Stage 8 Taormina Rest Day

G7 is in town next week

Taormina is a hilltop town on the east coast of Sicily.  The town is known for the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient Greco-­Roman theater still used today. Near the theatre, cliffs drop to the sea forming coves with sandy beaches. 

The Greeks arrived in Naxos close by in 734 BC


Taormina is one of the few cities in Sicily where the  Romans established a colony. After the fall of Rome the Muslims ruled the town, then the Normans, Germans and then the French. Everyone has had a go.

 A very strong presence of Poliza Carabinieri and military as the G7 Summit is in town next week. A very beautiful town with classy shops, very clean and tidy targeting the high end tourists, such as us five. Expensive items in all retail outlets, bags, shoes, clothing, jewellery etc. The boys spent big here, the ladies will be pleased, stop telling porky pies Garry.

Many beautiful  lane ways full of people eating, socialising, and being serenaded by Italian singers and musicians, those smooth Italians. Even the waiters at outside cafe our snappy dressers and persuasive in manner. Okay I will have another Gelati!

We will bring down the dress code

A fascinating day in a beautiful town, so much to see and do, definitely a place to visit with partners and family, bring a big wallet.

This has been the only day without sun so far on the trip, mild but overcast but no rain.A popular spot for cruise ships to drop off all those tourists.

The Piazza at Duomo dates from the 13th century and is stunning with views overlooking the sea below. 

Nothing better than hearing Amore being serenaded in Italian, the first time I have had the pleasure. Belissimo! 

The Irish have invaded, Guinness ahh

Quando la luna colpisce il tuoi occhio, come una grande pizza

Questo è amore

We caught a taxi from the camp, cost E25, (a fiver each, the bus was E3) reasonable value, asked Carmello for his number as we may use him on the way back.

After a big day of walking and enjoying the sights it was time to return to base as we were returning to Claudio Restorante for tea.

Time to catch a taxi from the local ranks at Taormina, E50, what? it only cost us E25 to come here, they were proving difficult not moving, lets call Carmello, don't seem to have the number combination right is that a 7 or a 4, do we use an area code? What are we going to do guys, bus or walk? Talk about good fortune, Ross sees Carmello dropping a passenger off at the same taxi rank, we all shout after him, he is please to see the five Amici's 

We asked Carmello to take us back to camp,

Mara's Leather Shop in background

drop off bags a few change of clothes then 

 take us to Sant Capo Alessio for a meal with

Claudio. Taxi E30, brilliant!

Claudio is over the moon to see us as we bring along seven other campers, his normal patronage this early in the season is small. tonight a couple, maybe hoping for a quiet night and a french couple with young daughter, Macron or Le Pen I ask, they are pleased Macron has been Elected President. Viva La France.

Great spread that Claudio put on fort us. I had Swordfish, others Tuna etc, all drinks, cheeses, nibbles, hot chips, shrimps to finish off spirits, wow what a night. E25 a head.