Sicily, Home of the Godfather

The excursion today took us to Mt. Edna, the active volcano in the area.  The craters it created and the widespread ash was fascinating to see.

Along the way, our guide pointed out the two towns nestled into the mountains, that were used by Francis Ford Coppola as the settings of the Godfather Trilogy.

The countryside reminded me a lot of Northern California.  There were acres and acres of orchards.  A wide variety of fruits and vegetables are grown here.  The volcanic ash seems to make great fertilizer.

Once we left the mountain, and we were headed down to the town of Taormina,  that would be our next stop, the roads became very narrow.  We were winding down the mountain and when we came to a curve, the driver blew the horn to alert oncoming traffic because you couldn't see around the end.

Side note - I just met one of the wait staff, a black girl, who is from Belarus.  Yes, Belarus!  Her Mom is from Belarus and father is from the Congo.

Side note 2 - The music on the PA System was just Earth, Wind, & Fire, then Luther Vandross.  I'm in heaven!

Back to the roads - Twice it was too narrow for two cars to pass, so the oncoming traffic backed up to let us by.

As we approached the city - it's more of a quaint town really - there were commercial and residential areas.  What was striking about them was that they were virtually on the street.  There didn't seem to be a concept of sidewalks.  Everything was just right there, we could almost touch it as we passed by.

The town of Taormina was extraordinary in it's beauty.  It is framed by the the ocean on one side, and filled with shops, and churches and more shops and more churches.  As you walk down the street, there are alleys that look like they have been decorated by professionals.  There are flowers, rocks, outdoor seating, and they are all just so . . . perfect!  Everything is also multiple leveled - some shops are street level, others higher.  Same with the churches.

Side note 3 - I heard a young Black girl who worked in one of the stores, who spoke fluent Italian.  Reminded me of Kobe Bryant, who spent his formative years here, and also speaks the language.

Side note 4 - At one of the courtyards, I noticed an empty hearse parked in front of the church.  It wasn't there when we arrived.  As we were leaving, it had moved and now carried a coffin, and was being driven slowly up the street towards us and the church, with the family walking slowly behind.  There were people already in the church, and they greeted the family with the double cheek kisses.  All of us stopped to watch.  Probably shouldn't have, but we were very respectful.

Side note - At this public, open area, there was a fountain, and from the fountain, there flowed a steady stream of the coldest, most satisfying water on the planet.

As I close, let me note that I'm writing this in the dining room again.  The view of the city of Messina, nestled in the mountain range, with the most beautiful blue water slashing against it's shores, is breathtaking.  Shortly we began to sail off, and now we're saying goodbye to Sicily, on our way to Greece.

Tomorrow we'll be at sea.