Walking in Sicily. Gillian Price

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СКАЧАТЬ Salina Tel 090-9844150.

       Fratelli La Spisa, Cefalù Tel 0921-424301.

       Interbus www.interbus.it Taormina Tel 0942-625301, Messina Tel 090-661714, Siracusa Tel 0931-66710

       ISEA, Misterbianco (Catania) www.iseaviaggi.it Tel 095-464101.

       Lumia, Agrigento Tel 0922-20414.

       Prestia & Comandè www.prestiaecomande.it Palermo Tel 091-586351.

       Russo, Castellamare del Golfo Tel 0924-31364.

       SAIS www.saisautolinee.it Catania Tel 095-536168, Palermo Tel 091-6166028.

       Salemi, Marsala www.autoservizisalemi.it Tel 0923-981120.

       Sberna, S. Agata Militello Tel 0941-701029.

       Urso, Lipari www.ursobus.com Tel 090-9811026.

       Zappala & Torrisi www.zappala-torrisi.it CataniaTel 095-7647139.

      By car

      Car rental firms abound at the major airports and cities and are best booked from abroad, often as fly-drive package deals. One good road map recommended for drivers is the Touring Club Italiano (TCI) 1:200,000 ‘Sicilia’.

      The following terminology can be of help in understanding timetables:

Cambio a …/coincidenza	change at …/connection
Estivo/invernale	summer/winter
Feriale	working days (ie Monday to Saturday)
Festivo	holidays (ie Sundays and public holidays)
Giornaliero	daily
Lunedì a venerdì/sabato	Monday to Friday/Saturday
Sciopero	strike
Scolastico	during school term

      Sicily has a limited and unfinished autostrada (motorway) network, free of charge on many stretches. Off the motorways is a reasonable network of state roads, referred to on maps and signposting as strada statale (or SS with an identifying number), not to mention the smaller roads, strada provinciale(SP plus a number), for which the provinces are responsible. The Italian Automobile Club (ACI) breakdown service is (116.

      Avoid driving through major cities such as Catania and Palermo, if possible, as traffic congestion is rife and parking an adventure to say the least. For towns in general it is advisable to park outside the old walled perimeter and venture in on foot.

      Local taxis are worth using to reach out-of-the-way archaeological sites or walks. If none are around, a good bet is to ask at the main village café. People tend to be extremely helpful and go out of their way to help visitors.

Accommodation

      All the walk descriptions come complete with listings for accommodation. These range from the modest hotel or albergo, to a room in a private home (known variously as camera privata, affittacamera or bed & breakfast), simple apartment (apartamento), and a hostel (ostello) or two. Otherwise there are the flourishing agriturismo farm establishments, many of which are restored historic properties.

      The odd mountain hut (rifugio abbreviated to Rif.) has also been included where relevant. Unlike the spartan establishments in the Alps, these are hybrids – all can be reached by road and are more like country hotels. Sheets are provided as is a private bathroom in many cases, and guests need take only a towel. Charges are generally moderate and home-style meals are available. Those run by the CAI (Club Alpino Italiano) offer discounted rates for members of affiliated organisations. A separate organisation, the CAS (Club Alpino Siciliano), has a couple of well-run manned refuges in addition to unmanned chalets in wonderful positions, though the latter are for the exclusive use of members.

      Unless specifically mentioned, all establishments are open all year round. Mezza pensione (half board) may be on offer, and this combination of lodging with breakfast plus dinner (usually excluding drinks) can be advantageous.

      Rifugio at Piano Battaglia

      The main tourist offices in Sicily supply excellent booklets, updated yearly, listing all the accommodation (camping grounds included), with prices and opening periods, for the relevant province. It’s advisable to stock up with these handy booklets in the towns as little information is available in the hinterland. Prices are generally lowered at off-peak times and may be negotiable.

      Though advance reservation is only really necessary in high season (essentially Easter and late July–August), it’s a good idea to call ahead to small hotels or private rooms to give them advance warning of your arrival. English is not widely spoken outside the main tourist cities or resorts, making a sprinkling of Italian highly desirable.

Telephones

      When phoning in Italy remember to use the full area code including the zero, even for local calls. Exceptions are mobiles (cellulare), that commence with ‘3’, and toll-free numbers that begin with ‘800’ or ‘840’. Calls to Italy from overseas must likewise include the zero of the area code.

      Mobile phones can be extremely useful when travelling around the island, for booking accommodation for instance, however coverage is by no means comprehensive.

      Note: many toll-free numbers for information services cannot be called from a mobile.

      Public phones are generally easy to find in small towns and villages, either in the main piazza or the at the bar/coffee shop. Coins are rarely accepted these days it’s a good idea to purchase a pre-paid phone card, carta telefonica, available from tobacconists, cafés and paper shops. Note:the corner with the dotted line needs to be removed before the card can be used.

Food and Drink

      One legacy of Sicily’s colourful history is the unique combination of ingredients, spices and herbs that have been grafted onto the simple fare of the peasant people. The Arabs are credited with the majority of imports, from couscous to pasta, and from fish preservation techniques to sorbets and confectionery. The fertile land and hard-working inhabitants mean a vast range of fruit and vegetables is grown on Sicily, with a large measure of success.

      All attempts to speak Italian will endear you to the locals. Say ‘Pronto’ to start a phone call, then try with these:

      Buon giorno (Buona sera). Cerco una camera matrimoniale (singola)con (senza) bagno per una notte (due notti) da oggi (domani).

      Good morning (evening). I’m looking for a double (single) room with (without) bathroom for one night (two nights) СКАЧАТЬ