my long weekend of festivities

Wow, there is just so much to write about I don't quite know where to start, but I will try and keep it a bit shorter than last time and just write more often! OK Salvo!

I have been here in Catania for 11 days and I have to say they have been 11 brilliant days. I could not have hoped for more from this experience so far, well maybe a bit more sleep! I have had so much fun, and if you have facebook you can see some photographs of some of the fun I have been having...

This weekend was a religious festival in Catania, the feast of Santa Agata (I think that is spelt incorrectly!) the partron saint of the town. The story goes something like she was here in Catania at the time of the Romans, an important Roman 'wanted' her but she would not give in to him, so he cut of her breasts! They sell cakes called Agata's breasts, they are round with cherries on the top!
Her remains are kept in the cathederal and on this festival they are paraded through the town with hundreds if not thousands of followers, many who wear a white outfit which shows they have been helped by the saint. They carry huge candles so the streets are now covered in wax, as are my boots!

As part of the celebrations the state schools were off for 3 days, and we were also off on Friday. That meant Thursday night food and drink and dancing, Friday night food and drink and dancing and watching a big fireworks display at 4 or 5 in the morning and then saturday night food and drink (and then home as too tired for any more celebrations!)

On sunday we, the teachers and staff of the English Study Centre, were invited to a military base, as two students at the school are helicopter pilots... they cooked us lunch, a big affair with meat and cheese, two pasta dishes, a meat dish, fruit, tiramisu and cakes, and a lot, and i mean a lot, of alcohol!! all served by men in uniform! NICE! I mean for most of the day I had no idea what was going on as everyone was talking Italian but I had fun watching the singing and dancing and may have sung a song or two myself, no photographic/video evidence I am glad to say!!!

All in all a VERY good weekend...