Sicily - Catania to Noto and Syracuse - Sunday 18 June 2023

Woke up at 5am so went for a walk around Catania. Not a big city and the streets are quite dirty.

First breakfast in Italy...

Caught an Uber back to the airport and picked up the rental car from Budget and headed to Noto which is south. Parked and walked to the main street. 

This is Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi all'Immacolata...

Walked a bit and went in to this church - Chiesa Santa Chiara...

Cattedrale di San Nicolo...

Palazzo Ducezio...

Walked up a random street and this is looking back down...

This was at the top of the street...

The risotto was great...

Then kept walking back towards the car...

Back to the car and headed for Syracuse. My trusty Renault Captur...

Then drove north to Syracuse which is on the Ionian Sea and is known for its ancient ruins. Parked the car and walked onto a pier and looked back at the town.

Here's the Greek theatre...

Island of Otigia is the historical centre...

Drove back to Catania and headed to a nearby rooftop bar called Etnea Rooftop Bar & Restaurant. Lovely to watch the sun set over Mount Etna...

I was expecting great food, and although it looks good, it was only average...

This in particular was quite stodgy...

Walking back to the apartment...

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.