Hello, bonjour, ciao,
Hope all is well in your part of the world.
Before putting this blog to one side I thought it would be good to give our Top 3's, from views to towns, cities, ruins, beaches etc, ..... we ended up with 18 categories all up as follows, in order of their appearance further below:
1. Views 10. Breakfasts
2. Beaches 11. Coastal towns
3. Cities 12. Mountains
4. Castles 13. Lakes/rivers
5. Dining out experiences 14. Villages
6. Big town 15. Natural wonders
7. Small town 16. Ancient ruins
8. Drives 17. Hill top towns
9. Churches 18. Islands
We started this Top 3 list back in August 2014 whilst in summer holiday traffic in Italy, on route to Austria, it was our last big road trip. We wanted to remind ourselves of some of our wonderful experiences and to see if we could actually pick a Top 3 for each category - it was an enjoyable process, but not easy, there was so much to choose from! We also wanted to give you some tips on places you should try and see if you travel to those particular parts of the world.
As a recap, we spent close to a year and a half in Europe, clocked up 44,600km in our Renault, and visited ten countries. We spent a year living in the south of France, the first six months in a little hamlet in The Lot, next to the Dordogne area and the second six months in a small town in Provence about an hour east of Avignon. We spent three months driving from the top of Italy down to Sicily and then caught a car ferry to Sardinia, Corsica and back to France. We undertook two other big road trips, one up through Ireland, Wales and England, and the other up to Austria and Germany. We're saving some of the other European countries for next time. We hope you enjoy our Top 3 list ........
1. From Enna, the middle of Sicily - After staying at the foot of Mt Etna near the coast and climbing this beast of a mountain, to then a couple of weeks later visit Enna, a fascinating hilltop town right in the middle of Sicily, where you could see a smoking Mt Etna off in the distance, was exhilarating. Looking out from the main piazza the late sun was showing off a number of hilltop towns in between us and Mt Etna, aaahhh, you have to visit this spot one day, you must!
2. From Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, French Alps - From Chamonix you catch the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world from 1,035m above see level to an incredible 3,842m. Mount Blanc, the highest mountain in the French Alps, is right next door and you can see Switzerland and Italy from up there. Below shows Sophie looking straight down Vallee Blanche where some people actually ski from, crazy!
3. From Beynac Castle over the Dordogne Valley, France - There is something very special about the Dordogne Valley. The Hundred Years War was fought here in the 14th century with the French occupying Beynac castle on one side of the river and the English held Castelnaud castle on the other. It's such a peaceful place, beautifully green, and you can almost feel the fascinating history in the air.
1. Tropea, Calabria, Italy - This was a real surprise for us, situated right down near the toe of the boot of Italy this little town had so much. Character filled Tropea is perched on a cliff which is the back drop to this incredible beach shown below, and you could even see Stromboli off in the distance, one of only two live volcanoes in Italy, the other being Mt Etna.
2. Mondello Beach, Palermo, Sicily, Italy - We stayed here a week and was blessed by fantastic weather, heading down to this jaw-dropping beach every day. Sophie learnt to swim here for the very first time. It's like the Bondi to Sydney. I would definitely recommend staying here and catching the bus into Palermo to see all its historical treasures.
3. Cape Corse, Corsica, France - One day we drove around the whole of Cap Corse which is a little peninsular that sticks out of the top of Corsica. We came across this remote, pristine beach and had a ball (Sophie, clowning around, is in the photo below). There are gorgeous beaches all around Corsica - this island was a real highlight for us.
1. Venice, Italy - What can I say, this place should be on everybody's bucket list. It's truly fascinating, unique, beautiful, the people are so friendly, and it's full of interesting stories like the fact that the Venice was undefeated for 1,000 years until Napoleon Bonaparte conquered it in 1797. This photo was taken just outside of our apartment which was on one of the canals in the old Jewish Ghetto district.
2. Arles, Provence, France - Situated at the western end of Provence in the rustic south of France, it has a Spanish feel and a fascinating Roman history from when it became a colony for veterans of the Roman legion in around 100 BC. The Roman amphitheatre shown below was where they once held chariot races and bloody hand to hand battles. These days it's where the controversial annual bull fights are held along with many other festivities including live music.
3. Palermo, Sicily, Italy - Someone once said to me that Sicily is like Italy on steroids, I kind of agree, and Palermo is the capital of this great island. The history behind this city is really interesting. After the Byzantines, Arabs ruled Sicily for 120 years from Palermo in 9th century, before the Normans, all the way from the north of France took over and then lived in harmony with the Arabs. The result is some unique Arab-Norman-Byzantine architecture.
2. L'Insolite, Collioure, France - This was our first trip down to the Mediterranean in the spring of 2013 and we were on a high. After wondering around the picturesque seaside town of Collioure we picked this little café / restaurant. The tasty food had a Spanish influence, the service friendly, the backdrop spectacular, the colours sensational, and the atmosphere magical.
3. Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Provence, France - This is one of the largest springs in the world. It's astonishing to see a deceptively calm pool of water, feed by a huge system of underground water ways, sitting at the base of a huge cliff, and then a few metres on it turns into a fast flowing river, the Sorgue River - this is where it literally begins.
Hope all is well in your part of the world.
Before putting this blog to one side I thought it would be good to give our Top 3's, from views to towns, cities, ruins, beaches etc, ..... we ended up with 18 categories all up as follows, in order of their appearance further below:
1. Views 10. Breakfasts
2. Beaches 11. Coastal towns
3. Cities 12. Mountains
4. Castles 13. Lakes/rivers
5. Dining out experiences 14. Villages
6. Big town 15. Natural wonders
7. Small town 16. Ancient ruins
8. Drives 17. Hill top towns
9. Churches 18. Islands
We started this Top 3 list back in August 2014 whilst in summer holiday traffic in Italy, on route to Austria, it was our last big road trip. We wanted to remind ourselves of some of our wonderful experiences and to see if we could actually pick a Top 3 for each category - it was an enjoyable process, but not easy, there was so much to choose from! We also wanted to give you some tips on places you should try and see if you travel to those particular parts of the world.
As a recap, we spent close to a year and a half in Europe, clocked up 44,600km in our Renault, and visited ten countries. We spent a year living in the south of France, the first six months in a little hamlet in The Lot, next to the Dordogne area and the second six months in a small town in Provence about an hour east of Avignon. We spent three months driving from the top of Italy down to Sicily and then caught a car ferry to Sardinia, Corsica and back to France. We undertook two other big road trips, one up through Ireland, Wales and England, and the other up to Austria and Germany. We're saving some of the other European countries for next time. We hope you enjoy our Top 3 list ........
Our Top 3 views....
2. From Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix, French Alps - From Chamonix you catch the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world from 1,035m above see level to an incredible 3,842m. Mount Blanc, the highest mountain in the French Alps, is right next door and you can see Switzerland and Italy from up there. Below shows Sophie looking straight down Vallee Blanche where some people actually ski from, crazy!
3. From Beynac Castle over the Dordogne Valley, France - There is something very special about the Dordogne Valley. The Hundred Years War was fought here in the 14th century with the French occupying Beynac castle on one side of the river and the English held Castelnaud castle on the other. It's such a peaceful place, beautifully green, and you can almost feel the fascinating history in the air.
Our Top 3 beaches....
2. Mondello Beach, Palermo, Sicily, Italy - We stayed here a week and was blessed by fantastic weather, heading down to this jaw-dropping beach every day. Sophie learnt to swim here for the very first time. It's like the Bondi to Sydney. I would definitely recommend staying here and catching the bus into Palermo to see all its historical treasures.
3. Cape Corse, Corsica, France - One day we drove around the whole of Cap Corse which is a little peninsular that sticks out of the top of Corsica. We came across this remote, pristine beach and had a ball (Sophie, clowning around, is in the photo below). There are gorgeous beaches all around Corsica - this island was a real highlight for us.
Our Top 3 cities....
2. Arles, Provence, France - Situated at the western end of Provence in the rustic south of France, it has a Spanish feel and a fascinating Roman history from when it became a colony for veterans of the Roman legion in around 100 BC. The Roman amphitheatre shown below was where they once held chariot races and bloody hand to hand battles. These days it's where the controversial annual bull fights are held along with many other festivities including live music.
3. Palermo, Sicily, Italy - Someone once said to me that Sicily is like Italy on steroids, I kind of agree, and Palermo is the capital of this great island. The history behind this city is really interesting. After the Byzantines, Arabs ruled Sicily for 120 years from Palermo in 9th century, before the Normans, all the way from the north of France took over and then lived in harmony with the Arabs. The result is some unique Arab-Norman-Byzantine architecture.
Our Top 3 castles.....
1. Beynac castle, Dordogne Valley, France - Whenever we had visitors in The Lot we would take them here, the castle is awesome and the views fantastic. It's a spectacular sight, as you drive along and there the 12th century Beynac castle appears up on the cliff as if it is guarding the valley. In 1197, King Richard I of England, otherwise known as "Richard the Lionheart", conquered the castle "by scaling the cliff from below", fascinating.
2. Chateau Bonaguil, Lot-et-Garonne, France - This is your classic fortified castle from the Middle Ages, complete with dungeons and cannon holes pointing towards the entrance bridge over an old moat. Interestingly and much more recently the owners, the Fumel family, fled in 1789 with the rise of the French Revolution and the castle became "bien national" (national property).
3. Le Fort Saint Elme, Collioure, Pyrénées-Orientales, France - The positioning of this smaller castle above the gorgeous coastal town of Collioure is very impressive. As you work through its corridors past old Spanish armory with the sound of wind jostling against doors I could imagine the soldiers of previous days on look out for the enemy.
Below shows the view from Le Fort Saint Elme over Collioure. Being just 5km from the Spanish border it's not surprising that the French and Spanish have fought over this sight during past centuries.
Our Top 3 dining out experiences....
1. Osteria Nuvoli, Florence, Italy - Barbara our hosts in Tuscany recommended this little restaurant and wow, what a wonderful authentic Italian experience. Our very friendly waiter took the time to explain the delicious dishes we had and even showed me where the tomb of a De Medici was above the adjacent wine cellar. He then wanted to give us a discount on our meal because we were "good people", I instead gave him a descent tip, with pleasure.
2. L'Insolite, Collioure, France - This was our first trip down to the Mediterranean in the spring of 2013 and we were on a high. After wondering around the picturesque seaside town of Collioure we picked this little café / restaurant. The tasty food had a Spanish influence, the service friendly, the backdrop spectacular, the colours sensational, and the atmosphere magical.
3. Locanda La Fornace, Lezzeno, Lake Como, Italy - Lake Como is one of the most scenic places I've ever visited. And here we were at lakes edge, delicious fresh Italian food and the service was exceptional, they just made us feel so much at home. All we had to do was stroll down from our apartment in the quaint lake side village of Lezzeno, just 4km down the lake from well known Bellagio.
Our Top 3 big towns....
1. Syracuse, Sicily, Italy - is steeped in incredible history. It was founded 2,700 years ago by the Greeks, it was the birthplace of the mathematician Archimedes, has impressive ruins including a huge out door Greek theatre and a Roman arena, a huge Caravaggio work he painted there in 1608 whilst on the run, and in the old town the Baroque architecture, as shown below, is stunning. It's not surprising Syracuse has been classified by UNESCO as a world heritage site.
2. Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy - This was a tough choice between Sienna and Arezzo, both stunning large towns in Tuscany with so much character and interesting history. Perhaps it was our stroll through the streets of Arezzo amongst the "La Passeggiata" which is where the whole town comes out for an early evening stroll in their best attire, it was all class. Tuscany was another real highlight for us.
3. Cahors, The Lot, France - We loved the Cahors reds, delicious wine made from Malbec grapes, so dark it was known as the "black wine", I'm off the track..... other reasons for us loving this town, its arid almost Mediterranean feel, the architecture, including the 14th century Valentre Bridge pictured below, and the way Cahors sits peacefully in a valley within a U shaped by The Lot river.
Our Top 3 small towns....
1. Martel, The Lot, France - This little town had so much charm and fascinating architecture, it's the kind of town I would recommend living in or near if you decided to go and live in the rural south of France for a while. As you approach Martel through the gorgeous surrounding countryside its medieval towers and church appear in the distance - a magnificent site. Interestingly Henry the Young King (brother of Richard the Lionheart, and eldest son of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine) died here in 1183.
2. Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland - Tapped Guinness flowing, giant green hills as a back drop, Irish hospitality and humour everywhere, situated along the incredibly scenic Ring of Kerry, we had a ball in the pretty little town of Kenmare.
3. Rocamadour, The Lot, France - You just have to look at the picture below to understand why it could be in our Top 3. This dramatic looking town is literally perched on the side of a cliff. I was told during the Middle Ages Rocamadour was the most popular destination in Europe for pilgrims outside of Rome. It all goes back to 1166 when the "preserved body of a hermit, reputed to be Saint Amadour, was discovered", this place is truly fascinating.
Our Top 3 drives....
1. Ring of Kerry and Connor Pass, County Kerry, Ireland - Right down in the south west of Ireland, The Ring of Kerry is a spectacular 180km drive around a peninsula with huge soaring green hills and jaw-dropping views over the ocean. We then drove around to the next peninsula to the picturesque seaside town of Dingle, and from there we drove the hair raising Connor Pass, wow, the views were incredible, it was an unforgettable day.
2. Amalfi Coast, Southern Italy - I had been psyching myself up for this drive for days as I had heard from a few people how hairy it was. The main difficulty was the narrowness of the road at some points and the crazy Italian summer traffic, but it was well worth while. Gorgeous little villages cling to the sides of mountains which soar down into the vibrant blue Mediterranean. After driving through Sorrento, we headed around the peninsula, the Isle of Capri sitting offshore, Positano, and Amalfi. We then headed up to the stunning hilltop village of Ravello, and then back inland over the mountains towards Naples where grand Mount Vesuvius on the horizon greeted us.
3. Cap Corse, Corsica, France - It felt so remote, particularly on the west side, it felt like we had discovered this spectacular hidden part of the world that not many people knew about. The clearest blue water, lone character filled villages along the way, and spectacular views across a rugged coast. We spent an unforgettable day driving right around Cap Corse.
Our Top 3 churches...
1. Duomo di Pisa, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy - We saw so many awe inspiring churches during our time away. Sitting next to its more famous neighbor the Leaning Tower of Pisa, this duomo (cathedral) blew me away, so grand, so decorative, and a fascinating history. Pisa was once a great maritime power and in the 11th they aided Norman Roger I in taking Palermo, Sicily from Arab pirates and the gold treasure they brought home allowed them to start building the Duomo di Pisa.
2. Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres, Chartres, France - The French cathedrals, while very beautiful and grand, are more rustic than the Italian cathedrals and lack the same ornateness. Interestingly this is largely due to late 18th century French Revolution when churches were ransacked and religious images destroyed. The huge gothic 13th century cathedral of Chartres luckily survived much of this destruction.
3. Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France - So the story goes that my wife Jane's 20th great grandmother was Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine so we have a particular interest in her fascinating history. In 1137 she married King Louis VII in this grand church, bore him two daughters and they later divorced. She then married King Henry II of England and bore him five sons, three of which became kings including Henry the Young King (who died in Martel as mentioned above) and Richard the Lionheart, and three daughters, that's ten kids all up!
Our Top 3 breakfasts....
1. Kilkenney Rivercourt Hotel, Kilkenney, Ireland - We had a bit of fun with this category. The picture below shows a moment I had been looking forward to for a long time, .....my first sip of Kilkenney beer in Kilkenney, I was a happy man. Back to the breakfast at the Kilkenney Rivercourt Hotel (which I have no pictures of), it was memorable, a bountiful Irish breakfast smorgasbord and I ordered some freshly cooked kippers, ahhh, my mouth is watering at this very moment.
2. Tara Farm, Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland - The Irish certainly know how to do breakfast. We stayed at B&Bs right through Ireland and this place had the best breakfasts, creamy scrambled eggs with salmon, home made stewed fruit.... you get the idea - we didn't need lunch, and the service was so warm and friendly. I thought
one of the ladies there we got to know was going to cry when we were leaving, I thought I was going to cry (no, not really), but I certainly did not want to leave.
one of the ladies there we got to know was going to cry when we were leaving, I thought I was going to cry (no, not really), but I certainly did not want to leave.
3. Manoir de la Giraudiere, Beamont-en-veron, Loire Valley, France - The Loire Valley is magical. After having crepes for dinner in a whimsical, enchanting garden restaurant the warm summer night before we walked down to have breakfast in this amazing setting, under those white umbrellas in the photo below. Our apartment looked out over the courtyard through that window you can see on the top left of the manoir just underneath the chimney.
Our Top 3 coastal towns ....
1. Collioure, Pyrénées-Orientales, France - I took this photo with my iPhone, one of my favourite shots of the whole trip. During a lovely but colder than usual winter in The Lot we decided to head down to the Mediterranean for the weekend and found the beautiful Catalan town of Collioure, what a find. Just to the left of Sophie you can see the walls of the 13th century Château Royal de Collioure.
2. Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Italy - It wasn't easy to pick the best of the five villages of Cinque Terre, the other favourite was probably Riomaggiore. They are all linked by rail and in Vernazza's case there is no car traffic. This whole area of the Italian Riviera is spectacular and rich in maritime history.
3. New Quay, Ceredigion, Wales - After catching the car ferry from Ireland we drove south through Wales to visit our friends Paul and Judy. Along the way we luckily dropped into this sea side town as we wanted some lunch and to see the coast, what a pleasant surprise. The locals were so friendly, the old houses oozed with character, and there was a happy vibe everywhere as people enjoyed their beach holiday.
Our Top 3 mountains ....
1. Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy - Below shows the view out the window of our apartment in Piedimonte Etneo, which actually means the "foot of Mount Etna". It was an extraordinary feeling, to be so close to one of the most an active volcanoes in the world, and then to climb it, watching steam and gas rise out of the ground up there at around 3,000 metres, an unforgettable experience.
2. Mount Vesuvius, Bay of Naples, Italy - Another volcano, this one is actually considered more dangerous than Mount Etna which is constantly active. Vesuvius is plugged and therefore could blow at any time. At one point the clouds parted up there and we could see Pompeii in the distance, the Roman town that was famously annihilated by a Vesuvius eruption in 79AD. Below shows Soph looking into the crater.
3. Mont Ventoux, Provence, France - The "Géant de Provence" or the Giant of Provence they call it. The views from up there are amazing. The photo below shows the day we tried to walk to the top after driving our car as far as allowed due to snow. We saw kangaroos spray painted on the road, moral support for the Aussies in the Tour de France which sometimes heads up and over Mont Ventoux.
Our Top 3 lakes/rivers .....
1. Lake Como, Lombardy, Italy - huge mountains provide a backdrop for this beautiful, peaceful lake, quaint towns and majestic villas dot its shores, and interestingly celebrities including George Clooney, Madonna, and Sylvester Stallone have holiday homes here. Our cozy, little apartment which had views over the lake was in a small village called Lezzeno, off the tourist track, just perfect.
2. Dordogne River, France - Peacefully flowing through The Lot and then the Dordogne it's not only the lake itself but the surrounding areas that make it so special. Towns along its way that were highlights for us included Souillac, around Lacave, remote Le Roc, Domme, La Roque-Gageac, and the views from Beynac castle. Below shows Dad and wee Connor going for a swim in the Dordogne.
3. Lake Annecy, French Alps, France - We stayed with the some good friends up near Lake Annecy for a week and visited this lake a couple of times. The area is stunning, bright blue water, huge snow capped mountains, the picturesque town of Annecy nearby and all surrounded by lush green countryside.
Our Top 3 villages .....
1. Carennac, The Lot, France - Another town that sits in the fertile Dordogne Valley, this one gets the gong for beauty and authenticity, it's something out of fairytale. In its heart is the 11th-century Church of St Pierre.
2. Savoca, Sicily, Italy - If you're a fan of the Godfather or pretty Italian rural villages this one is for you. Up in the mountains, views out to the sea, this is where some scenes from the Godfather movie were filmed like the marriage of Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, to his Sicilian bride, Apollonia. Below shows us sitting in the exact spot where Michael asked Apollonia's father for her hand in marriage.
3. Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Provence, Apt - This is one of the many attractive towns in the Luberon Valley where we lived for six months. We visited Saint-Saturnin a number of times and loved the character of its streets. Above the village sits the striking ruins of a castle and a chapel dating back to circa 1050.
Our Top 3 natural wonders ...
1. Padirac Cave, The Lot, France - It felt like something out of the "Journey to the Centre of the Earth". After descending 100 metres below ground you jump on a boat for a ride on a subterranean river. That and the amazing rock formations, it was definitely the most impressive caves I have ever seen.
2. Verdon Gorge, Provence, France - I remember asking Frederic the guy who sold us our car in The Lot what he recommended seeing in Provence and he said the Verdon Gorge. He was right, this is like France's Grand Canyon, and at the bottom of this spectacular canyon is a stunning turquoise-green river.
3. Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Provence, France - This is one of the largest springs in the world. It's astonishing to see a deceptively calm pool of water, feed by a huge system of underground water ways, sitting at the base of a huge cliff, and then a few metres on it turns into a fast flowing river, the Sorgue River - this is where it literally begins.
Our Top 3 ancient ruins .....
1. Pompeii, near Naples, Italy - It was like walking through a ghost town, the difference being the 11,000 inhabitants were around nearly 2,000 years ago. The 79AD eruption of Vesuvius effectively sealed it until being first discovered in 1599. It was a thrill to wonder through its many streets, see the preserved artworks, the amphitheatre, the worn grooves in the roads from chariots, and ponder what life was like back then.
2. Segesta, Sicily, Italy - A very special spot, this impressive 420 BC Greek temple sits peacefully and remotely on a hill surrounded by countryside. You then catch a minibus up to another hill where a Greek theatre sits with this amazing backdrop out to the sea. The Greeks had it sorted, location, location, location that's what it's all about right.
3. Greek Theatre, Taormina, Sicily, Italy - So as you can see all three of top ruins are in Sicily, its an incredible island, particularly if you like your history. The thing about the Taormina Greek theatre is, again, location, next to the sea in the beautiful town of Taormina, and the backdrop, which stars the massive volcano of Mt Etna, awesome.
Our Top 3 hill top towns ....
1. Ravello, Amalfi Coast, Italy - The views from Ravello are stunning. The town has so much understated class, beauty, fascinating architecture, and wonderful history. Some of the views like the photo below, taken from the 13th century Villa Rufolo, I'm sure I've seen in magazines before.
2. Mernerbes, Luberon Valley, Provence, France - One of the reasons why we picked the Luberon Valley to live for six months was Peter Mayle's famous book "A Year in Provence", and Mernerbes was where he lived, we wanted to go to the heart of it all. This gorgeous old town with views over the valley is a great example of how the French do rustic so well and in a authentic, classy way, "chic" I think the word is, .......very pleasing to the eye.
3. Saint-Paul-de-Vence, French Riviera, France - is your classic, medieval hill top town, kind of perfect in that respect. So it is popular, but it's worth it, and the drive up amongst the surrounding hills through other lesser known towns such as Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Saint-Jeannet and Vence is all part of the experience. We wished we had spent longer on the French Riveria, the lovely mix of Italian and French influences is part of the reason, that and swimming in the Mediterranean, we'll be back.
Our Top 3 islands ......
1. Corsica, France - has been Italian for longer than its been French. It was ruled by the Republic of Genoa (now part of Italy) from 1284 until it briefly became its own country from 1755 to 1769 and then France took over. So like the French Riveria, there is an attractive mix of French / Italian architecture, food, and style. Then add a relaxed island lifestyle, historical treasures like the 16th century Genoese coastal defense towers, and of course the spectacular beauty of its mountains and beaches.
2. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, France - A glorious sight as it appears on the horizon, Saint-Michel is a spectacular island fortress complete with an 11th century abbey. During the 15th century Hundred Year War the English tried numerous times to conquer the Mont without success, the surrounding dangerously tidal flats making a difference. We stayed the night and I walked right around the island, bare feet, in the mud - one more tick off the bucket list.
3. Sicily, Italy - Sicily has been inhabited by different cultures over the last 3,000 years, from the original Italic people to the Greeks, Roman, Byzantines, Saracens to more recently the Spaniards, French, Arabs, and the Normans. The result is a fascinating history and a melting pot of architecture and mouth watering cuisine. You know you've travelled when you've been to Sicily. Below shows Paolo and Pina, our hosts in Ragusa, taking us to the annual St George Festival, it was a magical night, .........what a town, what an island.
So that's it, hope you got some new ideas for your next trip.
We wish you and your family all the very best for the future,
Bye for now, au revoir, and arrivederci,
from Jane, Sophie, Connor and me, Michael.
