Day Two - Taormina
Sicily really is a beautiful place and I really haven't seen much of it yet. I took these two photos last night. There really are worse places I could be right now.
When I arrived yesterday it really was quite cloudy and I did think typical, I leave London when they are having a heatwave and look at the weather here. I was wrong. Today it has been very hot. I started my day with my breakfast on the patio just outside of my apartment. I decided to go and find the market. Now, those of you who have followed my previous adventures will know that I do like a market. Do you remember the market in Cambodia when the fish leapt out of the bucket onto my ankles! Armed with a kind of address and high hopes I set off. I was looking for the Arco dei Cappuccini. Armed with my very limited Italian I asked a woman who had no idea. I then realised that I was in fact standing under the Arco dei Cappuccini I also then learned, when I asked someone else that supermarket in Italian is supermercato and a market is in fact mercato. Doh. Found said market or mercato and to say I was a tad disappointed is an understatement. There were two stalls and it was only 10.00am. I purchased some eggs which were absolutely massive. I would like to see the hen they originated from! I also pointed to some cooked meat only to have a guy say something to the woman who was serving me and all I could understand was her say no, no, no. Next thing I know she is putting some olives in container for me. I said no and kept pointing to the cooked meat (having no idea myself what it was) eventually she cottoned on and then proceeded to smack the guy on the shoulder, coupled with a few choice (Italian) words. It always makes me chuckle the sisterhood is going strong in every country. We do not have to speak the same language, us women have a language of our own. I went to the other stall and purchased some apricots, lettuce, tomatoes, bananas and a cucumber. They guy who served me looked like a very young Victor Mature ......... showing my age now. Anyway, Vic's fruit and veg stall is a far cheaper than the Coop, so I know where I will be going when I need to restock. When I got home and put the shopping away, I found that he had put a big sprig of basil in the bag with the tomatoes.
I did not want to go straight back to the apartment so had a wander around the town again. The Sicilians do a lot of this and I found a beautiful restaurant/cafe which had the most amazing views over the sea. I knew it was going to be pricey but as I am not eating out I thought I would treat myself.
I practiced my Italian again and actually got what I ordered so I will take that as a success. It is just so lovely to sit there watching the world go by when you know really you should be at work. Popped back to the apartment to put the shopping away and to prepare my lunch. Lovely fresh homegrown vegetables taste so different to the mass-produced food we eat in the UK.
After lunch I decided to go out again. Big mistake. It really was quite hot and I should have stayed put. I went and caught the cablecar down to the sea. This cost €6 return. I knew before I got here that Taormina is not cheap. I noticed that the food is quite expensive too; around €25 for a main evening meal (no drinks, starter or pudding or service charge) in what looks a good restaurant. You can get your basic standard pizzas and pasta dishes starting from €12 in a cheaper restaurant. Anyway, back to the sea. Taormina is very steep and is no good if you have a dodgy hip or knee (I fortunately don't but may well do after this trip). There were so many steps down to the seashore I stopped counting. Also, the steps are very steep which is not good if you have short legs like me. When I got to the bottom the beach was just stones. I knew this before but it was still disappointing. You an hire a sun bed for €15 (I assume for the whole day) or sit on the pebbles. Also, there are people trying to sell you some rubber shoes to wear so that you can go into the water. Goodness knows how much they would be. I always have high hopes for the beach then when I get there can't sit still long enough. I think I would find it difficult to spend the whole day down there. I found a bench to sit on and sat and watched the world going by. The 'beach' or pebbles was opposite Isola Bella. Now for the cut and paste history lesson: 
Isola Bella (Sicilian: Ìsula Bedda) is a small island near Taormina, Sicily, southern Italy. Also known as The Pearl of the Ionian Sea, it is located within a small bay on the Ionian Sea; it was a private property owned by Florence Trevelyan until 1990, when it was bought by the Region of Sicily, being turned into a nature reserve, administrated by the Italian branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature. There is a narrow path that often connects the island to the mainland beach. The island is surrounded by sea grottos and has a small and rather rocky beach which is a popular destination for sunbathers.
History
King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies gifted the island to the nearby town of Taormina in 1806. The island was in 1890 bought from the town by Trevelyan, who built a small house facing the sea and imported exotic plants, which thrived in the Mediterraneanclimate. Subsequent owners kept up the island, until the owner went bankrupt, and auctioned the island in 1990. The island had been noted by conservationists as early as 1983, and it was quickly obtained by the region and designated as a protected natural site. The island is home to several species of birds, and a few types of lizards.
I did not walk out to the island as I did not want to get my sandals wet nor pay for the shoes, also it was very crowded so I could not see the point if I am honest. I then had to walk back up the 294737390242 steps to catch the cable car back. By now it was very hot. What is that saying: Mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun!
I really want to go and see Mount Etna whilst I am here but as many of you know, I do not do an organised trip for so many reasons and once again I was reminded of this today. There are numerous tours that leave Taormina for Etna but they are quite pricey (well in my opinion starting at €60 around £52. Forget the days when you just halved the euro to get the pound rate!) also once they have taken you to see Etna you are then subjected to the obligatory trip to, on this occasion, a honey factory! No. I do not want to go to a honey factory thank you. Then, if that was not enough, you can go and see (or are kidnapped to see) some rivers or something (I stopped listening if I am honest) and then pay some more then when you are there to go swimming in said water. I just want to go and see Etna. That is all. I am going to research it tonight and see if I can find an alternative tour and one where I am not kidnapped and taken hostage by bee keepers!
The rest of the afternoon was spent in my swimming costume, don't dwell on that thought for long folks, lazing on a sun bed dozing. Come on, give the girl a break she is on holiday! Dinner done and dusted and went to join the masses. The Italians do a great deal of walking up and down and looking gorgeous. I am doing one of those things. I will let you decide which one! I love people watching and I have to say some of the older Italian men are very easy on my eye. They, and obviously not all of them, have some style about them. I remember having the same thought on my honeymoon when I was in Sorento. That should have been a warning for me. The amazing thing about not doing much is that it makes you incredibly tired. I guess all the walking up and down steps in the heat has something to do with it; or perhaps I was just ready for the break and rest.
As always, with my love.
Karen x
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