Messina and Taormina, Sicily 10/22/2009

Marty here- As our cruise approaches the mid-way point (we have been sailing for 6 days), we now are calling Messina, Sicily. Very much a maritime crossroads, with many, many ships & ferries in this very bust port (makes Marty very happy). The Dream docked port side to and we were ahead of the MSC Fantasia. Messina was right outside our balcony stateroom and very busy with many little cars running here & there.

Terrain was very hilly and then mountainous, with volcanoes not too far away (e.g. Mt Etna). We got oof the shiop & immediately boarded a bus for another coastal town called Taormina. A little bit of logistical snafu on where & when we got to board the bus, as the bus did not show up right on time and then could not get close to us on the dock because all the other tour busses were leaving. Finally, down the dock, we met up with the bus & driver and we shortly after on our way.

Amazing that they get these large buses up the hilly/mountainous narrow, winding roads, but they do. The road and highway went through tunnels into mountains and crossed long elevated bridges…very scenic! Not too bad a drive and we arrived Taormina. Cool Sicilian town built into & along the mountains.





We made a point to visit the Greek Theatre, and we got some great still pics & video. Rest of thr time, we wandered around mainly along the main street and did a lot of window shopping. We stopped and had lunch at, believe it or not, an Irish Pub! Marty had a local Messina “birra” (very good btw, and the label had a ship on it-> made Marty very happy), Jeanne, for some reason, thought she was on a western Caribbean cruise and was in Cozumel, because she had a Corona with lime??!! For lunch, we had some freash Breshetta and also yet another pizza, this time Sicilian style, which Jeqnne & I both agreed, was the best so far. Lots of mozzarella cheese that was cooked (mmmm…yum), Fyi, the pizza in Dubrovnik was also VERY good. Crust was excellent and pizza of very good size.

So, at 2:30pm, we re-boarded the bus and rode back to the ship in Messina. No funny andedotes here, like in Venice. Everything went smooth, except the weather, We had gray skies, cludy & periods of rain L. Also, humid (reminded me of Houston!). Overall, Taormina was very cool and we enjoyed it very much. I had a wonderful pistachhio gelato on a cone…the best pistacchio I have EVER tasted J.

Back on the ship, we relaxed up to sail-away. I went up to Serenity (adul area) and bubbled away in a hot tub, way up on deck 14. What a way to say good-bye to Messina, Sicily!

Till our next adventure -- stormy seas on the way. More to come!!

Marty and Jeanne