In August I flew to Palermo.
Not because it was on my bucket list. But because a friend convinced me.
I wanted a place with city and sea in one.
Only beach gets boring.
Only city in midsummer gets… aggressive.
Originally, Barcelona was the plan. But my friend told me two magical words:
cheap flights and cheap apartments — even in peak summer.
A quick reality check confirmed it.
Five nights + flights: €350 total.
At that point, Palermo had already won.
Arrival: Espresso Promises & Italian Timing
Shortly after landing, I arrived with my standard setup:
passport, laptop, Meta AI glasses — confidence level questionable.
I met my Airbnb host immediately.
A classic Italian in his late 50s. Loud. Funny. Talkative. Zero small talk filter.
Within five minutes, he offered to pick me up the next morning and show me:
“The best coffee in all of Palermo.”
As a slightly introverted person, this felt… ambitious.
But I said yes.
Italian rule number one, which I learned quickly:
tomorrow does not necessarily mean tomorrow.
The Apartment: Cheap for a Reason
The accommodation was modest. Very modest.
But for the price, I knew what I signed up for.
One big plus:
It was right next to a local beach, not a tourist hotspot.
That alone made it worth it.
The downside?
I optimized for price, not location.
The apartment was 40 minutes from the city center.
Uber? Rare.
Public transport? Let’s call it “character-building.”
Luckily, I had a daily goal of 10,000 steps — which I exceeded enthusiastically.
Every day. Twice.
Routine: Work, Walk, Beach, Repeat
My days settled into a rhythm:
- Work during the day
- Afternoon at the beach
- Evening walk into the city
- Bars, food, chaos, beauty
Palermo is intense — loud, messy, warm, alive.
Touristy in parts, yes.
But never boring.
The Market Incident (aka Arancini Overload)
One day, I visited a local street market that stretches through countless narrow alleys for what feels like a full kilometer.
Food everywhere.
Noise everywhere.
Sicilian DNA in its purest form.
That day, I ate more arancini than in my entire life combined.
- Meat
- Vegetables
- Variations I didn’t even understand
All accompanied by:
- A small coffee
- Another small coffee
- And… yes, another small coffee
Zero regrets.
Evenings: Aperitivo, Pasta & Unexpected Friends
Evenings usually started with a classic aperitivo, followed by pasta.
Simple. Perfect.
One night, I met an older couple from Milan.
We talked, laughed, exchanged tips.
I surprised myself by activating my rarely-used extroverted mode.
Worth it.
The Legendary Espresso (Eventually)
The promised coffee tour with my Airbnb host happened —
two days late, of course.
Italian timing.
But when it happened, it delivered.
One of the best espressos I’ve ever had. No exaggeration.
He showed me parts of the city, told stories, laughed a lot.
It was chaotic, warm, very Palermo.
What I Brought Home (Besides Memories)
Unfortunately, I didn’t just bring souvenirs back from Palermo.
I also brought a stomach bug.
Likely source?
The airport lounge.
As a digital nomad, I use several neobanks —
which occasionally grant access to airport lounges.
I arrived early.
I was hungry.
I trusted the buffet.
That trust was… misplaced.
Final Thoughts
Palermo gave me:
- Sun
- Sea
- Chaos
- Incredible food
- Great stories
And a very clear lesson:
Cheap flights don’t mean cheap consequences.
Would I go back?
Absolutely.
Would I eat in the airport lounge again?
Absolutely not.
Written somewhere between espresso shots, evening walks,
and one very questionable buffet decision.
