We’ve enjoyed our stay in the south, and even though there wasn’t much to do locally without hopping into the car, the beach was perfect for an early morning swim. A bit further up the coastline, we also discovered Zuma Beach, where we could have lunch and watch the kite surfers, which was highly entertaining, but it was time to move on. After packing up the car, we hit the road just after 8am. We had planned for one last swim, but the rough conditions prevented us from doing so. Throughout the drive up, we gained a true appreciation for the hilly nature of Sicily, as we crossed numerous bridges and drove through tunnels, some seemingly endless. The scenery was quite special, although we couldn’t help but notice how brown and scorched everything appeared compared to when we first arrived.
The four-hour journey was relatively painless, except for the stress caused by the dashboard, which lit up like a Christmas tree with warning lights. I was cautious not to put any more fuel in the car than necessary, which led to us arriving with very little fuel left and rolling into the gas station on fumes. However, we made it on time and in one piece, and to my surprise, I managed to get my deposits back (if you’ve driven in Italian cities before, you’ll understand what I mean). After a short wait, the taxi arrived, and we were on our way into the city. As we drove through, I felt a sense of relief knowing that we had returned the car and I wouldn’t be driving through the city. We arrived outside Port La Cala, where Martina from our host’s team greeted us. Our loft apartment is located in a beautiful old building, although it lacks an elevator, which is not uncommon in these historic structures. Nevertheless, the apartment is lovely, with views of the port in the front and the mountains in the rear. Most importantly, we’re only a 5-minute walk from the old town, and no attraction is more than a 20-minute walk away in any direction. After chilling out on the terrace for a few hours and taking a quick shower, we ventured out into this wonderful city for the first time.
Dream Chasers 