I'd like to add my praise for this delightful and informative account. I'm currently planning a trip that will include many of the same locations, and have found your report both helpful and inspiring - thanks so much, rkkwan!

I believe you mentioned that you had only limited time to explore the Valley of the Temples - do you remember how long you spent there? Or how much time you spent at Selinunte? Thanks!

Andre - My father visited Lipari and Vulcano during his last visit to Sicily 40 years ago. This time, we decided to visit mostly new stuff.

SeaUrchin - It's funny that I didn't realize Mustafà has dining area outside by the water too, as it was so dark. I only saw that in the picture I took (2nd in the gallery).

kja - Checking the time on the digital photos, we arrived at the Valley of Temples at around 8:45a and left at around 10:30. We only visited the three temples to the east of the roadway, and didn't go to those on the other side of the museum up the road.

At Selinunte, we got there a little before 2:30p, and left just after 4:30p. We could have saved some time by driving from the Eastern Hill to the Acropolis area rather than walking.

Thanks so much, rkkwan! The timing information will definitely help me plan my travels.

Pictures of Amalfi Coast posted:

rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p888005121/

Ah rkkwan, beautiful photos, they bring back memories. And your parents, the are quite an elegant and lovely couple. Thank you again for sharing your trip, I have truly so enjoyed this thread of yours.

Okay. Final gallery posted. Pompeii and some Naples and Gatwick airport shots:

rkkwan.zenfolio.com/p756902379/

Thanks very much for reading, looking at the pictures, and commenting in this thread.

All questions welcomed.

hi rkkwan-- thank you fot such good details. i will visit sicily in march-- please advise on which greek temples not to miss?--- there seem to be many -- and the road construction between messina and syracuse-- is it between messina and taormina or taormina and syracuse?-- would you use a gps next time?

robi1 - I really enjoyed Selinunte. And Agrigento is also a must see.

I like Segesta too, but that may be skipped if you're already going to the other two sites as well as the theaters at Taormina and Siacusa. Nothing too unique.

The traffic is worst between Catania and Siracusa. Nothing problem between Messina and Taormina.

I have never found a GPS useful before, as I have no problem with old fashion maps at most places in the world; but it may be a good idea for Sicily. But of course a GPS is useful only if there's decent road database on the unit.

I think next time when I go to Southern Europe without an excellent co-driver, I will probably get a GPS.

Thank you again for your report and your beautiful photos. I will miss seeing your parents in beautiful places, take some more trips with them! I think it is wonderful.

Magnificent Amalfi photos, rkkwan. They took our breath away!

Watched "The Godfather Part III" for the first time tonite. Wow, the whole last part was shot on location at Palermo's Theater Massimo. I am so glad we did that guided tour!

Thank you so much for posting an unpretentious trip report so filled with humor. There are only a few posters on this site capable of laughing at themselves when things go wrong.

Great reports and brought back memories of my Elderhostel trip to Sicily a couple of years ago. Sicily is a great place!

rkkwan - really enjoyed your trip report and the photos. I've taken copius notes in preparation for our week in Sicily next May. A question for you - we're going to be renting an apartment in a small village between Catania and Taormina, but my fiance has just told me he's really interested in seeing the ruins at Agrigento. How long of a drive do you think that would be. I think it's too far for a day trip, altho I suppose we could spend the night and drive back the next day.

hazel1 - I think it's doable as a daytrip, but a long tough one. From Taormina, it's about 250km to Agrigento, with 150km on the autostrada. Viamichelin says 2.5 hours, which is about right. Meaning 5 hour on the road roundtrip.

Why not overnight in Agrigento? The temples are lit at night and beautiful. Or in Enna, a hilltown in the center of Sicily?

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Oh, I found that the village where we saw in Godfather I, II and III was shot in a couple of small villages near Taormina. Godfather fans should investigate.

I wonder if some of the Godfathers were shot in Corleone on Sicily. Did you pass by there?

ha, not literally shot! welll, who knows....

SeaUrchin - check out this site:

www.movie-locations.com

They have shooting locations for all three Godfather movies.

thanks, what a great site. I will keep that one.

I remember I always wanted to know where the villa was where the car blew up, now I can't remember which Godfather movie it was. I will have to go over the information better.

You are something else, rkkwan!!

SeaUrchin -

This is from the description of "Godfather I" on that site:

<i>&quot;The villa at which Michael is staying when his car is blown up, is the 18th century Castello degli Schiavi (Castle of Slaves), near Fiumefreddo, about six miles south of Taormina. (seen again in Godfather III).</i>

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Me something else? Well, I do like to know about shooting locations of movies I like. But I'm definitely not a big Godfather fan.

If you've read the threads on the movie &quot;Before Sunset&quot; on this forum, then you'll see how crazy I can be - and even more so, another Fodorite, Beatchick. She had all the that whole movie mapped out with pictures on her threads on virtualtourist.com! And I also visited a few places in Paris where that film was shot.

Finally had time to checked out the Amalfi and Pompeii pictures. It's amazing how great the weather was for your entire trip!