We're finally leaving Licata

We've spent longer here than we planned, but plans were always made for changing …  Anyway, the Marina de Cala del Sole, Licata has been a great place to overwinter, but we are now finally able to drag ourselves away and head for Greece.

We have very fond memories of Licata and have made some great friends here amongst the very multi national 'livaboard' community of fellow sailors.

The winter in Sicily was quite fierce at times

Licata Harbour breakwater being put through it's paces

And the resulting piles of rubbish that blow in and get caught on the breakwater.

The occasional very foggy days,  lots and lots of rain.

And plenty of opportunities to try out our new tender - the PortaBote - not only can you sail it, row or motor but it folds flat and can be stored along the guard rails.  Fantastic.  Apparently it also can't sink but fortunately we've not tested that out as yet.

There is a regular weekly market in Licata where bargains abound.

Artificial flowers 

A Market vendor and piles of salted dried cod - best kept in the fresh air, that smell is very pungent!

No idea what kind of fish this is but it's readily available in the Market.

Anyone for a bra?  There were literally thousands of them.

Rather less orderly, the shoes.

The sweets.  And there were lots more to choose from.

Nutella really is everywhere - it is very common to see Nutella Pizza on the menu.  We never tried it.

Part of the charm of Licata has been the festivals - Christmas was almost washed out by the weather, but they made up for it with Easter and the more recent Festival of Saint Angelo

 

Easter in Licata

Religion is very much alive here

The Festival of Saint Angelo involved the carrying of religious relics between Churches and a fantastic number of very well organised marching bands.

The magnificent silver casket, presumably containing the Holy Relics.

Keeping tradition very much alive, there were three newly built wooden towers which are carried on poles and literally raced through the streets.

We are not sure exactly what part these gentlemen played in the Festival but they took it very seriously.

Girl Bands and Boy Bands, marching by the Marina

No idea at all how this fitted into the festival, but it was definitely the day to come on horseback.  Dress code optional!

Licata is a traditional market town, and as well as the genuine market there is endless opportunity to buy from individual farmers who sell their produce from the back of their vans in the streets.  When we first arrived it was grapes, then oranges and now much more varied as we get further into the growing season.

Fruit and Veg - or at least onions and tomatoes.

Potatoes - €3 for a bag

And fish, by the handful.

And to finish, a photo of one of the many three wheeled vans that can be found all over Sicily.

We plan to head off tomorrow morning - in the general direction of Greece.