Author archive
16 August 2017
We had the day to explore the sights of Palermo. First up was the Catacomb of the Capuchins. A couple of wrong turns made the short drive into a long one (distance-wise but not too bad time-wise as it was largely on highway). Arriving at the Catacomb, we had someone ask for protection money for […]
15 August 2017
Today we change sides, moving from Catania in the east of Sicily to Palermo in the northwest. It was a better way of exploring the further parts of the island and Palermo without having to return to do a long trip. It was my fourth day of feeling bloated but life goes on, on the […]
14 August 2017
My bloatedness seems to be continuing (third day). But today I also felt drained. But we went out anyway, driving northwards past Taormina. We ended up in the beach area of Santa Teresa di Riva, a stretch with nice smooth stones. The water was as clear as southern Albania. We stopped for a coffee before […]
13 August 2017
We allowed ourselves to wake up without alarm today. With the shutters closed, it was a late wake-up and breakfast. We left after 1000 for a drive down to Siracusa where we walked to its historic centre Ortygia. Ortygia had at its heart an old Greek temple now used as its Cathedral. Apart from that […]
12 August 2017
I had booked a free walking tour of Catania for 1000 so we left the hotel in our car around 0900. The phone satnav’s route to the city wasn’t straight forward but that might be the nature of the city. We found a parking spot relatively easily near the University Square where we would start. […]
11 August 2017
We had booked a rental car for the day. It was quite reasonably priced especially if you take into the consideration that we could return it at the airport (which would cost us EUR10-15 to get to for our flight). The rental car delivery, organised for 0830 was a little late. We got picked up […]
10 August 2017
We tried to head out early before it got too hot. But it was 0900 by the time we left, wandering down to the ferry for the short hop across to the Three Cities. There was nothing specific that we wanted to do but it was nice to wander around, especially when parts were very […]
9 August 2017
The hotel had stocked the fridge with milk and juice and placed a packet of Weetabix on the bench as well. After a light breakfast, we met the receptionist at 1000 to pay then ventured out. First stop was St John’s Co-Cathedral. Nothing had prepared me for the rich baroque interior. It seemed that not […]
8 August 2017
I was given a new room overlooking Placa Catalunya yesterday so it was a nice view to wake up late to 🙂 With a night flight to Malta, I had time to kill before going to the airport. I thought I’d make the most of my stay by visiting Gaudi’s Park Guell (pronounce Park Way). […]
7 August 2017
I had the Gaudi free walking tour booked for 1100 which gave me enough time for some exploration beforehand. First up was Basilica Santa Maria del Mar which was stunning with its very leaping Gothic architecture despite being very stark (not ornate). Text continues after this gallery. As the market was closed during […]