Sunday 13th September 2026

Woke around 0600. Managed to doze back off again eventually. Got up around 0900. Aki feeling better. We weren't hungry enough to consider breakfast, but decided to go in search of caffeine. I guided her down to the kiosk I'd visited yesterday. We were very taken with our coffee cups...Aki had Elvis on hers, I had Ray Charles. Took our empty cups back to the kiosk and sang some Elvis songs to the owner, who was so chuffed with us he gave us an espresso cup with Ray Charles on it...nice souvenir! 

We walked up countless steps...200 odd I should think, to gain views back across the old town perched on the hilltop opposite. We were astonished to be overtaken by a bunch of lycra clad cyclists on a hairpin bend...hard work in this heat! Made our way back to the digs and packed our bags...our hosts had given us the OK to leave our bags in our room until ready to depart after lunch. Wandered into the piazza and on down to the ornamental gardens, where we happened upon Kim and Shelly outside a little chapel, seeking shade beneath the trees. 

We wandered back into the town centre to find lunch, and ended up at the trattoria we'd eaten at last night...the staff recognised us and guided us to a table. More bruschetta and burrata was ordered...making for an excellent lunch! Wended our way back to the digs and picked up our luggage...met the others at the car, and we set off for Catania Airport...we were due to drop off the car, and say farewell to Shelly, who was to fly back to London. The drive was pretty dull, slowed by the fact that the road was down to one lane, though it looked as though a massive road widening project was underway for about the whole trek from Ragusa to Catania...didn't look like the job was likely to finish this side of 2040! 

Had to stop at a petrol station to fill up the tank...took a local to assist us with the weird automated sales system, but got there in the end. Somehow we managed to find the appropriate drop-off point, and successfully handed the keys over...a small dent and scratch above the nearside rear wheel arch were noticed, and would have cost us £700...luckily we'd taken up the offer for random scratch insurance when picking the car up last week!!! 

Walked across to the terminal and said our farewells to Shelly, then piled into a taxi to take us into central Catania...the driver was a bit of a character who kept whistling very loudly, and shouting "Over the top!!!!" at regular intervals. He dropped us outside Kim's accommodation... we walked around the corner to ours, in a five storey block, the ground floor facade of which was covered in graffiti, and let ourselves in. 

We were intercepted by a chap who claimed to be our hostess's brother, who accompanied us up to the rooms...we worried that we were being scammed, but he knew the door codes, and deposited us in our room without mishap. Rested up before hooking up with Kim to go in search of dinner. Made our way about five minutes northward to an interesting eatery mentioned in my mini guide. It was very good. I enjoyed an etna spritz into the bargain. Walked Kim back to her digs, and retired for the night...