Gelato flavour of the day - Didn't get to stop to buy one! and they closed too early in the sleepy town of Torre Melissa The view of the sun rising out of the east was as beautiful as we might have expected from our 5thfloor room and it was pleasurable to lie in bed with no pressure to get up too early as we have another straight forward drive further around the instep of Italy. The front desk man was right and the teenage girls had had their breakfast and decamped and left on their coach by the time we made the breakfast room. We were well looked after by Simona, a Romanian waitress, who couldn’t do enough for us. She chatted away, practising her English on us, giving us her history of the last ... read more

Our apartment faces west so we knew we weren’t going to have the early morning sun shining into our bedroom as it did in Monreale. In fact we are tucked into the sloping hillside of a valley and it was only the telltale hue of light on the hills opposite us that gave away that the sun was on its way. The crow of a rooster nearby also gave the arriving of dawn away. Today is a rest day. We decided on two days here when we arrived in Sicily just in case we did not get enough of Mt Etna as it is just a short drive away over the mountain range. We can’t see it from here as the range rises too sharply up from the town. However we felt we had seen all ... read more

Todays Gelato flavours - GMB - Bacio GLB - Chocolate(good old favourite for Gretchen!) Regret is great in hindsight as we were to find out today and we should have listened to ourselves and all the guide books we have read on driving in Palermo but.................... Sorry if this is getting a bit boring to anyone who might be reading this in NZ as a large weather system with rain approaches the country to break the drought,at least in the north,but the sun was shining brightly again when we opened the shutters this morning. We could very easily become attached to Sicily if it wasn't for the rubbish and the chaotic traffic.It does seem to have very pleasant weather which one could get used to very quickly especially when you can have breakfast of soft scrambled ... read more

Today's Gelato flavour - GMB- Sicilian Cassata Weather again fine and sunny,low 20's. As promised by Fausto the sun was streaming into our bedroom and onto the breakfast terrace and even at 8.30am it was warm. There was also a light breeze and with a mound of washing to do we were going to appreciate having that breeze to dry clothes quickly. We haven't been able to replace the toaster at an Auchan store yet but we still managed toast cooked the 'homeless people' way over the gas flame on the stove to accompany our scrambled eggs. With the washing done and on the line outside the terrace and on our twirly sting line attached between two chairs on the terrace we were up to date with the laundry. We had a chill out morning,what was ... read more

Todays gelato flavours - GMB - Torroncino(nougat,honey and nut flavours) GLB - Bacio (chocolate and hazelnut) The aromas of pastries somehow drifted up the three flights of stairs from the breakfast room to our room and got us thinking about getting ready for the day as the sunlight streamed into the room when we opened the shutters.We are becoming fans of the shuttered rooms we have had as it not only reduces any outside noise but also keeps the room dark and aids sleeping.The shutters come in different types and the ones in this hotel are very easily opened by pulling on a drawstring and hey presto you have light. We have scored well with this hotel and we have a room as well furnished as the Best Western and even a bit cheaper at €32 ... read more