Some Days Are Special

Italy (Sicily) Stage 09 – Ragusa to Cava D’Aliga 41 Km (Wed 30 May 2018)

Weather: 17⁰C min – 29⁰C max, clear and sunny

Route PhotosModicaCavaLinksVideoBooking.comOSM MapTrip MapsStrava

“As I get older, I get smaller. I see other parts of the world I didn’t see before, other points of view. I see outside myself.” ~ Neil Young

Some days are even more special than others when bicycle touring. Setting off under a blue sky from an altitude of nearly 600 m, headed for a coastal town at sea level, you know it is going to be a good ride! However, I could never have imagined how spectacular the scenery would be on my descent from Ragusa.

Getting out of Ragusa was a bit tricky because the road was closed for repair, forcing me on a wide detour down the Valle dei Ponti ravine. However, this gave me a chance to gets some better photos of Ragusa Ibla (not cloudy today). I couldn’t help stopping and looking back at the wondrous sight of those houses perched on the hillside.

Being only a 40 Km journey, I had plenty of time to kill before my 3 pm check-in at Cava D’Aliga. And what better place to spend time but at the charming town of Modica, about 15 Km from Ragusa! Finding a great outdoor cafe in Modica Alta (the higher but less affluent part of town) I enjoyed a coffee and creme croissant, but most of all I enjoyed chatting to the owner about the current state of Italian government (or rather non-government) and how Modica has poured money into developing the touristy Modica Bassa at the expense of Modica Alta.

From Modica I followed some good back roads until I reached Scicli, another standout Sicilian town.

Communication was again a problem when I reached my B&B in Cava D’Aliga, because Lena didn’t speak a word of English and I only speak about four words of Italian. Problem solved … she raced across the road and brought back her mate Valerie who was born in Yorkshire, now living in Belgium, and spending two months a year in their second home in Cava D’Aliga. Not only did Valerie provide excellent translational services, but she invited me over to her place for a pot of English breakfast tea. Her husband of 50 years was playing cards with two of his brothers, so I guess she just wanted to chat to somebody.

Unfortunately they were not playing bridge or I would have joined them. Then it would have been an even more special day!