23 June 2023

Arrival

Syracuse - Island of Ortigia

When we arrived at Catania airport, it was later than scheduled. This was because of a technical issue with the air bridge to our plane back in Manchester. Once we had collected our bags, we headed to the "Jet 2 Holidays" meet-up point and there we were greeted with surprising enthusiasm by Maria our Milanese holiday rep and a local taxi driver called Luigi. We were the only air passengers heading down to Arenella tonight  so we had the rather luxurious grey Audi taxi to ourselves. No dropping other holidaymakers off from a coach. We just whizzed along like VIP's. Maria and  Luigi had been happy to see us simply because they had been waiting so long and now they could see an end to Friday.

The hotel had arranged cold platter dinners for us which was  unexpected given our late arrival. Also at the reception we booked bus tickets into Syracuse for tomorrow afternoon. 

11 comments:

  1. Oh my! The arranging of cold platters sounds far more interesting than whatever you and Mrs. P. had packed in your luggage. Enjoy!

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  2. It looks fabulous! Have a glorious time!

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  3. I'm a tad envious. I love Italy and have never been to Sicily.

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  4. A good start, even with the delay. Hope you slept well and are now ready to explore.

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  5. That island is wall-to-wall buildings! No parks or trees at all.

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  6. In spite of being late, your arrival sounds like it went so well.

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  7. I wonder how Catania Airport may have changed since I was there some time in the 1990s. Back then, it was very shirt-sleeved in its approach to formalities and security.
    Good of them to have a cold dinner ready for you!

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  8. Off to a great start,

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  9. Cold platter dinners :
    What you want to eat on a hot night. With a cold beer or chilled wine.

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  10. Glad you got there safe and sound, if a little bit late. That picture makes me want to visit Syracuse!

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  11. Syracuse looks like it would sink into the sea with all those buildings!

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