On to Sicily!
The beautiful view from the Old Town area of Taormina, Sicily.
Mount Etna, of mythological fame, is the tallest volcano in Europe.
Today the cruise ship dropped anchor at Taormina, on the coast of Sicily. What a charming place we found this to be!
Sicily is a triangular-shaped island at the “toe” of boot-shaped Italy. It is primarily agriculture land, but Taormina is filled with shops for the tourists who invade periodically. It is perched on high cliffs and getting anywhere requires an energetic walk or a taxi or motorbike ride.
Outside of Taormina is Mount Etna, an active volcano that is over 10,000 feet high. As with Mount Vesuvius at Pompeii, Mount Etna has generated rich volcanic soil and the fruits and vegetables seen in the ‘supermercato’’ and delivery trucks were lush.
We observed a beautiful mass at the Taormina Cathedral.
We had the opportunity to observe a mass at the Taormina Cathedral – The Church of the Immaculate Mary. Some of our group saw the procession from the church carrying an iconic statue and the blessing of the many schoolchildren who were there for this special ceremony.
We strolled along the main street of the Old Town and continued to the Greco-Roman Theater. It is situated on a high point overlooking the bay, offering panoramic views, and is renowned for its acoustics. It is still used for summer festivals and modern productions of Greek tragedy.
Lunch at one of the many sidewalk cafes was the first meal we’ve had off the ship, and sitting outside in the sunshine and gentle breeze was as delicious as the food.
The artwork and pottery, laces and flowers made this a beautiful stop on our cruise. Be sure to include it in your itinerary!
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Sounds fun and beautiful!! All is good here! Except for the weather!!! Tornadoes all around! Hope your weather is much better! Looking forward to seeing the pictures! We love you guys and hope you’re all having the time of your life!!!