What else can you do when the temperature is very hot, but go swimming and eat ice cream?
That was exactly the plan for Inky Mouse and Lion. With their sunglasses perched firmly on their noses and a generous squirt of sunscreen (factor 50, of course), they headed out for a seaside adventure.
Now, this wasn’t quite like a day out in Portpatrick. There was no soft sand between their paws. Instead, the beach was made of dramatic black rocks, formed long ago when Mt Etna’s lava cooled and hardened at the water’s edge. No donkey rides here. But there were smooth steps leading right into the glittering blue sea.
And instead of staking out a spot with towels and windbreaks, everyone paid to enter a beach club where they could relax on comfy loungers under umbrellas. A lifeguard watched over everyone with a very serious pair of binoculars, although Inky Mouse suspected he was mostly making sure no one tried to dive in with their flip-flops on.
Lion decided swimming wasn’t really his thing and instead flopped onto a lounger to sunbathe with style. Inky Mouse tucked into a whole box of juicy grapes and declared it the finest beach snack ever. No sand in your sandwiches here!
Later, Rev Breakey, Claire and the stowaways wandered off in search of something cool and sweet. They found a local Italian café that looked like dessert heaven, with shelves stacked full of beautiful cakes and colourful tubs of ice cream. But the treat of the day was something very special indeed — a granita. It’s a cross between ice cream and sorbet, served with a soft, fluffy brioche bun. Lion wasn’t sure at first, but after one bite, his eyes widened and he refused to share. Inky Mouse dipped her brioche like a true professional.
Yum.
With bellies full and paws sticky, they chatted excitedly about tomorrow’s plans — a short (and hopefully safe) hike near Mt Etna. Rev Breakey mentioned getting a bit lost on Friday and bumping into some ladies in their undies, but no photos were taken and everyone agreed that was probably for the best.
More to come as the stowaways continue their Sicilian adventure. Stay tuned!
