Thursday 10th September 2026

Slow to rise. Ventured out into the town centre to use our breakfast vouchers, which entitled us to spend E3.50 each at a very nice little cafe on the main drag. Sat outside and enjoyed a large croissant filled with pistachio cream! Wandered down to take a look at a church interior...Shelly and Kim had got there ahead of us, and warned us that there was a bloke in there who offered them a little tour in return for a donation. 

When we got there, sure enough he was hanging about the entrance...we explained that we had no cash, and despite telling us that the tour was free, stomped off in a huff! We guided ourselves around, then headed back up hill to the digs. Got packed and checked out. Next stop, Syracuse...or to be more precise, the Ortigia archipelago adjoining the city. Shelly did a good job of barging her way through the city traffic, and we parked up in a large single-storey parking lot on the northern fringe of the 'island'. Traffic is restricted in the narrow streets of the island, so we had to park up and walk to our destinations...Kim and Shelly were stopping at a hotel on the eastern side of the island, with sea views...we headed inland for Piazza Archimede. 

Had to lug our suitcases down a narrow back alley for half the length of the island...came out onto the piazza...took a while to locate our accommodation, but got in and settled ourselves. I had a feeling I'd moved the parking ticket off of the dashboard in the car, so had to wander back to the car park to ensure all was correctly in place! Met Aki for granita at a little cafe in the back alleyway we'd come down earlier. Very refreshing! Had a wander about...walked through Piazza Duomo to the sea front and the Fontana Aretusa, a large freshwater spring right on the seafront, and where Lord Nelson had moored up to take on fresh water on his way to the Battle of the Nile! 

Later, we walked across to Kim and Shelly's hotel on the eastern esplanade. Met them, in the company of their friends Judy and Tony, on the roof terrace and enjoyed a drink and a chat. Then we all went in search of dinner. Judy is vegetarian, so I guided the gang down the Via Roma to a vegan restaurant, but it was very noisy...a lot of restaurants seem to like blaring out music through loud speakers. We headed back to Piazza Archimede, to a small pavement venue that Tony and Judy had been to the night before. 

It was OK...nothing to write home about. We enjoyed the company, and the waiter was very chummy. Halfway through dinner, a busker turned up and set himself up against the fontana in the middle of the piazza...he was way too loud! It rather spoiled the evening. Unfortunately for Aki and I, he carried on until midnight...so we had to listen to him droning on as we lay in bed trying to get to sleep!