Monday morning, May 9. the time had come to head out around the island on our own. Diana signed us off to go solo, delivering a stern lecture about not parking in spots reserved for the parking police. (Which we did in Aci Trezza). She was confident that we could make it back without landing in a Sicilian jail. Well, sorta confident. And she's an optimist by nature.

We visited Taormina in 2012 and it is one of the most impressive Greek sites in all of Italy. The town itself is very reminiscent of the Amalfi Coast on the mainland. Back in the days when only the aristocracy traveled for leisure this was a stop on the Grand Tour of Europe. So it has been accommodating tourists for quite awhile. The main attraction is the ruins of a Greek amphitheater that sits high on a hill overlooking the town, the seacoast, and Mt. Etna. We actually spent the better part of three days in and around this spot so it may turn into two posts. 

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Here are my images of the amphitheater. I was very pleased to have Mt Etna clear with a nice snow cap. The wooden stage in the front is constructed every year about this time for the concerts that are held through the summer and fall. It intrudes into the picture but not too badly.

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The amphitheater didn't open until 9 AM so the light was already getting a little harsh but I won't complain. By 10 AM we were finished with that shoot so we went walking around the town. Lots of subjects so check out the slide show at the bottom. Later in the afternoon we got the car out to go further up the mountain to a shrine that overlooks the town. The cross on the picture below marks the location.

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There was an apparition of Mary there in 1640. A shepherd boy had sought shelter in a cave there during a storm. Mary appeared to him and left a picture of herself on the wall. The little church was built into the cave. It is all very beautiful.

image (46) image (48) image (49) image (50) As we came out of the grotto church we saw something ominous coming into the harbor. 

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Yes, it's a cruise ship! The same one that plagued us in Siracusa! We're to be over run again by the Great Horde, clogging up the photos, foraging through the cafes! I had to do something! Otherwise they would follow us all the way around the island! I placed an emergency call to Diana. She has contacts in the cruise industry. She merely said, "I'm on it." And that was the end of our cruise ship problems. A small one did approach Taormina the next night but didn't attempt to land anyone. I don't know what her methods are, it's best not to ask. But it all worked out. More on Taormina in the next post. Click the image below for a slide show with more pictures.