We returned to the airport to collect the hire car and set out with what can only be described as an air of trepidation about us. We had witnessed first-hand the lawlessness of Palermo’s roads on our relatively short taxi journey from the airport to our hotel, how would we deal with this on our own. We assumed our usual positions: Catering = driver & Me = navigator and co-pilot (which involves everything else, including “Would you like a swig of water?” “Snack?” “STOP!” & “Alright after this red car – if you’re quick!”) I have explained in earlier posts we only swap roles on really long journeys, as Catering is a terrible (genuinely awful) passenger & a pretty average navigator tbh.
Actually, so far, away from town centres it’s been OK, but there seems to be a suspension of all rules of the road once in a town, where it becomes a slightly scary mix of “survival of the fittest” & “he who dares wins”
Anyway, in possession of a small (very important given the width of some Sicilian streets), white Yaris off we went and got all the way to Segesta without incident.
The Segesta temple is an impressively well-preserve ruin, thought to have been built around 420 BC, the origins of which seem to be a little obscure and after wading through quite a lot of information, I gave up (Catering quickly wandered off, clearly bored with my reading the tourist information signs aloud to him) and focussed on the spectacular views.
The Temple is visible from the ticket kiosk and we looked duly horrified when asked if we’d like tickets for the shuttle bus – it was a climb, but did we look that elderly & infirm. To prove a point we marched past the queue for the shuttle bus and positively scampered up the hill & round the site feeling suitably smug – we neglected to spot the sign indicating the climb to the amphitheatre was more a little more challenging.
Over a kilometre of vertical climb
New Hilro logo?
Unclear as to why you’d wrap an ancient monument in what looked like a long knitted scarf
Looked better from a distance and reminded me a bit of UoR Climate Stripes
Amphitheatre a lot further from base camp
Nice views though
Which resulted in a slightly sweaty visitor
Though he wasn’t the only sweaty body at the top of the hill – though he does do it better than anyone else I know.
Ancient ruin quota filled for the day, we headed to our next destination, Castellammare del Golf, a seaside town for a couple of nights. Where we found a very welcoming bar in a very civilised square, and just enough time before check-in for a Sicilian Spritz (& a beer for a dehydrated Catering)
