I had a couple of hours to kill before my flight to Rome, Italy so I had a cab drive me around Catania, Sicily. There's a red-ligth district in this city, which is the second largest town in Sicily. The RL district is basically one long alley between several bars. I didn't sample any of the chicas but the cabbie told me the average cost is between 60,000 - 100,000 Lira ($30 - $50) for short time. These women were NOT your typical Italian beauties. Most looked like crack whores. Was not impressed... (prog)

Progman,

Scary city, wouldn't you agree? Some real shit neighborhoods (it's the one city throughout Italy that I experienced drugged-out panhandlers coming up to the car). Even Naples (considered by many as the ultimate armpit of Italia- not by me) wasn't nasty like parts of Catania.

We found a few nice spots in Catania, a few nice restaurants, but overall, the place is nasty.

Did you monger in Rome?

RoadHawg

I'm headed to Rome in October, would like to know anything about the red-light district, if they even have one.... which I'd assume they do!

I just got back from Castellammare del Golfo Sicily, Italy.
I took my Colombian lady with me. It was one of the most interesting trips I have ever taken. The town was the town where my family came from. My Grandfather came from Italy in the 20"s my father could not speek english untill he was in the third grade. I had heard all my life obout an Uncle of mine that was executed by a shotgun to the back of his head while walking down the street in this town. But as a kid you think "Yea right" .
I met some of my familia while there especialy his son who is 80 now and told me it was true. He even showed me his grave.
He said it was a mafioso hit because he refused to pay a tribune to them ( I am not sure of the translation tribune) .
Right after this happened my grandfather took his new wife to america.
I never thought in my life I would ever know what
trully happened to my uncle Angelo. I thought for years that he was part of the sicilian Mafia. And to find out now he stood alone against then makes me proud. 60 years later people are finaly unafraid to talk about it.

That is a trip!!

(Message edited by scooby_1781 on August 11, 2011)

So, you took a Colombian hooker to Sicily to meet your family. Well, thanks for updating the Sicily monger section, that info will do future travelers to the island a lot of good.

Funny!

Scooby,
WTF does that have to do with CH?

Scooby,

I'm glad someone finally posted information about Sicily because my ancestors lived there, and Lucy and I are planning a trip there this fall. Not to confuse anyone, I referring to our Autumn, not Lucy's.

Anyway, we're going to visit her married cousin who lives equidistantly remote (75km) from Cantania Airport and Mount Etna, the largest and most active volcano in Europe. BTW Scooby, you didn't mention Mount Etna once in your post--it didn't go dormant or anything like that--did it? I need to know because with my reputation I really don't want to tempt fate, if you know what I mean. I'm a little gun-shy because the first time I went to Kona, Hawaii back in 1983, that fucking Kilaueu volcano blew up wrecking my vacation. Consequently, I'm more than a little anxious about going to another island with a volcano on it. I'm sure you understand my concern, don't you?

Any info you can provide will be helpful. Oh, I almost forgot--sorry to here about the hit on your uncle.

Jag

Jag,

I once hit a sheep - or maybe a goat, my memory is fuzzy - driving out from the shithole that is Catania to the Naval Air Station at Sigonella. Apparently, I was supposed to buy seven sheep - or whatever - to make up for running over the animal. Alas, I never did, to no ill effects for me. As for you, though, with your luck, you need to be very careful if you drive out into the countryside. Who knows what you'll hit, and what kind of Mafia hits and/or Sicilian curses you would be subject to afterwords.

As the 10-year old post above says, Catania is a real shithole. I made the comment my first time there that it looks like we bombed the hell out of it in World War II - and they never fixed a thing.

Cat,

You're always looking for the worst in things. Perhaps ten years ago Catania looked bombed out, but by now I'm sure it's a charming city on the Ionian Sea.

Jag