Day Five…Road Trip!
2008 November 20
Today was one of those days where I put a lot of miles on the tiny Ford Focus that I am driving.
First thing this morning Massimo and I went to the gas company in Aci Catena. Since I signed the lease yesterday, the gas,water and electricity have to be switched. Here, you have to sign 5 different documents and pay 14 euro for the privilege of getting robbed every month!
After that experience, Massimo went to Catania and I took a leisurely drive to Guardini Naxos, where I had to pick up some brochures for our trip in May to the Grand Beach Hotel .
The hotel is undergoing renovations right now, but Blanche in the office gave me a handful of flyers. We are planning on taking a group of 30 to Sicily from May 7 to may 16. (If you are interested,call Jo Toscano at Rite Way Travel in Methuen,Ma and she can fill you in. Tell her I sent you.)
I love Naxos. The view looking up from the bay to Taormina is one of the prettiest in all Sicily. Naxos was where I met a former love, and for me when I pull into that town, there are bittersweet memories. What’s that old saying? It’s better to have love and lost than never to have loved at all. Anyway, after a quick cup of espresso an my friend Roberto’s place, I headed to Taormina,,,the Pearl of Europe.
I took the shore road to Taormina…a spectacular shore drive that winds around Naxos Bay and boasts the most magnificent panoramic ocean view you could possibly imagine.
Half way up the mountain, I stopped the car and took some photos…I don’t know exactly why I do this since I probably have 100 photos of the same view ..seems like I am compelled to take them, I guess.
Today the sun was shining brilliantly and the glistening water made for yet another great shot.
Preceding up the cork-screw road that leads to Taormina, I found myself constantly turning the wheel first hard right, then hard left,then hard right…well,you get the picture.
Years ago, I found a free spot to park the car and every time I hit town,it is waiting for meToday, it was no different. A free space!.
I love being alone in Taormina. I love to watch the faces of the tourists.Today there was a group from China gawking at things. Another from Germany. As I walked up Corso Umberto, I bumped into a group of old timers from Florida who were traveling as a group. By old timers, I mean OLD timers. I was amazed at this particular group. It was like the local nursing home made a field trip, I swear. A sea of blue haired woman and a singular elderly guy. ( I betcha he was having a lot of fun with those gals though).
One of the old ladies told me that Alitalia had lost almost everyone’s bags last week when they arrived in Palermo. She told me that she had been wearing the same undies all week.
Somehow, that visual stuck with me, and I kinda lost my appetite there for a while.
After walking around some more and stopping at my old hang out the Wunderbar for another espresso, my appetite came back (by then I had blocked that visual of old lady bloomers hanging out the window to dry out of my mind), I grabbed a pizza at a nearby pizzeria.
There, I met another American couple (normal age) and we talked about politics and travel. Great couple.
On the way home, as I zipped on the autostrada, I noticed Etna for the 100th time. She is covered with snow and again I pulled over to take yet another shot of her majestry.
BTW: All the shop owners were complaining about a lack of business/tourists, and for the first time ever, I saw some of the top end shops with big 50% off signs on the windows.
Oh yeah…gas here is 1.25 euro a LITER. That is 3.75 euro a gallon,or about $5.00USD a gallon.
And they tell me the prices ares way down too…..
Tonite…dinner at my pal Salvo’s restaurant, The Heritage!
