Sicily! Up Mount Etna!! /V\/WW\

FRIDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER
buongiorno! Good morning

well, more like awaking from a partial nap at 4.15am! Our mini bus driver was raging too as apparently we were meant to be down for 4.40, however we were told 4.55. At the port we did a passport check and ticket collection before boarding our ship, though they referred to it as a "catamaran"  she was named "Jean de Valette" of course.
We swiftly moved from our first seats as we were nearby a family who had a very loud and annoyingly awake American woman, it was 5.30am, We wanted peace and Quiet, not a shrill voice! we moved to a sofa area to be told off for our feet being on the seats. Purchased a lovely hot chocolate. Not going to lie but i think it may have been the best I've ever had in my life, smooth and creamy, the perfect combination of thick and not in the slightest bit sickening. Best 2euro spent! There were a crowd of small children running around and yelling (Will I not get any peace?!) I gave up and moved to the very front of the boat, getting a stunning photograph of the rising sun upon the sea perhaps crawling into a ball and napping! I was awoken what felt like shortly after by the boat announcing our imminent arrival  so Rebecca,Lauren and I gathered to the front to watch our entrance into port to Sicily, Italy.

 coming into port

We took our time to get off, unsure exactly where to go, there was no passport control, no stamps or ticket checks and got onto the English tour bus. unfortunately we were one of the last few, Rebecca sitting on up ahead and Lauren and I near the back. We sat with a lovely New Zealand Family, two parents and their young son. They had been before but had received stamps and passport checks upon entering from Malta.
Along the coast to our first destination Taormina. our guide gave us various information on the towns we were passing and countryside we were seeing on our journey, such as local produce and flowers. The symbol of the island, the biggest island of the Mediterranean, is a 3 sided person or legs symbolising the 3 corners of Sicily.  TRIANACCIO Greek for 3 corners. with a Medusa like head in the centre with 3 wheat ears. The heat ears symbolise Sicily’s fertility whilst the Medusa head represents Athena's shield and invincibility.
Lauren spent her time panicking that the volcano would erupt and kill us all, she began googling it on her phone to tell me that there's been a lot of flank ones over the years, though small, the last being n 2012! While she was doing this I suddenly became aware of Etna, she seemed to emerge from no where! Currently at 3350M height, parts of the summit where completely submerged in cloud, it was surreal. It was outstanding! The cloud added a sense of ominous wonder to the sight! I dozed a bit before we finally arrived at TAORMINA far up in the hills on the East of Sicily around 11am. We were given 3 hours free time to do as we pleased with suggestions on places to go.

 Full of pokey shops with Souvenirs there were plenty of high fashion and designer boutiques, (Valentino!) along with antique stores and pottery shops. A snapshot of Italy on the hill. We came upon an Italian wedding at the church at the viewpoint area, the beautiful bride arm in arm with her father (who sort of looked like a Mafia Don) Ivory Veil covered her face and running over her Princess like gown detailed with Diamonds (they're rich, it's Italy after all!) A random Japanese man started taking photos, we originally presumed he was part of the wedding party, but no, just a strange man taking photos of us. What is with Asians and photographs, particularly of me!?
We got some stunning photographs ourselves from the viewpoint. the sea a sparkling azure blue, the hot Mediterranean sun shimmering upon in and over the browns and greens of the coastal area, broken up with soft white fluffy clouds.

 the Italian wedding

 the viewpoint area and church

We visited an old library which had a gallery on Sicilian film posters, such as "The Godfather II" explains why we'd seen so many magnets based on the Godfather. Rebecca and I got a strange ice coffee, more like a creamy ice cream that was poured out from a machine in a small cup, it even came with a spoon, how strange! Got some souvenirs and we browsed the local shops, the Valentino dress we spotted was gorgeous! We gazed into a beautiful church just across from the square and looked briefly at the Town Museum, Originally a Palace of one of the Renaissance families. Turns out it was currently housing the replica Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition which I had seen in Dubai Mall in July!

 Renaissance Italian window

 Fancy high end designer jewellery

 eternal love 

 inside the church

We then went to the Amphitheatre, Greek, around 2-3000 years old! We had to pay in but got discount as we were under 25, costing us only 4euro. It was HUGE! They’d fixed it slightly as they use it as a venue now, so some of the stone seating had wooden benches on it and there was a stage area in the centre.
It was Magnificent! I've never actually been in one, I was near a mediocre one a few years ago in Malaga, Spain but it was no where near as well kept nor impressive. The Ruins were mainly left untouched, able to not only see, but walk upon the original steps and sit on original seats. some of the very top columns still remained also along with some arches. Climbing to the top and looking at the surrounding view was amazing. The Greeks had strategically placed it so it was at the highest point with the sea view from the front, side and behind. Looking over the wall the view was spectacular, able to see so much of the mountain hill and the beautiful waves of the sea.  The Beaches here have black sand due to the influence of Mount Etna, how strange and fascinating, due to the volcanic minerals in the earth which of course gives the island such fertility

 3 -  2 - 1 FIGHT!

Looking through the top "floor door" down the steps to the stage and the columns behind is one of the most remarkable views I have ever seen. the beautiful ruins of the Ancient Greek architecture, The view of the columns upon the hilltop scene is  beautiful, the azure waters contrasting with the browns, greens and whites of the land. The far off Coastline to the right, you feel on top of the world, a hilltop kingdom. Oh to be a Greek performer, or even to watch a concert there today would be amazing, the atmosphere, setting and scenery is perfect. A spectacular sight.

 From the top

 Spectacular

 the new and the old

 spectacular!

It had passed noon and the hottest point of the day was upon us, to see a show in mid Summer would be madness, we were sweltered! We got some gifts for our family and ourselves in the nearby shops, such as filed and polished lava rocks shaped into beads and pendants,  before getting some lunch in a cafe. We got a traditional ARANCINI, Sicilian stuffed rice cones. Rebecca and I shared one, they were huge! It was delicious, spinach rice and Ricotta cheese in breadcrumbs, Lauren got similar and we all sat in the shade at the square and devoured these delicious treats before getting some ice cream, Ferrero Roche flavour, more tasty Italian treats. so creamy, The used the white part of the CAROB Seed (also used to create insulin) it looks like a dried banana pod/date mix, very strange, we saw some at the amphitheatre, very common in Italy.
Back on the bus our next stop on our journey to the 2000M mark of Mount Etna is NICOLASI, Catania

 sisters, being greek Godesses

cannot get enough of that lunch! 

.gorgeous town houses around the square!

Its all uphill to Nicolasi since its one of the main towns of Mount Etna, we went through several tunnels to get there as well, on our way down from Toarmina there was a sticky situation and a VERY tight squeeze between ourselves and another van on a tight curved edge of the hillside! Nicolasi is nice, a quiet area respectively, we stopped at a farm area and shop, which we sampled lots and lots of homemade lemon, almond and pistachio items as well as honey. such as Cremo Lemone, Lemoncello, Pistachio liqueur, almond wine and Cremo Pistachio. Rebecca purchased the Cremo Lemone for the family and I treated myself and got the delicious Cremo Pistachio for 15 euro as I’ve never tasted anything so delicious! I even tried the honeys, dipping in little spoons, all so different in flavour and texture but nice, even though I don’t really like honey as I feel it's too sweet, it was like eating sugar.  We indulged ourselves in the testers of the Almond and Pistachio spreads, would never have even thought of Pistachios as being sweet, I'm so used to them being tasty salty treats at home. These spreads were creamy and smooth, so tasty, could just eat them from the jar!

We stuck our noses in the museum attached to it but it wasn’t too exciting before travelling down the street to the square were our bus was situated. I got some more things in a nearby shop. Almonds and lemons are main agricultural produce here, able to grow just about anywhere. 

We got back on the bus and traveled on. Further up we spotted a house completely buried in lava. they use the lava rocks as quarry areas but need to test it as the rock can be full of sulphur and asbestos which is harmful, otherwise if is very useful material. 

We reached the new tourist area, rebuilt after the 2001 eruption at 2000m. gathered lots of lava rocks and visited the 1987 crater, an eruption that nearly completely destroyed the town Nicolasi, "Crateri Silvestri" It's only 17* up here, breezy, such a contrast from the towns below, and in winter the black rocks are all white, covered in snow, it becomes a winter ski resort, such a contrast, but I'm sure it's a fantastic destination, though can't really imagine it.  The 2001 crater, near the '87 crater is a near 300m vertical slope up to it, we decided against visiting it!. We were in and out of the clouds, it was fantastic, such an unusual experience, black ground and grey hazy clouds with hints of sunlight and blue, unable to see the bottom with only a hint of green starting to grow amongst the lava covered land, a mysterious sight. Cloaked in the mists I felt like I was in the film "Dante's Peak" with Pierce Brosnan, trapped and isolated on a volcano, it was exhilarating. 

 buried

 breezy

 in the clouds, such a random contrast of rock colours

 We came across a large truck selling more homemade jars of spread and honey and got lots and lots of testers. strawberry marmalade, lemon honey, Nutella, cinnamon honey. we got a miniature selection for the house. YUM!

unfortunately our dilly dallying meant that by the time we reached the cable cars we had missed the last ride by 2 minutes! Raging! I was excited at the prospect of going up a further 1000m but then again I guess we couldn’t really afford it, could have got really close to the crescent like the "Lara Croft" that I am. Really want to do Vesuvius as well, but in the mean time I will make do with seeing the largest Active volcano in the Europe and the 10th largest in the world.  In 2008  explosions and eruptions lasted a year and tourists were able to stand and watch at a safe distance. so jealous!  We went to a snack shop and sampled some of the "mount Etna Liquor" only a tiny mouthful. It destroyed us! felt like drinking lava, it stayed in the body, could feel the heat for ages after. A volcanic 70% my oesophagus was alive with the "lava" thankfully a sip of the Cremo Pistachio we cold down, though was more drinkable than absinthe. Would not have been surprised if smoke has started blowing from my ears!  We also sampled a chocolate and pepper one, very thick and strange in flavour, Rebecca will be rolling down the hill after all these samples. She did the Lava one after us and didn't even register a look of disgust! The guy just saw us browsing and offered it to us, how nice! bought a small bottle for 5euro.  In the next shop I purchased a lovely polished necklace lava stone for 18euro, treated myself and a ring. Looked around the other shops before returning to the bus. 

On our way down  we were informed of government funding for the roads of the area in case of eruption but not a private houses. We passed two houses that were beside a lava flow, one was perfect and still in use however the one beside it had burnt out from the heat. On down was a Nun run orphanage, the lava flow missed in by mere metres. 

The setting sun on the way down was beautiful, glowing red with beams of light strobes through the clouds against the backdrop of the volcano, sea and countryside. Streaks of purple, blue, pink and orange, an enlightening overwhelming sight to remember my day in Sicily, leaving an area of spectacular natural beauty. 

It took over an hour to reach the bottom of Etna, our guide put a video on about the areas of Sicily. Lots of Greek Unesco sites, baroque and Medieval areas and the 3 furthermost points of the island. I must return! The palace museum we were in early was of traditional Romantic Medieval style particularly the facade and staircase I was upon. The majority of the tourists on the bus fell asleep but I was fascinated by it and kept myself awake to watch it, I found it fascinating! We arrived and boarded our boat at 8.30pm. It wasn’t until 9 that we set off leaving this fantasy day behind us. It was an amazing day overall, we didn’t arrive until 12.15 in our apartment and we started panicking as the van taking us back kept stalling! I loved looking high above the Greek Amphitheatre over the beautiful mountainside and sea, being in yet another country this year and climbing Mount Etna a fantastic wonder of the world that I'd always wondered over in Geography class. We ate delicious treats and joked around. We spotted lots of ladybirds and Lauren picked one up, we joked that she loves everything with black spots on red, like her "demon eyes" haha (she gets red eye in all her photos

setting sun

 Mount Etna from a far

 random lady birds everywhere (Lauren's Red eye friends)