5 reasons to visit Sicily during Carnival

Jan 24 2022

As we carefully tiptoe our way through the first few weeks of 2022, it seems like we’re already neck-deep in commitments and a holiday sounds like exactly what everyone needs right now. However, not everyone has the time, budget or enthusiasm to plan out a holiday, which is why we’re here to present you a list of ideas for the perfect Sicily getaway. Whether you enjoy a high-octane holiday with a schedule full of activities or a tranquil trip with a planned out gastronomical guidebook, we’ve got you sorted.

Culture & History

Any history buff will know that Sicily is deeply ingrained with cultural and historical significance. As a matter of fact, Sicily’s distinct twist on Baroque style prompted the inception of Sicilian Baroque, a style recognised by its amalgamation of typical Baroque motifs and flamboyant Sicilian flavour.

Beyond the architecture, Sicily is rich in art, cuisine and tradition influenced by the historical impact of the Phoenicians, Romans, French, English, Greeks, Normans and Arabs. That said, make sure you brush up on your history before visiting.

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Food

Of all of the benefits of visiting Sicily and practically any other area in Italy, the country’s food culture is absolutely unmatched and Sicily’s long list of domestic delicacies make for a foodie’s dream holiday. From visiting the traditional fish markets and preparing the food yourself (which is an experience in itself) to hitting some of the island’s street food stalls and basking in the culinary glory that is Sicily, prepare your taste buds for a well-deserved flavour rollercoaster.

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Skiing

Mount Etna may not be the first place which comes to mind when someone mentions skiing, but you would be surprised that Europe’s famous volcano has another side to it. If you’re an adrenaline junkie who is looking for a quick fix, you’ll find that Mount Etna is the perfect spot.

You’ll find two ski resorts both boasting scenic slopes and will be relieved to know that the best time to visit is between December and February, so it’s just the right time to book an impromptu ski holiday.

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Shopping

There are two kinds of people in this world. People who go to Sicily to shop and people who are missing out. With around 150 stores at the Sicilia Outlet Village, 140 at Centro Sicilia and a newly-opened Primark, it is almost impossible to visit Sicily without finding at least one fashion grail.

With outlets of all shapes and sizes offering everything from sports apparel to designer chic with a number of refreshment points to replenish oneself for the next round of shopping, some retail therapy is exactly what we all need right now.

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Sightseeing

Beyond every other wonderful thing about the Mediterranean’s largest island, Sicily is jam-packed with eye candy locations which definitely deserve a spot on your feed. Check out Palermo’s gorgeous church mosaics, gaze at Taormina’s enchanting townscape and visit the jaw-dropping Ragusa and Modica, which were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sicily’s long list of locations makes for a jam-packed itinerary.

Oh… and make sure your secure the coveted Mount Etna selfie.

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What’s more is that the Virtu Ferries prices for a Sicily trip come at great value and include a return ticket! Check out their website to book and get more information on your next getaway.

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Inflation shoots up prices for food and other sectors in December

Jan 24 2022

Official figures have confirmed that the circulating feeling of daily needs prices shooting up December was in fact correct.

The Retail Price Index (RPI) for December, published by the National Statistics Office, shows how food prices increased by 5.24% when compared to just a year earlier. Restaurant food prices and take-aways also increased by around 4.14% last month.

The NSO said that food and restaurant prices contributed the largest upward impact on annual inflation in December. The food category represents 21.5% of the basket of goods making up the index.

When compared to a year earlier, the overall yearly rate of inflation last December stood at 2.59%, which is also up from 2.38% in November. Pet food, sports related equipment, carpets and household textiles and maintenance services also registered sharp increases.

The energy sector seems to be the island’s only sector where stable prices meant there was no inflation. NSO figures show that water and electricity bills, and the prices for gas and fuels remained unchanged throughout the year.

The transportation sector seemingly benefitted from this, with inflation there registered at a modest increase of 2.58%. In the communications sector, the annual rate of inflation decreased by 2.75%.

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A quarter of the world’s population will be African by the year 2050

Jan 24 2022

After the global population inches towards a whopping 8 billion after increasing by 74 million in just a year, studies are showing that by 2050, a quarter of the world’s people will be African. The 8 billion mark will be passed in 2022 and by 2050, earth will be inhabited by 9.5 billion humans. This staggeringly defies claims by the likes of Elon Musk who claimed that the already low and declining birthrate is one of the biggest threats to civilisation.

Europe, North America and east Asia’s fertility rates are generally below 2.1 births per woman – the level at which populations remain stable at constant mortality rates. Italy has the lowest birthrate in the country’s history, with South Korea also having its fertility rate stuck below one birth per woman for decades.

This is what Musk alluded to, but it seems as though the billionaire was not taking into consideration Africa. The populations of more than half of Africa’s 54 nations will double by 2050, a product of sustained high fertility and improving mortality rates. The continent will become home of at least 25% of the world’s population, compared with less than 10% in 1950. To compare, Asia’s population will have multiplied by a factor of four in this timeframe. Africa’s will have risen tenfold.

40% of all Africans are kids under the age of 14 and the median age in most African countries is below 20. 450 million children will be birthed by African mothers in the 2020s. It is predicted that it will rise to more than 550 million in the 2040s. The estimations were compiled in a Guardian article by Edward Paice, the author of ‘Youthquake – Why African Demography Should Matter to the World.’ Paice argues that Africa being left out of demographics by the likes of Musk continues to show how misunderstood Africa is by the Western world.

The Census Bureau is estimating that, worldwide, 4.3 births and two deaths are expected every second. The likes of the US are expecting to experience a birth every nine seconds and a death every 11. But Paice points out that the sheer weight of numbers must change the way how we view African populations. The growth will impact geopolitics, global trade, technological developed and all areas of life. He urges everyone, from governments to individuals, to familiarise with the continent’s diverse demographic in order to no longer marginalise such a culturally rich continent and its peoples.

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Impossible to know how many big cats are in Malta

Jan 24 2022

Animal Commissioner Alison Bezzina has stated that it is not possible to know how many big cats are in Malta. This follows the news that a puma and a black panther were found living in an Għajnsielem home soon after a dog was attacked.

Bezzina said that when the law changed, it became legal to import exotic creatures. Despite regulations, enforcement is weak as people started bringing in and breeding these dangerous animals without authorities knowing anything about them.

Bezzina pointed out how one cannot just knock on someone’s door and ask to be let in. No magistrate going to sign a mandate to search a house without just cause. The panther and puma in the Għajnsielem case have been sequestered but are still being kept in the same home due to no appropriate place to keep them.

‘The law specifies that big cats should be kept in enclosures of an adequate environment that allows them to express their instinct’ said Bezzina. She highlighted how one cannot provide a wild animal with anything close to its natural habitat, especially in a private residence.

She also slammed authorities for dragging their feet on cases of non-compliance. Even if lions, tigers or other such big cats are found where they should not be, there is nowhere to put them. When the law was implemented in 2016, a number of big cats were already being kept in Malta. Private owners were also given the opportunity to register their animals in order to continue keeping them legally.

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