Day Three - Taormina
The internet is a tad like Mount Etna. It is always watching. The problem with taking your Mac on your travels with you means you are still subjected to 'the real world' imposing on your day. I have a lot of plates spinning at the moment. Actually, it is more like an entire Royal Doulton dinner service if I am honest. Therefore, that means still dealing with the life laundry as it hits the inbox.
I am always an early bird and this morning it paid off. I was up and out around 8.45am, the best time of the day. On my commute to and from my accommodation I pass a house that has swifts or swallows (I can never tell the difference to be honest) nesting in the eaves of their roof. These birds swoop in and out all day, building their nests that resemble a wasp's nest. They were very busy this morning. I pass an elderly gentlemen in the morning who has his little van selling bedding plants. He always says Buongiorno to me. The irony of it is, living in London means I can go for days not speaking to a soul, yet this gentleman, every morning, speaks. We do not speak the same language, yet we can communicate. I really wish I could buy something from his stall.
I made my way to Taormina's amphitheatre which opened at 9.00am. Wow! I am so pleased that I got there early and just so pleased that I went. I make no apologies for posting so many photos of it. It totally blew me away. So beautiful and there in the background, still, is Mount Etna. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine how life would have been then back in the third century bc when it was built. I will just let that fact hang there for a moment. It was built by the Greeks and apparently it is known that the Greek architect used to build their most important buildings as if nature could be part of them, so the natural scenery was integrated with the architecture of the theatre. As the light and air could come through the columns, even the natural scenery were integrated to the theatre architecture. Amazing. The Greeks used the theatre for performance and music. However, when the Roman's got their hands on it they used it for gladiatorial battles and games. Brutal. At the moment, I am watching something on Netflix called The Romans which has been really interesting. I sat in the theatre for ages as it was so quiet, I just watched Etna doing it's thing. I had noticed a cruise ship in the harbour and I know what that means! People. I was not wrong. As I was leaving the theatre they arrived. Americans. You can always hear them before you see them. There were so many of them. Their guides holding the umbrella up so they could follow them. Each member of the party had their name badge on. This fascinated me. Was this in case they got lost or just so we knew who they were. Not for me thank you very much. I am sure cruises fill the gaps for some people but this is the woman who does not want to be on a bus any longer than she has to with complete strangers; let alone be cast to sea for days at a time with a bunch of Americans (all wearing their name badges).
I popped along the main street and found a excursion agent there and they did a trip to Etna to 1300 feet (you can go up to 3000 feet) then a trip to see a gorge (I think it is) and a market (she likes a market remember) then back. This was for €45. That will do thank you. This is booked for Sunday. I did ask what I thought was a sensible question and one that is not mentioned on any of the blurbs they operators give you. What is the weather like up there. Apparently it is about 15 degrees during the day so I will have to dig out a 3/4 sleeve top. Goodness knows how cold it would be if I had gone right to the top. This is enough and will feed my curiosity.
Back to the apartment, via the Coop whose share must be on the way up since I arrived in town. I always take a bottle of water back with me to keep the stocks high. The apartment has a patio area with seats and sun beds so spent the rest of the morning just chilling, reading my book and doing the said life laundry. After lunch I went back to the patio area and just chilled. Sometimes doing absolutely nothing can be so tiring.
Some of the more eagle eyed among you may have noticed my towel. I first blogged about said towel back in 2014 on my trip to Ko May (oh how I love that island). I purchased this towel in Tenerife back in around 1986. It is a bit like Trigger's broom now. Its effectiveness as a towel is questionable but as I said then, and will say again, this towel has stuck around longer than any man in my life and actually, now I come to think of it, longer than anyone else I know living. Sentiment will not let me get rid of it and it comes along with me on all my trips.
So let me tell you a little bit more about Taormina. Back in the day, Taormina was a destination on the Grand Tour. Three hundred years ago, Italy's 'Grand Tour' was a journey made by wealthy young people from Venice to Sicily, passing through Tuscany, Rome or Naples. So far I have had my 'Not So Grand Tour' passing through (throughout the years) Sorrento, Capri, Milan and now Sicily. The point of the Grand Tour was to discover the legacy of classical art and Renaissance Masterpieces. Europe's upper class families made a tradition of sending their sons and daughters to explore the country's artwork and to inspire a love of culture of creativity. Arguably, I guess, the first 18-30s holiday. Talking of holidays I see the new kid on the block of travel agents (move over Thomas Cook) Priti Patel is expanding her tour destinations to not only incorporate the continent of Africa, courtesy of Rwanda; but she is now offering special relocation packages to the States. How does that woman sleep at night. Perhaps she just hangs upside in a corner somewhere.
I found this nestling around a little corner off one of the roads, it is called the Odeon. It is not like the Odeon at Surrey Quays that's for sure.
Regular trip to the Coop tonight and the woman recognised me and was teaching me how to say 150 in Italian. For those of you who want to know it is centocinquanta. Not the easiest of words to try. Activity back at base camp. The gardeners were in pruning the vine outside of my apartment. The guy was explaining to me why they had to do this. He finally concluded by saying it is a lot of hard work in the sun just for a glass of wine. Made me smile.
As always, with my love.
Karen x
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