Glorious -- 18 days in Sicily
Nov 6th, 2016, 08:09 PM
#61
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Thanks so much for the great information! I will keep working on plans for a trip. I really believe traveling on our own is better so that we may travel at our own pace. To me it seems that the escorted trips are too short and move at a fast rate.
Nov 7th, 2016, 06:53 AM
#62
A confession Dayle - we got to the gates of the amphitheatre in Taormina, saw the cost [€12 each], saw the crowds [lots of groups even in the middle of September] and decided that the theatres we'd seen in Syracuse and elsewhere would have to do.
I'm very happy with that decision.
I'm very happy with that decision.
Nov 7th, 2016, 09:59 AM
#63
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Hi, Dayle and annhig,
I have to confess my memory on the details of leaving the theater are fuzzy, but I THINK we didn't have stairs, just a sidewalk. On the other question, I also think it´s probably right that you don't get that great view with Mr. Etna as a backdrop to the stage unless you are higher up, at least that´s what my photos suggest.
annhig, your comment suggests there is a huge difference in crowds between Sept. and October. We were there on a Sunday, got there probably around 11. I don´t think we had to compete with any groups. It was our first Greek temple, so we were kind of blown away and sat there for quite a while and then walked around to see things from every angle. I bet we were there more than an hour and I don't remember any groups. This was early October -- around the 8th. There was a cruise ship parked in the harbor every day we were there, and the main drag was crowded, but there must be a very big drop in traffic in October.
I have to confess my memory on the details of leaving the theater are fuzzy, but I THINK we didn't have stairs, just a sidewalk. On the other question, I also think it´s probably right that you don't get that great view with Mr. Etna as a backdrop to the stage unless you are higher up, at least that´s what my photos suggest.
annhig, your comment suggests there is a huge difference in crowds between Sept. and October. We were there on a Sunday, got there probably around 11. I don´t think we had to compete with any groups. It was our first Greek temple, so we were kind of blown away and sat there for quite a while and then walked around to see things from every angle. I bet we were there more than an hour and I don't remember any groups. This was early October -- around the 8th. There was a cruise ship parked in the harbor every day we were there, and the main drag was crowded, but there must be a very big drop in traffic in October.
Nov 7th, 2016, 05:29 PM
#64
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Timing has so much to do with our impressions of places and sights.
I had a good view of Etna from the train from Siracusa to Taormina. Later that afternoon when I went up to the Taormina theater, a cloudy haze had moved in and Etna was completely obscured! There were several tour groups there with me in early May.
When visiting the Siracusa theater, again my timing was off. I was there just two days before the Greek productions began. So unfortunately I saw the huge theater with newly made temporary wooden benches and modern stage dressings where there should have been none. It was rather disappointing. I would have loved to attend one of the performances though! I studied some of the Greek classics in high school.
My timing was perfect for the Segesta temple and theater. After a day of very heavy rain and cold, the skies were filled with beautiful puffy clouds. Blue skies and wildflowers. My favorite picture from the trip were taken at Segesta!
I had a good view of Etna from the train from Siracusa to Taormina. Later that afternoon when I went up to the Taormina theater, a cloudy haze had moved in and Etna was completely obscured! There were several tour groups there with me in early May.
When visiting the Siracusa theater, again my timing was off. I was there just two days before the Greek productions began. So unfortunately I saw the huge theater with newly made temporary wooden benches and modern stage dressings where there should have been none. It was rather disappointing. I would have loved to attend one of the performances though! I studied some of the Greek classics in high school.
My timing was perfect for the Segesta temple and theater. After a day of very heavy rain and cold, the skies were filled with beautiful puffy clouds. Blue skies and wildflowers. My favorite picture from the trip were taken at Segesta!
Nov 8th, 2016, 02:58 AM
#65
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You are so right, Dayle. That reminds me of a quote by Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago, which just tells me I should start planning another trip to Sicily. My husband just told some friends that it was the best trip of our 38 year marriage, and he is not one who is prone to hyperbole!
"The end of one journey is simply the start of another. You have to see what you missed the first time, see again what you already saw, see in springtime what you saw in summer, in daylight what you saw at night, see the sun shining where you saw the rain falling, see crops growing, the fruit ripen, the stone which has moved, the shadow that was not there before. You have to go back to the footsteps already taken, to go over them again or add fresh ones alongside them. You have to start the journey anew. Always" Jose Saramago, A Journey to Portugal
"The end of one journey is simply the start of another. You have to see what you missed the first time, see again what you already saw, see in springtime what you saw in summer, in daylight what you saw at night, see the sun shining where you saw the rain falling, see crops growing, the fruit ripen, the stone which has moved, the shadow that was not there before. You have to go back to the footsteps already taken, to go over them again or add fresh ones alongside them. You have to start the journey anew. Always" Jose Saramago, A Journey to Portugal
Nov 8th, 2016, 03:11 AM
#66
nice quote, lreynold. I think that we would both be up for another trip to sicily, and soon.
Perhaps we weren't too bothered about a view of Etna as one of the things that our hotel perched high up in Castelmola was the view - we just had to open our curtains in the morning and there it was. the hotel wasn't stellar but the view made up for quite a lot.
Perhaps we weren't too bothered about a view of Etna as one of the things that our hotel perched high up in Castelmola was the view - we just had to open our curtains in the morning and there it was. the hotel wasn't stellar but the view made up for quite a lot.
Nov 9th, 2016, 11:09 PM
#68
lreynold - we did. Rather than using the motorway to drive from Piazza Armerina to Taormina, we chose to drive the road that goes round the northern slopes of Etna, and though it was quite hard-going in places, it was very interesting and led to one of our best lunches.
we also spent a day on Etna on a walking/wine tour - this turned out to involve more wine and food than walking which suited me, but we got to go up to the site of the "recent" eruption [10 or so years ago] and to see the upper slopes.
The whole of the Etna area is very interesting, and I'd really like to go back [as I would to the rest of Sicily!]
we also spent a day on Etna on a walking/wine tour - this turned out to involve more wine and food than walking which suited me, but we got to go up to the site of the "recent" eruption [10 or so years ago] and to see the upper slopes.
The whole of the Etna area is very interesting, and I'd really like to go back [as I would to the rest of Sicily!]
Nov 22nd, 2016, 07:41 AM
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Such a fabulous trip report and so very helpful for our spring trip to Sicily!! Currently, I am just very confused, but will sort out my thoughts and return with questions!! Your trip sounds amazing and your detailed and thorough report makes me very excited to get there!!
Jan 29th, 2017, 06:03 PM
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Fantastic trip report, probably will be of help to many for many years to come. Thanks lreynold1 for taking the time for sharing so many useful details. I loved your writing style and appreciate what you wrote as I am preparing for our trip in April.
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