Sicily

March 20

We just returned from our week long driving trip to Sicily.  Once the school closed for March Break, George, Christine and Terry and I got ready by going to the market getting snacks for the trip along with lunch and dinner for our first day.

The Gorgan - the symbol of Sicily

We left early Sunday morning in the rain and drove to Naples.  We stopped on the way to tour Pompeii in the rain.  It was destroyed in 79 AD after Mt. Vesuvius erupted.  The people of the town were either buried or suffocated by poisionous gases.  After Pompeii we then headed to the overnight ferry in Naples to take us to Sicily.  Driving there was a bit of a nightmare as the roads themselves were in disrepair; it was raining hard; and, there were hardly any signs to give us directions.  Once we boarded the ship and settled in we had our picnic dinner of roasted chicken, cheese, bread and veggies along with some wine.  

Our Picnic Dinner - it was delicious

On Monday morning we arrived in Palermo, Sicily.  Once off the ship we navigated to our hotel to drop off our luggage and explore the city.  Palermo in our view was quite disappointing.  We saw a lot of garbage everywhere.  The guidebooks talk about that many buildings that were bombed in World War II have been left as is and are quite an attraction to the city with little cafes etc located in each.  The buildings we did find were in the slums surrounded by garbage.  We took the local bus up to Monreale and that was quite pleasant.  We toured the Duomo which is spectacular.  The inside ofthe cathedral was full of glittering mosaics on the floors, the walls and ceiling.  We had a wonderful dinner in Palermo that evening at a restaurant that was recommended by the hotel.

A building bombed in WW2 - notice the graffiti

Palermo

Duomo in Monreale

Tuesday we left to travel to Trapani.  It was quite a challenge getting out of Palermo.  After many one ways streets, no marked lanes on the road, cars honking and merging in we managed to get safely out of town.  George had white knuckles and the rest of us sighing with deep relief that we were still all alive.  We drove to Trapani which is a small port town.  We wandered around, went to the market to pick up some lunch and continued our drive to Agrigento.  

Trapani

 Once in Agrigento we went to Valley of the Temples which consists of ancient Greek buildings.  

Temple of Concord

From there we headed to Taormina.  Along the way we hoped to see Mount Etna but because of rain and low clouds we were unable to see it.  By the time we reached Taormina it was early evening, a much longer drive than originally anticipated due to construction.  I would say Taormina was probably my favourite.  Such a pretty town with wonderful views if the skies were clear.  We had probably our most favourite meal in Taormina.  We ordered fresh fish and it was absolutely delicious.  The next morning we wandered through the town.  

Fresh fish for dinner

Taormina

The view from our room in Taormina

A Greek Theatre in Taormina

We left early afternoon and headed to Cefalu, a seaside town.  The weather stared to turn in our favour.  Bright blue skies.  In the morning we walked up LaRocca which is a rock that dominates the city.  La Rocca is where the Temple of Diana is.  We climbed up to the top (almost a 1 km) meeting sheep on our way to see the temple and then further up to a castle overlooking the town and sea.  There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the view was spectaular.  

The afternoon was spent lying on the beach and enjoying the warm weather, we all ended up getting sunburned.  Late in the afternoon we left to go back to Palermo to catch the overnight ferry back to Naples.  Unfortunately we missed a cut off and had to drive through Palermo one more time.  It wasn’t any fun.  

Cefalu

Temple of Diana - at the top of LaRocca

Mom and baby on our way to LaRocca

Looking down from LaRocca

A group photo

We arrived in Sorrento early morning and took the city bus along the Amalfi Coast and to Ravello.  It was quite the drive.  The road which winds left and right is quite high up on a cliff with the sea hundreds of metres below.  There is no way we would ever attempt to drive it.  Unfortunately we had rain most of the way and the clouds were quite low.  Even though it was quite interesting to be above the clouds in Ravello and we were able to see some of the great views.  We had a great lunch in Ravello which consisted of homemake bean soup.  Great for a rainy day.  We spent the evening in Sorrento. 
 

Sorrento

Waiting for the bus to go to the Amalfi Coast

In Ravello

Early Saturday we were up and the Thomsons left by train for Rome and Florence.  George and I returned back to Lanciano.