14 things you need to know before YOU travel to Sicily:

Short and clear

1)

Shops - supermarkets are open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 13:30 and from 16:30 to 20:30. On Saturdays - only in the morning. In smaller towns (eg in Valderice) the markets are also closed on Wednesday evening.

2)

Cigarettes - can be bought here only in special "Tabacchi" stores, which are open from Monday to Saturday, from 8:00 to 20:30. If you do not manage to buy cigarettes during the opening hours of the store, you can use the cigarettes machine, which is usually found at every "Tabacchi". Unfortunately - you need an Italian insurance card - also the help of some Italian friend will be recommended.

3)

Pharmacies - opening hours are the same as stores (Monday - Friday between 8:30 - 13:30 and 16:30 - 20:30 and on Saturday 8:30 - 13:30). However, every day a different pharmacy is open 24 hours a day. Information about the roster can be found on this page or on the door of any pharmacy.

4)

ID card - in Italy, every foreigner should have an ID card with him / her. During the inspection, we may be detained for clarification if we do not have an ID.

5)

Receipts - we can be punished with a high mandate if we do not take a fiscal receipt with us. In Italy, there is a special police (Guardia di Finanza), which deals with prosecution not only of sellers, but also consumers who have not taken a receipt from the store or restaurant. Last week one of the tourists was punished with a high mandate.

6)

Sleeping at the airport - many of you, asking us whether it is possible to wait until the morning at the airport in Trapani? Unfortunately, THERE IS NO SUCH POSSIBILITY. Shortly after the last arrival, the airport is closed for the whole night.

7)

Drinking alcohol in a public place is not banned in Italy.

8)

Healthcare - a hospital stay is free if you have eucuses. The fee for an appointment with a general practitioner is small (up to approx. 30 euros).

9)

Restaurants and pizzerias are open at lunchtime and in the evening - late into the night. It's best to eat in small family restaurants. The prices are more bearable and the dishes are much tastier.

10)

Pubs - nightlife begins here at around 11pm. Do not be surprised by the emptiness in pubs at 21 o'clock.

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11)

Cappuccino only for breakfast - Sicilians drink coffee with milk only for breakfast. At lunch and in the evening - espresso only.

12)

What products can be hard to get in Sicily? Cucumbers, pickled cucumbers, sour cream, sauerkraut, vinegar, lard, natural yoghurt, flavored water (eg strawberry or lemon), feta cheese, spices (in Poland we are used to many types of spices - there are only a few types in Sicily - but we can buy fresh spices for this). If someone goes on vacation - then he will survive a few or a dozen days without these products. Believe it - it's very hard to live without them in the long run.

13)

Parking - in Sicily there are a few other road rules when it comes to parking. On some nights, you can not park your car on the street because the city is cleaning up. All parked cars are then towed away. A few days ago, a car was towed to one of the tourists. In a few weeks the regulation will be amended - then we will write an article for you about where and when you can park and explain exactly what the road signs mean.

14)

Drinking tea - Sicilians do not drink tea ... Unless they are sick. Do not be surprised if you are asked whether you feel bad when you order tea.

People are nice and helpful, couchsurfing works without a hitch, but it's good to speak Italian, although in a basic degree :) Although there are always gestures and facial expressions :)

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