Sicily 2005

This stunner was performing a balancing act in Taormina.

Also in Taormina, this friendly little black kitty stood guard over my pack while I took photos in the main square.

The Alhambra, Granada, 2005

The beautiful Alhambra in Granada has a colony of cats, all of which are obviously related.

Some frequent the interior of the palace.

However the most photogenic were just outside the Alcazaba, the fortress of the Alhambra.

Several joined me for breakfast.

Athens 1993

The National Garden in the centre of Athens are (or were in the early 90s) full of stray cats, presumably dumped, as you can see from the sign.

If you are wondering what the "other" animals the sign mentioned could be, this goat was one.

The cats are regularly fed by locals.

The beautiful Plaka below the Acropolis was only improved by the addition of scattered cats.

Sicily 1993 and 2005

This is my girlfriend's cat, Musti (short for Mustapha). He was a youngster when I first met him.

When I returned to Sicily in 2005 he was still going strong although older, slower and fatter, but aren't we all after 12 years. The tortoise was still alive as well.

Venice 1998

Venetian cats doing what cats do best in the heat of the day on a quiet street leading to a bridge over a canal.

Rome 1993

A small lion stalks at the Colosseum.

San Gimignano 1993

These two locals decided to keep me company while I read my guidebook on a slow, hot afternoon.

Riomaggiore 1993

Orvieto 1993

The kitty below lived near my hotel and I would see him every time I left or returned. We became good friends.

Padua 1993

Bantry 1993

Stornaway 1993

The keeper of Lews Castle in Stornaway on the islandof Lewis in the Hebrides.

Cornwall 1993

Cambridge 1993

London 1992/93

Paignton 1992/93

Meet Suki (the Burmese), and Katusi (the tabby). They lived with my English surrrogate parents in Paignton in Devon with whom I spent the Christmas of 1992 and visited again the following year.

For some reason Suki liked sleeping on top of the fridge.
Katusi was a rescue cat from, I think, Libya, which they brought back to England after a stint working in that country. They couldn't bear to leave her behind.

As you can see the whole family ended up adopting me.