West Coast Sicily Day 1 Favignana

The long-awaited day arrives, awaited for over a year, because we had planned this trip for September 2015, but things went rather differently. Never mind, here we are, 26th September 2016 on the bus from Trapani airport heading for the port to get a ferry to Favignana. No, we didn't book the ferry in advance because it's the end of September, low season and shouldn't be necessary. Shouldn't be. Instead perhaps it was. At our initial enquiry it transpires that the next couple of ferries are fully booked and will need to wait a couple of hours and we'd better get on and book that one, or there won't be any places in that either. As we are digesting the idea of hanging around waiting at the port with  our luggage under an unexpectedly hot September Sicilian sun the lady in the booking office beckons us over urgently and informs us that actually we can get on the ferry that's just leaving after all. So what was all that about? Too relieved to take it further we sink thankfully in to the shady interior of the Catamaran and are soon on our way.

Things are quiet on our arrival in Favignana, we trundle through the quiet streets with the trolley wheels rattling and find the offices of the agency we rented an apartment from. This is unusual for us, usually we prefer Airbnb or similar, but this time, keeping fingers crossed, we booked at the last minute, just in case, touch wood, all being well, once bitten twice shy, you get the idea. The result was that anything left on Airbnb was uninspiring or too far on foot from the shops whereas the agency was prepared to do us a last minute special offer on an apartment with a, yes, with a sea view.

The apartment turns out to be just like in the photos and the sea view as well, corresponds. 

We stay there for 6 nights and it is an extremely comfortable stay. It's on the first floor with a view over Praia Bay and has been redecorated by somebody with excellent taste. It must be said that they had a pellet burner delivered and haven't unpacked it yet and that takes up a corner of the kitchen living-room but doesn't spoil the whole. The theme colour is blue, so the ordinary kitchen has been repainted with a deep blue gloss, the bedroom is blue and white, the brand new bathroom is mainly blue with different tints of water colours and those tiles which are all different from each other and harmonize with each other, the back patio is blue and white. One of my alternative jobs could have been interior decoration so I am delighted by all the thoughtful and original touches.A cool breeze can be created by opening the front window and the back door and I can hear the sound of the waves lying on the sofa. Wow are we pleased!

Now it is decidedly lunchtime so we head for the self-service we had found on Tripadvisor where we indulge ourselves in an enormous plate of mussels. We are just congratulating ourselves on the good fortune of such a place existing on a generally rather expensive island when we discover that it's the last day and that they'll be closing for the end of season.......

Time for a rest on the previously described sofa and then we go out again to explore Favignana town and stock up on essentials at the supermarket. Favignana is a pretty and quiet town, just a few touristy shops, a few tourists even at the end of September, an ideal temperature, neither hot nor cold with a pleasant breeze. 

We also find a fishmongers and get sardines for supper. With the help of my trusty frying pan, bread and fresh tomatoes, just a little flour salt and olive oil and  local white wine we look at the lights around the bay and then each other. It's been a long wait, but here we are.

Favignana Day 2 East wing coast Walk
Favignana Day 3 West wing coast Walk
Favignana Day 4 Praia and sunset at the castle
Favignana Day 5 Cala Azzurra and South Coast
Favignana Trip report