catania in the rain: a messy, caffeinated confession

so here i am, sitting in a tiny caffé in catania, sicily, watching the rain hit the cobblestones like it's trying to win some kind of percussion contest. the weather app said it's 11.98°c right now, feels like 11.43°c, humidity at 84%, and honestly? it's perfect for hiding in a caffé with a cornetto and pretending i'm in a movie. the barista keeps giving me that look like “you've been here three hours, are you writing a novel or just avoiding the rain?” and the answer is: both.

catania's got this weird charm when it's wet-like it's wearing yesterday's eyeliner but still looks good. the baroque buildings look softer, the locals move slower, and the stray cats all seem to have better places to be than i do. i just checked and it's 13.55°c max today, so if you're planning a trip, bring a jacket and a sense of humor.

i overheard someone at the next table say that catania's food scene is “underrated but not underrated enough to stay quiet about.” which i think means it's great but everyone's already talking about it. someone else warned me that the granita at bar verace is “so good it'll ruin all other granita forever,” and honestly, i believe it. i also heard a drunk guy outside say that mount etna is just “sleeping, not dead,” which i guess is reassuring?

if you get bored, messina and syracuse are just a short drive away. or you could just stay here and eat more arancini. your call.

i've been trying to take photos that don't look like every other sicily post on instagram, but it's hard when everything here is photogenic. i keep catching myself framing shots like a freelance photographer on autopilot. maybe that's why i'm writing this instead-to remember the rain, the espresso stains on my notebook, and the way the old man at the counter called me “principessa” like it was a threat.

anyway, here's a map so you don't get lost like i did:

and because i'm already breaking my own rules, here are some photos that don't capture anything but still look nice:

if you're into food, check out *sicily foodie* for real local recs. and if you want to feel like you're in a luchino visconti film, just walk around the fish market at sunrise. someone told me that's when catania is at its most dramatic.

anyway, i should probably order another espresso before the barista starts charging me rent. ciao for now.