Portugal, Paris, Sicily and Florence

[FlyingFiona]

Mr Ellen10 wanted to peruse the duty free alcohol, but once we realised we needed to catch a train to our boarding gate, I hurried him along.

but there is no duty free shopping when flying between EU countries.

 

[ellen10]

but there is no duty free shopping when flying between EU countries.

Ah very good point @FlyingFiona !
I will smugly tell him this

 

[ellen10]

Catania, busy gritty and full of life.
We had a great B&B opposite a lovely square, where the locals gathered each morning over a coffee and conversation. I could listen and watch them from our breakfast on the terrace.
We met up with friends from Australia late the first night and enjoyed a free Bellini festival concert in the park. An orchestra, singers, acrobatic performers all to great music. It was a beautiful warm evening and we enjoyed the ambiance.

Next morning we walked the short way in town and dodged the never ending stream of motorbikes, they stop for no one! The car drivers are much more polite.

We visited the bustling fish markets, where you could barter for all kinds of seafood. I loved listening to the merchants, loudly discussing prices, quantities and sometimes squabbling.

Mr Ellen10 is always on the lookout for an espresso and Catania did not disappoint.

We wandered through the massive produce and flee market. Such delicious tasting and smell produce.

We enjoyed good food at the restaurants down near the fish markets. We bought the obligatory gelato after dinner and wandered the back streets filled with graffiti and rubbish (there is definitely a rubbish problem) but it didn’t bother us.

There is numerous versions of the local police driving around, but we never saw anything concerning and we felt safe wandering around.

 

[ellen10]

A few more pics

 

[Scash]

Awesome trip so far @ellen10. Catania was one of my favourite places. Are you doing a trip to Etna?

 

[ellen10]

Awesome trip so far @ellen10. Catania was one of my favourite places. Are you doing a trip to Etna?

Yes we are going to Etna, but from Taormina, the Northside of Mt Etna

 

[ellen10]

We caught the bus from Catania to Taormina. A bit confusing, but cheap, 18euros for two. The bus was packed and you need to put your own bags in front he bins underneath.

It was supposed to be direct, but we seemed to make many stops along the way. It was an experience driving up the narrow switchbacks from the coastal beach to Taormina which sits on the top of the hill, with beautiful panoramic views.

We are staying in a cute B&B right in town. Taormina is a very pretty town with many tourists. But we managed to get off the tourist route at times.

 

[ellen10]

Some more Taormina, as I can’t upload too many photos at a time.
We would have an afternoon beer apéritivo at a bar, good for people watching and the waiter knows us. There are many American tourists, either off cruise ships or bus tours. It’s always nice in the evenings and in the mornings, when they have gone.
Taormina still has a nice buzz about it. We found a great fresh made focaccia hole in the wall place that we liked.