Sicily

Last year, during our trip to the Amalfi Coast, I became really curious about what Sicily might be like. So, naturally, I jumped into planning mode! Before we knew it, I had booked us flights with BA from Heathrow to Palermo and, after a bit of research, I decided that we'd stay in the gorgeous town of Cefalù! Our flight arrived ahead of schedule, and before we knew it, we were cruising in our fancy Mercedes transfer to the lovely Victoria Palace Hotel right on the Lungomare, which took about 90 minutes. The spot was just perfect for hitting the beach, and we were only a quick ten-minute stroll away from the charming old town! We got to the hotel bright and early, and since our room wasn’t ready yet, we decided to leave our bags at the reception. We took a lovely stroll to one of the nearby restaurants for some lunch, and of course, I had to indulge in my favourite drink, an Aperol Spritz! The weather was super warm, and I was itching to slip into my swimwear and take a dip in the hotel pool. But then we spotted some dark clouds looming overhead, and it seemed like a storm was on its way! After lunch, we made our way back to the hotel, dropped off our bags in our room, and excitedly headed for the sun loungers! As soon as we settled in, we felt a few raindrops, so we decided to make a quick detour to the hotel bar for another refreshing Aperol Spritz! By then, the thunder and lightning were really picking up, and my daughter Laila and I couldn’t resist heading over to the sea front to snap some photos and try to catch a lightning shot. Suddenly, out of nowhere, it felt like a hurricane hit! One moment everything was calm, and the next it was total chaos, with even a tree getting snapped in half by the wind. Laila and I quickly rushed back inside the hotel, joining a bunch of other guests, and we all watched in awe as the storm rolled in and gradually passed through. The next morning, we were greeted with a gorgeous clear blue sky, so Carl and I thought it would be a great idea to hike up Rocca di Cefalu, which stands at 268 meters. We paid a small fee of 5 euros each and eagerly started our adventure. At first, I didn’t think much of it; I figured it would be a breeze, especially since we passed folks who were older than me and looked like they were handling it just fine. How tough could it really be? Well, it turned out to be one of the scariest experiences of my life! I’ve always had a fear of heights, and this hike definitely tested those limits! Seriously, without Carl’s constant encouragement and support, I might have thrown in the towel. There were moments when it felt like we were standing on the edge of a cliff, with sheer drops leading straight down to the sea, which looked like it was a thousand meters away! But once we finally reached the top, it was absolutely worth it. We found a beautiful castle and an archaeological site complete with picnic benches, and the views from up there were simply stunning! The day after our rock climbing adventure, we decided to chill out a bit and booked a fun 3-hour boat trip. We made our way to the marina, hopped on board with some other friendly passengers, and set off down the beautiful coast. We had three amazing stops for snorkelling, which was such a refreshing experience! When we got back on the boat, we were treated to some delicious appetizers and drinks—what a lovely way to wrap up our afternoon! Cefalù's old town is absolutely charming! With its narrow alleyways and lovely cobbled streets lined with cute souvenir shops and delightful restaurants, it's easy to see why so many tourists flock here. The beach has lovely sandy spots, though the sea is a bit rocky at first. But don’t worry! Once you navigate through the rocks, you’ll find a beautiful sandy area that’s perfect for wading about in the shallow water. Plus, Hotel Victoria Palace offers its own section of the beach with sun beds, handy toilet facilities, and a restaurant. We just had to make a trip to the capital, Palermo, while we were in Sicily! So, one day we decided to hop on a train, which was a breeze. The station was only about a ten-minute walk from our hotel, and the tickets were a steal at around 12 euros for a round trip per person. Once we arrived in Palermo, we didn’t have a set plan—we just wanted to wander and soak in the vibe of the city. We strolled along the marina and then meandered through the streets, passing by so many historical buildings until we happily stumbled upon the stunning cathedral. Wow, it was absolutely beautiful! Just a heads up, though—it was an incredibly hot day, so visiting Palermo in August might not be the best idea! Our fabulous week in Sicily flew by, and we loved every moment! I can’t wait to explore the other side of the island someday, where Mount Etna and charming towns such as Taormina await!