After we did the initial climb towards the digs we did some more climbing and some more and a bit more after that. Then it levelled out and we dodged a few scooters and honking cars, then we weaved around a bit and the the iPhone ran out of charge!  

Going on memory we fortunately found the right road but it all looked very dubious – a dusty track and some houses in the mountains!

One looked particularly grand however and we asked a women (who frankly looked scared to death of us!) where the guest house was. She sent us up an even steeper, narrower, dustier track where we found locked gates and two intercom buzzers, neither of which was labelled. I pressed both a few times, without any apparent response. Patty, who had urgent need of facilities due to some Sicilian squits, couldn’t wait any longer and climbed a rickety fence, which promptly collapsed! On the other side he met the owner, who was understandably alarmed and distressed to find an English adolescent in shorts rampaging around his garden, and even more alarmed to find several sweaty lycra-clad Britons just outside his gates!! Off on the wrong foot, although to be fair the standard of signage left a lot to be desired!’

A lovely set up with a moonlit swimming pool and pleasant surroundings were what was required after another 80-mile plus day, but bad news was that food (although we were relieved it was available at all!) was not until 10pm! Bernard, who had done the booking, had a bit of a moan and some salami, cheese, bread, tomatoes and wine appeared by the terrace. After a wonderful swim we gathered at 10 for food but it was nearly half past before we got any – not ideal. Then to bed to find that the air con in the rooms did not go below 16 degrees C, which meant another hot night! Easy day to Catania tomorrow – what could possibly go wrong with that?!!!