Left Riposta at about 9 expecting a calm trip to Messina, but ended up in a boiling sea and strong current. Leslie kept her head under the towel all the way. Entered the marina de Neptuna at about 14.30. Ferries and boats passing the marina all the time making continuous swells. But, after a little exploration we find that Messina is a pleasant town.
Passing the hillside town Taormina on route.
Safety in the marina at Messina with the mountains of the Italian mainland in the background.
Two enormous passenger ships slipped quietly into the harbour this morning.
Carl having an Italian haircut in Messina.
After the haircut we set off the hire a car to travel down the coast towards Palermo and up to the mountains. Found an Avis car hire but would have had to return the car by 1 pm and it was very expensive. Decided to take the train to Taormina instead.
Train to Taormina. At the station got free and unasked for advise from an American, with roots in Sicily, about which bus we should take. Turns out she was holding the timetable upside down and we missed the bus we should have taken. Met Jimmy, from Ireland, who had lived in Africa for many years.
Taormina is a beautiful but 100 percent tourist town high up on the mountain.
An archway in Taormina
After a trek through the town we found a suitable restaurant with a view.
And good food.
After lunch, down to the beach.
Relaxing Italian style.
A beautiful station at Taormina.
Jimmy spent the whole day with us. He got stung by jelly fish. Jimmy spent many many years in South Africa and Botswana. At the moment he is a crew on a mission boat, Next wave. We were invited on board for supper and met the Dutch captain, his wife and 6 other crew members. Very interesting.
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