Apart from a quick week at the Cottage and a couple of long weekends away, we have been largely Hambleden based over the summer. The theory being that while the weather is good in the UK, why travel when most of Europe is ferociously hot in July & August (and full of people armed with school-aged children). Climate change challenged the theory this year as, although quite warm, this summer was undeniably wet and quite a drain on spirits – both in terms of keeping cheerful and drinking our way through it.

Given the generally shitty weather, I was beyond excited to be heading to Sicily for some blue skies & sunshine. This trip was originally planned as part of a much grander excursion, following the lemons from Southern Italy to the north of the country, travelling only by train. However Catering pulled the fun brake as he’s apparently too busy with work to take 6 weeks off again this year, so I had to settle for a fun-filled fortnight in Sicily and the other part of the trip will have to wait until we retire.

We flew into Palermo on a Friday evening and stepped off the flight into a warm balmy evening, which was only slightly marred by a 45 minute journey through immigration (still makes me sad/cross as I watch fellow travellers sail through the EU gates, while we wait in line for the 1 immigration official dealing with the rest of the world) and the pre-booked taxi driver deciding he’d waited long enough and buggering off, leaving me the simple voicemail “I go!”. This must have happened to a number of people because the more enterprising taxi drivers were squeezing as many visitors into their cars as possible and dropping off at several destinations. I was firmly wedged in the back section of a 7-seater beside 2 somewhat ample and warm Americans, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it meant I moved nowhere when the driver had to make an unexpected emergency stop, while the lady in the front seat narrowly avoided exiting the car through the windscreen. Catering, never a great passenger at the best of times, had assumed the brace position before we left the confines of the airport.

The hair raising journey was soon consigned to the memory bin by the arrival at our hotel Bastione Spasimo Boutique Hotel, a fabulous oasis of calm in the chaos that is Palermo. It was a warehouse in its former life and they have restored as well as renovated.

The roof to our room, an archway which used to store spices.

The next day dawned with the promised blue sky & sunshine, so we were off to explore the streets of Palermo complete with crazy, smelly markets, churches & noisy cafes and bars.

Catering although intolerant of many things is both brave and patient with me on holiday. He hates heights and yet still indulges my need to climb to the top of many a cathedral or church, however limits on numbers have been introduced over the years (1 church & 1 museum per day, with a concession of 2 churches on a Sunday).

Palermo cathedral – please not the cloud free blue sky

Shall we just pop up to check out the view

If we must – please note firm grip kept on railing

See, I was right. Great view.

I fear I pushed my luck and broke the number of churches on a Sunday rule, a sit down protest ensued.

One of the other highlights was a trip to the opera House – the Teatro Massimo is the biggest opera house in Europe, and it’s spectacular. For reasons that escaped me, I couldn’t get the on-line booking site to work from the UK & no one was answering the help-line, so we ended up getting tickets on the Saturday before the performance of Turandot on the Sunday, which meant we were very high up (sorry love) and had only partial sight of the stage (a good deal of leaning forward required), but it was still worth it.

Great exterior

Interior not too shabby either

View from the cheap seats

This meant Catering was more than happy to take a back seat – blamed his vertigo, but I think he was happy as it meant he could stand up & move around whenever he fancied and keep an eye on the score of Man City v Arsenal match, however I could be wrong.

After a cracking Nessun Dorma we had dinner at a rooftop bar and I went to bed very happy with my days in Palermo.