Paris to Catania, Sicily - Saturday 17 June

Woke up at 9am and had breakfast in the hotel. Then headed to a nearby cafe and did some work.

EUR4.50 for an espresso is a bit expensive but I am staying in the fancy part of Paris!

Then back to the hotel to shower and pack. Checked out at 12 noon and booked Uber for 1pm. Had an hour to kill so went for a walk in a different direction and had a juice at a creperie.

Back to the hotel for Uber to the airport. Charles de Gaulle is a massive airport, broken into many terminals. So it was actually an easy process for bag drop and security check. The flight was Air France at 4pm. I think HOP is their regional arm. The flight was fine.

Mount Etna...

Arrived in Catania and got taxi to the apartment. Nice room in a central location. It was called Ferrini Home - via Monte Sant'Agata and was EUR105 per night.

Went for a walk. It's Saturnday night and very busy. This is Piazza Universita...

Piazza del Duomo...

Basilica Cattedrale di Sant'Agata...

I liked the look of this buidling. Ursino Castle built in the thirtenth century...

First meal in Italy!

Back to apartment and crashed.

Paris - Friday 16 June 2023

I haven't been here since 1997. Landed about 6am and caught an Uber to the hotel. It was a long trip due to peak hour traffic. EUR60.

Arrived at Hotel de la Castigione in Rue de Faubourg. Fantastic location. Got an upgrade to a decent sized room.

Couldn't check in until 2pm so left my bag and went for a walk,

Very nice to be here!

I was close to the Champs Elysee so started at the Arc de Triomphe and walked down to Place de la Concorde, then to Les Tuileries and the Louvre.

Statue de Marseille...

Place de la Concorde...

Jardin des Tuileries...

The Louvre...

Then I walked to the river and back along the Seine...

I think that's Musee D'Orsay...

Alexander III Bridge...

Petit Palais...

This is coming up to my hotel...

I checked in and had a long sleep. Then got up and showered and headed to my friend's place for dinner. Caught the metro to Port de Vincennes. Easy trip on Line 1. This is the Metro entry at Concorde...

He cooked gazpacho, pizza and chocolate mousse. Very nice cheese platter too...

Headed back on the Metro about 11pm.

Fantastic first day in Paris!

Sydney to Paris via Hong Kong - Thursday 15 June 2023

So excited to be heading to Sicily!

Early start for a 07:35 flight on Cathay. Delayed for an hour and a half departing, so arrived in Hong Kong later than expected. Bags were checked straight through so went straight through immigration and headed into town via the Airport Express. I have about a 6 hour layover.

Met an ex-colleague at IFC Rooftop for a drink. It was pretty overcast and humid.

Then went and met some more ex-colleagues at the bar we used to hang out at, Bella Lee in Peel Street.

I left about 8:45 to go back to the airport for my 11pm flight. I was starving by then so had some food at Beef & Liberty. Boarded and fell straight to sleep.