" up the street.
We walked (more than any 5 minutes) to the Chiesa Madre, the main church of the town.
MT 10:29 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - view up street toward Chiesa Madre, the side of which is barely visible at end of street.
10:31 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - side as we approached the church on the Piazza del Popolo.
The
Chiesa Madre di San Bartolomeo (Mother Church of St. Bartholomew) or San
Bartolomeo Apostolo (St. Bartholomew, Apostle) already stood in the old Xiridia
and was initially consecrated to the Madonna della Providenza (Madonna of
Providence) and later to St. Anna and St. Bartholomew. The dedication to St.
Bartholomew stems from the fact that the Bonanno family who were lords of
Floridia were also lords of the island of Lipari (near Messina), which housed
the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew. It was the Bonannos who introduced the
devotion to the apostle to Floridia. Even before the birth of Xiridia in 1627,
the church of San Bartolomeo stood there, granted the right to celebrate Sunday
and holiday masses.
After the earthquake of 1693, which collapsed all of old Floridia, nothing remained of the ancient Mother Church of Floridia. In 1748, Duke Ignazio Miglaccio financed the construction of the new Mother Church. After a few years, the church was built on the central square of the city, the current Piazza del Popolo (Square of the People or Public). The church was completed in 1815. In 1825, the new Mother Church was named after St. Bartholomew, replacing the old parish, dedicated to the Madonna of Providence.
The original Mother Church stood to the right of the current one, looking at the façade. In 1910, on the remains of the Church of St. Bartholomew, the construction of the current church was completed. It is characterized by the large cylindrical bell tower, started in 1884. Since the 19th-century earthquake and until the reconstruction following the 1990 earthquake, renovation work prevented the Mother Church from hosting religious functions.
The Baroque façade is characterized by the central portal surmounted by a cylindrical tower that is convex compared to the lateral wings. Next to the central portal, which opens into the central tower, there are two Tuscan-style columns that support the upper entablature, on the sides of which are two niches decorated with Baroque-style arches. Above that is a large window surmounted by a broken tympanum. Above that is the bell tower made up of three windows divided into two columns. At the top of the façade is a mechanical clock on the sides of which are two small ornamental stone obelisks (spires) that crown the top of the façade. Above the entablature are two spiral buttresses located on the side of the bell tower. The side portals are also surmounted by broken tympanums.
The doors of the three entrance portals were created in 2003-04. The right portal (as viewed from inside?) depicts episodes from the Old Testament; the left one depicts the New Testament. The central one depicts episodes from the life of Mary and five sacraments (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick).
After the earthquake of 1693, which collapsed all of old Floridia, nothing remained of the ancient Mother Church of Floridia. In 1748, Duke Ignazio Miglaccio financed the construction of the new Mother Church. After a few years, the church was built on the central square of the city, the current Piazza del Popolo (Square of the People or Public). The church was completed in 1815. In 1825, the new Mother Church was named after St. Bartholomew, replacing the old parish, dedicated to the Madonna of Providence.
The original Mother Church stood to the right of the current one, looking at the façade. In 1910, on the remains of the Church of St. Bartholomew, the construction of the current church was completed. It is characterized by the large cylindrical bell tower, started in 1884. Since the 19th-century earthquake and until the reconstruction following the 1990 earthquake, renovation work prevented the Mother Church from hosting religious functions.
The Baroque façade is characterized by the central portal surmounted by a cylindrical tower that is convex compared to the lateral wings. Next to the central portal, which opens into the central tower, there are two Tuscan-style columns that support the upper entablature, on the sides of which are two niches decorated with Baroque-style arches. Above that is a large window surmounted by a broken tympanum. Above that is the bell tower made up of three windows divided into two columns. At the top of the façade is a mechanical clock on the sides of which are two small ornamental stone obelisks (spires) that crown the top of the façade. Above the entablature are two spiral buttresses located on the side of the bell tower. The side portals are also surmounted by broken tympanums.
The doors of the three entrance portals were created in 2003-04. The right portal (as viewed from inside?) depicts episodes from the Old Testament; the left one depicts the New Testament. The central one depicts episodes from the life of Mary and five sacraments (Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick).
10:31 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - part of façade and side as we approached the church.
10:31 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - façade and bell tower.
10:32 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - sign on corner of Palazzo Comunale, in front of the church, for "Piazza del Popolo."
10:33 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - sign on right side of church façade, for "Chiesa Madre Secolo XVIII-XIX" (Mother Church 18th-19th century).
10:33 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - bottom part of door on portal on right side of church façade (right side as we entered the church), with a New Testament scene, in partial sun with shadow of that sign.
10:34 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - bottom part of door of other side of that portal, with a New Testament scene, in partial sun with shadow of that sign; it shows the Wedding of Cana above the Annunciation of Mary.
10:34 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - top part of that door, showing the Wedding of Cana below what could be the Ascension of Christ.
10:34 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - bottom part of right door of that portal, showing the Birth of Christ in Bethlehem below another New Testament scene, probably the apostles and Mary with tongues of fire on their heads at Pentecost.
10:34 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - top part of right door of that portal, showing the same New Testament (Pentecost) scene below what could again be the Ascension of Christ or more likely the Assumption of Mary, since she is commonly depicted in art with angels accompanying her to heaven while the apostles below stare in awe.
10:34 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - large bell on floor to our right just after we entered the church through that door.
10:34 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - closer view of large bell with name of the artist and the date March 1870.
MT 10:37 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - view of interior from rear to apse, with wooden pulpit on left wall and frescoes on ceiling.
10:35 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - frescoes on ceiling of central nave.
10:35 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - wooden pulpit on left wall of central nave.
10:36 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - baptismal font below sculpture of Baptism of Jesus, at rear of left side.
10:36 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - sculpture of Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist above baptismal font.
10:37 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - side altar, behind the pulpit on the left side, with sculpture of Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception.
MT 10:53 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - sculpture of Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception on side altar (mild telephoto 53 mm).
10:39 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - main altar in apse.
10:42 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - pews with cushioned kneelers that folded up to make a wooden footrest.
MT 10:51a AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - stained glass window (telephoto 124 mm).
02339 10:52 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - view up into cupola near main altar.
During the 11 am Mass, a couple celebrated their 50th anniversary, a much simpler ceremony than we had seen in Palermo on September 25.
11:53 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - side altar to right of main altar, with tabernacle where a deacon went with unused consecrated hosts after Mass.
11:53 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - side altar to right of main altar, with tabernacle where a deacon went with unused consecrated hosts after Mass.
11:57 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - a processional banner, with Mary the Immaculate Conception, on the wall to the right of that altar.
11:57 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - after mass, MT asking the priest why the hosts were not put in the other tabernacle on the main altar; he said they were kept there for Eucharistic Adoration during the week.
11:58 AM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - back side of wooden pulpit with wrought iron stairs leading up to it on the pillar.
On the way out of the church, we had a better view or the left door (viewed from inside) where we had entered.
12:00 PM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - bottom of left door, with scene of the Annunciation below the Wedding of Cana in better light.
12:00 PM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - top of left door, with scene of the Wedding of Cana below possible Ascension, in better light.
12:22 PM - Floridia: Chiesa Madre - façade and bell tower with cars parked on Piazza del Popolo.
We grabbed a light lunch on the Piazza del Popolo.
12:53 PM - Floridia: Palazzo Comunale, capital building of the Commune (Municipality) of Floridia, which also serves as Palazzo Municipale or Municipio (City Hall), on south side of Piazza del Popolo.
On our way back to where we had parked the car, we passed the Chiesa di Santa Lucia again.
12:46 PM - Floridia: Chiesa di Santa Lucia - façade.
As we were finally about to get out of Floridia, after many times around the same square blocks and retracing streets backwards, we happened to pass another church with a nice Baroque façade. By the time Don got his camera started, he had to hold it out the window of the car and try to point it back to this church. Later, we tried a Google search for "Church in Floridia Sicily" and found that this was the Chiesa del Carmine.
1:01 PM - Floridia: Chiesa del Carmine - façade, from down the street after we passed it.
1:01 PM (Cropped) - Floridia: Chiesa del Carmine - façade.
.jpg)
The Chiesa del Carmine, also known as the Chiesa di Beata Vergine Maria di Monte Carmelo (Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel) or Madonna del Carmine, is a Baroque style church built in the 18th century at the site of a former chapel dedicated to the Anime del Purgatorio (Souls in Purgatory). The church has a large crypt with an ossuary that was used for burials in prior centuries.
The tower-like façade has three orders and it surmounted by a bell tower. The central niche has a statue depicting the Madonna del Carmine. While the flanking niches depict the four evangelists. In the top roofline are statues of St. Peter and St. Paul. In front of the façade is a broad staircase.
We finally found our way out of Floridia and back to Borgo di Luce I Monasteri.
1:13 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: front side of dovecote to right outside the hotel, actually near our room 208.
A
dovecote (Italian: colombaia) is a structure intended to house pigeons
or doves. Dovecotes may be free-standing structures, in a variety of shapes, or
built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for
the birds to nest.
1:13 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: small sign on that side of dovecote for "[L]a Pi[..]ionia - Lettere a Giulietta" (The [?] - Letters to Juliet).
1:15 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: sign on outside wall of resort complex next to archway, near hotel entrance, for "Chiostro [Cloister] Green - Al Chiostro Gourmet - Clubhouse & Proshop - Shopping Arcade."
A
chiostro verde (green cloister) in a monastery was often a place
where monks could find a representation of the Garden of Eden. The word chiostro
comes from the Latin word claustrum, which means “closed place,” In medieval
times, monastery walls separated the wild from the cultivated land within,
which included orchards and herb gardens.
We entered that archway into the Chiostro Green, an enclosed area where people were sitting around tables by a pool, drinking and eating and generally taking it easy. There we had a late lunch of rolls with olive oil and puree of vegetable (squash") soup. The maitre d' (Mark) got the soup from the hotel restaurant. Afterward, he gave us each a small cup of "almond ice" (granita).
1:33 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: Chiostro Green - MT eating roll and olive oil.
After lunch, Don set out from our room to explore the grounds, particularly parts of the old monastery. This was when he discovered that the dovecote was just outside the open end of the hallway that led to our room.
2:13 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: back side of dovecote with red flowering bush (mild telephoto 58 mm).
2:17 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: grassy area next to corridor we took from our room toward the reception and restaurant.
2:17 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: grassy area and swimming pool to right of that.
2:18 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: corridor toward our room 208, with pool on other side.
2:18 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: corridor toward reception and restaurant.
2:18 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: path leading to another side of dovecote.
2:19 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: that side of dovecote, with small door at base.
2:20 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: front side of dovecote, with large door and sign, and side to right with small door at base.
2:20 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: part of old monastery to left of main entrance, which is behind the trees, as is the archway to Chiostro Green.
2:21 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: archway at left toward Chiostro Green and more arches at right.
2:21 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: sidewalk, from parking area, toward entrance and reception, with sign for "Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa" and old millstones at right, with old well in right foreground.
2:21 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: sign for "Borgo di Luce I Monasteri Golf Resort & Spa" and old millstones.
2:21 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: sign for "Il Tempietto" (The Small Temple) and lamb by archway that led to area with tables around a pool, which may have been Chiostro Green, where we had lunch.
The
web site of the resort has the menu for “Ristorante Tempietto.” It says the
resort also has Ristorante “Il Chiostro,” open for lunch, offering a wide
selection of light dishes, a la carte menu, and table service. It also shows
Ristorante e Bar “Le Ceramiche” with tables around a patio sprayed by the jets
of a fountain (in a pool), or on windier days, one can dine outside on the
covered terrace. It also says the buffet breakfast is served in the room called
Sala delle Ninfee and on the terrace. Another web site says the resort has
Ristorantre “Il Tempietto” for a continental buffet breakfast and also offering
regional and international cuisine, a la carte menu, and table service. Yet another
web site says the resort has Ristorante Le Ceramiche (internal) and Ristorante
Il Tempietto (in the open).
2:22 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: wooden statue (of a monk?) to left of main entrance to reception; somehow we had never noticed this before.
2:22 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: archway that led to where we ate lunch, with same sign for "Choristo Green" to left of arch.
2:24 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: view from there, over wall, to first sight of tower that Don thought could be part of the old monastery.
2:25 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: red flowering bushes on path outside the wall, near Hole 10 of golf course.
2:30 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: another glimpse of tower, over wall, with darkening clouds.
2:31 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: another glimpse of tower, over arched main entrance.
MT 7:15 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: on her iPhone, MT confirmed our reservations for the next morning.
MT 7:15 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: dark clouds.
we went down to the restaurant at 7:30 for the earliest seating for dinner; MT had requested Table 302 for us, where we had eaten the previous night.
MT 7:28 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: restaurant - lighted outdoor seating by pool in courtyard.
We are dinner at the hotel restaurant from 7:30 to 9:30 pm.
MT 7:58 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: restaurant - Don's plate.
MT 7:58 PM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: restaurant - MT's plate.
After eating, we paid at the main desk for the wine and water (not included in SeeSicily package) for our three dinners here and for the afternoon lunch. We also asked for 5 am wake-up calls and arranged to pick up breakfast take-out before we left at 6 am.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
We got a wake-up call at 5 am, but both MT and Don were already up.
MT Monday, September 25, 2023, 5:27 AM - Borgo di Luce I Monasteri: on her iPhone, MT confirmed our reservation for flight from Catania to Frankfurt.
We departed Borgo di Luce I Monasteri at 6 am for the airport in Catania.
We took Traversa Monasreri to Strada Monasteri and soon on SS124 (avoiding Floridia!) to E45 to the airport exit.
We arrived at the Catania Airport at 7:00.
Don and MT were dropped off at Departures, since our flight was earlier, while Lara took the car to the Rental Car lot.
As Don and MT were waiting in line to check in for our Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt, scheduled to depart at 10:15, Don discovered that he had left his backpack (with his cell phone) in the back seat of the rental car. Since MT had no phone service or WiFi (for WhatsAP) on her iPhone, Don suggested we try to borrow a phone from someone else. A young lady in front of us in the line let us use hers to call Lara and tell her about the backpack. We said we would meet her at the check-in place for Ryanair after we got checked in with Lufthansa.
After some time (trouble getting to the Rental Car lot and having to pay for accidentally going through the long-term parking), Lara and Chiara joined us, gave us the backpack, and said good-bye again.
Don and MT went on to the Passport Control for the Lufthansa flight 309, scheduled to depart Catania at 10:15 am and arrive in Frankfurt at 12:55 pm.
MT 9:53 AM - Lufthansa Flight 309 from Catania to Frankfurt: Don seated with his Lufthansa boarding pass in Catania.
In the airport in Frankfurt, we had trouble finding Gate Z19 for our United flight (scheduled to board at 1:05) to Houston (scheduled to arrive at 6:00 pm). First, we followed signs for Gates A, Z, but that led us up a long flight of stairs to a locked door. Going back down to the concourse, we asked a lady driving a cart (for disabled) how to get to Z19, and she took us to where we had to go through Passport Control. By that time, we had only about 10 minutes until the gate would close. Since there was a short line (with only one couple in it) for EU Citizens and a very long line for All Other Passports, we got in the shorter line, at the end of which was a counter just to the left of the Other. However, a German guard there said said we had to go back to the longer line. Once in that line (with many switchbacks), several people became aware of our short time ad let us cut through the roped-off sections of the line toward the front. However, the same German guard must have seen us coming and told us to go to the back of the line. As we started the long wait, a dark-skinned man who had let us pass in front of him earlier, motioned for us to come to him farther down the line, but we declined, thinking the guard would be watching us.
We finally got through passport Control and ran toward Gate Z19, even though the gate would be closed by then. As we neared the gate, we saw the same dark-skinned man, who had gone ahead of us and told the airline people we were still coming. They had to unlock the door that led to the plane, and we got on. What a relief!
MT 2:34 PM - United Flight 47 from Frankfurt to Houston: view out MT's window.
At the airport in Houston, we were pulled aside at Customs, since we had noticed that our backpack still had apples in it from the breakfast the hotel had given us and had truthfully declared that. They wouldn't just let us give them the fruit, and we had to wait until after one of had been escorted to Barrage Claim to get our checked bags. Then we still had to take our bags to the Recheck Luggage place for our next flight. After hurrying (again) to our gate, just as all boarding groups had been called (we had been scheduled to board at 7:08), we got on the plane for our United flight to Kansas City.
MT 8:12 PM - United Flight 2488 from Houston to Kansas City: United planes on Houston airport tarmac.
MT 9:48 PM - United Flight 2488 from Houston to Kansas City: view of Kansas City lights below.
MT 9:56 PM - United Flight 2488 from Houston to Kansas City: view of terminal at KCI Airport.
From Kansas City, we took the airport shuttle to HOME.
.jpg)
