Wednesday 7 Nov 2018 Taormina, Sicily, Italy

Taormina is a relatively unprotected harbor so we were fortunate in being able to anchor and tender in. Our first view of Sicily was rather humbling as we saw the steam rising out of the caldera of Mt. Etna. Little did we know that within a few hours we'd be tasting wines and enjoying (anxiously) lunch up the leeward side of Mt. Etna under a cloud of mist from the volcano.

Have you ever known an Italian who could speak without using their hands? Our guide today was the most enthusiastic and energizing guide we've had in many years of excursions. And our first stop on the way up Mt. Etna was a stop to have coffee, a cannoli and rest stop (no toilet seats are fairly common) in Linguaglossa. The carousel was charming.

Charlie Welsh enjoying her cannoli

For a small village, the duomo was most impressive.


Alas, no excursion would not be complete without the requisite wine tasting (traveler option) and lunch. Today's tasting was at the Gambini Winery maybe 1/3 of the way up the Mt. Etna slope. Lunch was typically vaious local cheeses, olives, eggplant, fresh and dried tomatoes, hard boiled egg and perhaps some local sausages and bread.















We continue to be amazed where (and how) folks build their homes. The wide-angle view is of Taormina. The telephoto is what's on the top of the hill. If Mt. Etna doesn't get you, sleep walking will.

Sleep well.