Georgia Armenia and Beyond 2026

Stayed two nights in Sciacca at Porta di Mare B&B (€42) where the owner fed me melon and dried tomatoes ,best I have ever tasted. Rode up to  Catabellotta, a medieval village perched on a mountain 950m above sea level which has a history that dates back 2500 years. The heat is intense and you can't  be outside for long, just to bloody hot.Luckily the A/C is working and have it cranked up in the room. Once cooled I ventured down to the harbour for a few hours, second largest port in Sicily.      SCIACCA      Sun dried tomatoes     Busiate Fresche, Gambero     1 AM fireworks to end festivities      Breakfast      Caltabellotta 

A short commute to Ragusa and stopped in at Noto to see some Baroque Architectue. Arrived in Ragusa at noon to Hotel Montreal and the walked into Ragusa Ibla which has some beautiful ancient Baroque churches and buildings.     NOTO     Palazzo Ducezio (Comune di Noto)    Cattedrale di San Nicolò     Chiesa di Montevergine     Chiesa di San Carlo al Corso     Porta Reale o Ferdinandea     RAGUSA IBLA    Duomo di San Giorgio         Chiesa di San Giuseppe     Ragusa Ibla

Leaving the sea side town of Naxos, I rode through the Sicilian countryside to the lovely village of Castelmola, perched high on a rocky knoll above Taormina. The sweeping views over the coastline and Mount Etna made it well worth the stop before carrying on with the 128 km ride south to Syracuse. My base for the next few days was Hotel Populus, just a short walk from the historic old town of Ortigia. Even with the stifling summer heat, I spent hours wandering its narrow streets, taking in the elegant baroque buildings, lively piazzas, and endless views of the sparkling Mediterranean along the ancient sea walls.  A refreshing swim in the crystal-clear sea was followed by the welcome relief of the hotel’s air conditioning during the hottest part of the afternoon. As the day came to an end, I went to the harbour with a cold Sicilian beer and watched the sun sink below the horizon—a perfect finish to another memorable day.        26-6-26 ...

Enjoyed a day at the beach and then then took a bus in the evening up to Taormina. Spectacular view of the coastline from up there but it is just filled with tourists,  restaurants and Gucci stores, didn't  stay long and cme back and enjoyed a beer on the beach.     NOXOS BEACH AND HARBOUR    TAORMINA IS UP ON THE HILL     VIEW FROM TAORMINA.  NOXOS IS THAT LITTLE FINGER ON THE RIGHT