Category: Italy

I came down the opposite side of Mount Etna to the one I drove up. This was the side that the ash cloud had gone over during last week’s eruption and the roads were thick with it Villages seemed very strange and depressing with cars, houses and trees all covered in a sticky black layer.… Continue reading From Sicily to Albania

After my time in the Valley of the Temples I headed North to Ragusa Ibla An ancient town built on a hill It began as small Sicel settlements in the 2nd Century BC. It grew under the Greeks, was briefly ruled by the Carthaginians before it fell into the hands of the ancient Romans and… Continue reading Mount Etna and More

Aimee arrived safely home in the early hours of Saturday morning after a stressful, very delayed, journey in the midst of storm Eunice. I drove a little further along the coast to Cefalù, a medieval town surrounded by mountains and sea Wherever you walk you can see La Rocca towering behind On the top of… Continue reading Cefalù and The Valley of the Temples

After our day at the nature reserve we headed to the city of Trapani. We enjoyed an evening of tasting Sicilian wines and eating pizza The next day, in search of ancient history and mountain top views, we drove up 751m to the town of Erice – named after the Greek hero Eryx. The whole mountain… Continue reading Sicily with Aimee – Part 2

After all the drama and uncertainty of whether I’d make it across to Sicily, it felt even more special stepping off the ferry I drove from Messina to Palermo ready to meet Aimee. The views from the motorway were pretty spectacular I stopped at the services to have a van shower, fill up my water… Continue reading Sicily with Aimee – Part 1

As you may remember I found out my vaccines had expired when I was in Florence. This meant I had no ‘Green Pass’ which is required to get into cafes (even sat outside), bars, restaurants, museums, galleries, shopping centres etc. I thought that my recent positive test would act as a Green Pass, because recovery… Continue reading Green Pass Drama

After leaving Florence I drove deep into the Tuscany countryside to a small farm It is owned by Daniele and Alice who are very lovely. They welcome campers to stay for free, including use of hot showers and toilets. They even left a slice of homemade cake on my bonnet each morning. I went on… Continue reading Tuscany

Feeling back to my healthy self I was able to spend 2 lovely long days exploring Florence The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance And often voted the most beautiful city in the world I went into the cathedral Which boasts the first octagonal dome in history to be built without a temporary wooden support And… Continue reading Florence

After 10 days, I finally tested negative for covid and could start my drive to Italy. My first stop was Sestri Lavante I treated myself to some gelato And breathed in the sea air I’m still not feeling 100% so I’m taking it slow… but my new found freedom feels so good!