We wake up late and hungry after the stress of yesterday's travel. We assume that there’ll be a supermarket nearby, but the Google machine seems to suggest otherwise. It tells us that there are some "Italian grocers" on the island, but we suspect that these probably aren't going to sell Corn Flakes. The nearest supermarket seems to be a couple of kilometres away, and it‘s off the island. I set off. It’s been raining, and it soon starts again, so I take shelter under a balcony. I‘m quickly approached by an African street vendor who wants to sell me an umbrella, and a few minutes later by another, and then another, all trying to sell me rain protection. They seem to be very good at knowing what you need, and having a large supply of it ... read more

We sleep in and spend the morning lazing around the pool. It's a bit hazier today and more humid. We've read on TripAdvisor that the number one thing to do in Lipari is visit the Chiesa Vecchia church in Quattropani on the other side of the island. We trudge down to the port again. I head to the ferry office to buy our tickets for the ferry to Milazzo in Sicily for when we leave tomorrow, while Issy goes to look for bus tickets to Quattropani. I don't know too much about the ferry service, and as I wait nervously in the queue I begin to think that maybe I should have looked into it a bit more carefully before we left home. I hope there is a ferry tomorrow. TripAdvisor said that the bus services ... read more

Issy's arm's still very sore, so she decides to pass on today's tour to climb Stromboli. I wait anxiously for her to give me this morning's breakfast order. I've been having nightmares about trying to smuggle a bowl of cereal, a plate of bacon and eggs and four pieces of toast out of the breakfast room without anyone noticing, and these usually end with me being carted off by the police. Thankfully this morning's order is only for a couple of croissants. Despite its apparent simplicity I hear someone walking behind me as I leave, and panic. Fortunately it's just another guest. First stop is the neighbouring island of Panarea, where we stop offshore for a quick swim before heading into the port. We pass a giant cabin cruiser with a yellow water slide running from ... read more

I head down to breakfast alone. Issy's asked me to bring her back a croissant. There's a large sign on the buffet saying that all food is to be eaten in the restaurant, and there's to be no takeaway. I wonder if I've got the courage to smuggle a croissant back to the room, and what they might do to me if I get caught. I casually walk over to the croissant table, and sneak one into a serviette. I'm pretty sure that no one saw me. I hope that Issy's grateful for the enormous risk that I've just taken. The booking site for the hotel said that it had a shuttle transfer service to take guests to and from the town, so I ask the receptionist when this leaves. She isn't very friendly, and she ... read more

I had a big day yesterday climbing volcanoes, well one volcano anyway, so we sleep in and decide on a relaxing day. We head into a shopping area near the hotel and Issy spies a Japanese restaurant. I think this might be the first one she's seen since we left home. The drool starts to appear at the corners of her mouth. It seems that it's closed now. I manage to stop her from breaking down the door, but I'm fairly sure we'll be back here later, and there might be violence if it's not open then. It seems someone before us may have had similar thoughts. A large area outside the restaurant is wrapped in police tape, and multiple members of the constabulary are in attendance. We briefly consider asking one of them what's happened ... read more