Yesterday it was back onto the hydrofoil for the trip back to the port of Milazza and on to Taormina.

After the relative calm of Lipari Taormina seems manic!  As well as the ebb and flow of big tour groups down the narrow main street to the Greek Theatre and back to their bus, Taormina is hosting the G7 towards the end of this month so there are local police, the army, carabinieri and the fire brigade all over the place.  The firies seem to have the job of welding down the manhole covers as part of the security arrangements.  Having worked on some of the G20 arrangements when Brisbane hosted it we both know how incredibly disruptive these things are – and it’ll be worse here!

Anyhoo, Taormina is situated on the side of a very steep hill looking out towards the mainland of Italy and close to Mt Etna.  It’s been a tourist town for a very long time – since the days of the aristocratic European Grand Tour in the 1800s.  It’s a little like Venice in that some areas are mobbed but you can walk down a sidestreet and find relative calm.

We visited the Greek Theatre yesterday with the group, and then just had a bit of a wander.  We are not in the nain hotel, but in a studio apartment in a separated building just down the street.  With a view, a kettle and an iron.  Never thought I’d be so happy to see an iron!

Off to get ready for breakfast.  If the internet cooperates there will be photos.