Going to Sicily was one of the best decisions I made this year. It was my first long AEGEE trip, so I was super excited to finally experience what it’s like to join AEGEE Delft on a trip for an entire week. I was totally ready for sunnier weather than in The Netherlands, great company, beautiful landscapes, and of course, the Italian food.
From the moment we arrived at our first accommodation, we were surrounded by the Sicilian vibes I was looking forward to. There were citrus trees everywhere, and we had a great view of the Etna (when the clouds decided to cooperate). Every morning, the “ETJA!” or “ETNEE!” signal was sent into the group chat. Finally, the morning when the ETJA! signal came through, it was time to climb. This activity was, quite literally and figuratively, the peak of the trip for me. Some of us were better prepared than others in terms of outfits and shoes. When wearing sneakers, the Etna was often a slippery slide. This led to an incredibly fun climb, and we all ended up having an amazing view.
Throughout the week, we explored lovely places like Giardini Naxos, Catania, Taormina and Palermo. One of my favourite activities in all these cities was ordering a coffee (or sometimes the amazing hot chocolate pudding stuff). This always led to interesting interactions with local shop owners, who were often very welcoming to us, even though we ignored the coffee etiquette by having a cappuccino in the afternoon or evening like real tourists do.
Most cities we visited also had beautiful churches or cathedrals. Santa Caterina in Palermo really stood out thanks to its detailed art and decorations. Moreover, we experienced Sicilian culture, visited remarkable museums, and spotted so many cute cats everywhere. Besides that, the most unforgettable part of this trip was of course the good company.
Together, we had an incredibly fun “tour the chambres”, where everybody made great food and drinks, a pizza night, chaotic car rides, delicious meals at restaurants or at home, and drank cocktails and limoncello! And every single day, we shamelessly ate Sicilian snacks together because, well, we deserved it!
Looking back, this trip was everything I had hoped for. Thank you to everyone who made this amazing experience possible!
– Daan Robben
