Sicily in 3 Weeks
Jun 28th, 2017, 08:01 AM
#21
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Just as an aside, to give you a picture of Taormina (or at least the one I experienced), I arrived at night and when I got up the next morning, I had to almost wade my way through a jostling scrum of group tours, souvenir hawkers, touts, hat sellers, shrieking teens on holidays, etc to get to the Greek theater. When I did, the only other person inside the theater was a Sicilian maintenance main using a weed whacker to get rid of the vegetations between the stone steps. At the end of about 30 minutes of solitude, a Japanese tour group arrived.
I've no doubt at other times the theater is filled with tourists, but it was really striking the lack of interest. For most people, the point of Taormina is the downhill views from the sea (you can see Etna puffing awa from many spots in Sicily). Shopping also seems to be the major draw. If you've no special interest in Greek antiquity, architecture or the theater itself I'm not sure its worth battling your way to the Greek theater in Taormina. But if you do, it's a masterpiece.
I've no doubt at other times the theater is filled with tourists, but it was really striking the lack of interest. For most people, the point of Taormina is the downhill views from the sea (you can see Etna puffing awa from many spots in Sicily). Shopping also seems to be the major draw. If you've no special interest in Greek antiquity, architecture or the theater itself I'm not sure its worth battling your way to the Greek theater in Taormina. But if you do, it's a masterpiece.
Jun 28th, 2017, 09:35 AM
#22
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Here is the cruise ship schedule for Taormina. If you schedule your visit in between cruise ships, the town will be a lot more pleasant. It is a resort town, so if you're looking for quaint and quiet, this is not your place, just know what to expect.
Bus tours to the Greek theater don't start until about an hour after opening, so get there early. I'm with frencharmoire on the theater being a revelation. What it must have been like to be there to see a play back in the time of the Greeks!
http://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/gi...17-10#schedule
Bus tours to the Greek theater don't start until about an hour after opening, so get there early. I'm with frencharmoire on the theater being a revelation. What it must have been like to be there to see a play back in the time of the Greeks!
http://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/gi...17-10#schedule
Jun 28th, 2017, 04:26 PM
#24
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>> “And opinions on Isole Lipari and Stromboli via Milazzo?”
As frencharmoire says, ferry schedules are particularly susceptible to weather-related delays or cancellations in the timeframe you are considering.
>> “Any thoughts on the two possibilities?“
I find it VERY hard to comment on this place or that without knowing your full itinerary. I’m certainly not suggesting that you should preface each and every question with a copy of your latest plan -- instead, you might want to consider holding off on specific itinerary-related questions until you have them all fleshed out, and then pose them along with your tentative plan. Just an idea….
>> Re: the Greek theater in Taormina
Although large enough to accommodate even huge crowds, you might still encounter crowds at the entrance (on either side, going in or coming out).
Also, I believe there is – or at least was – some debate among archeologists about just how “Greek” this theater is, as there is also evidence that the Romans were involved in building it. My understanding -- which could be wrong -- is that there is some consensus that the major parts of the theater are Greek, or were intended to convey Greek aesthetics and building strategies, but there are/'were some questions about the final size of the seating area and about the design of the scena -- the area where actors would have performed. I could be wrong....
As frencharmoire says, ferry schedules are particularly susceptible to weather-related delays or cancellations in the timeframe you are considering.
>> “Any thoughts on the two possibilities?“
I find it VERY hard to comment on this place or that without knowing your full itinerary. I’m certainly not suggesting that you should preface each and every question with a copy of your latest plan -- instead, you might want to consider holding off on specific itinerary-related questions until you have them all fleshed out, and then pose them along with your tentative plan. Just an idea….
>> Re: the Greek theater in Taormina
Although large enough to accommodate even huge crowds, you might still encounter crowds at the entrance (on either side, going in or coming out).
Also, I believe there is – or at least was – some debate among archeologists about just how “Greek” this theater is, as there is also evidence that the Romans were involved in building it. My understanding -- which could be wrong -- is that there is some consensus that the major parts of the theater are Greek, or were intended to convey Greek aesthetics and building strategies, but there are/'were some questions about the final size of the seating area and about the design of the scena -- the area where actors would have performed. I could be wrong....
Jun 28th, 2017, 09:55 PM
#27
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Jun 28th, 2017, 11:10 PM
#28
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I think this one tries harder to placate various sensibilities about who gets credit for the theatre while affecting uncertainty
http://www.taormina.it/what-to-see/monuments
http://www.taormina.it/what-to-see/monuments
Jul 11th, 2017, 01:38 PM
#30
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Julies,
I'm wondering if you can share the information needed to take the bus from the Catania airport to Ortegia as you did on your trip? We will need to get to Ortegia from the Catania airport as we will be landing at 14:50. Any other possibilities that you or anyone else has explored?
Also, I think I'm going to be interested in getting a SIM card for my unlocked Iphone. If not too complicated my experience is that it is better, particularly for data, then just getting the plan that comes with my US phone carrier. Any thoughts or suggestions from the group would be appreciated.
I'm wondering if you can share the information needed to take the bus from the Catania airport to Ortegia as you did on your trip? We will need to get to Ortegia from the Catania airport as we will be landing at 14:50. Any other possibilities that you or anyone else has explored?
Also, I think I'm going to be interested in getting a SIM card for my unlocked Iphone. If not too complicated my experience is that it is better, particularly for data, then just getting the plan that comes with my US phone carrier. Any thoughts or suggestions from the group would be appreciated.
Jul 11th, 2017, 03:53 PM
#31
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Even though I'm not julies, I'll share this information:
If you look at Rome2rio.com, you will find a link to the bus company that covers the Catania airport to Ortygia connection. I didn’t see an English version of the site, but it should be fairly easy to navigate….
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Catania-A.../Isola-Ortigia
Rome2rio.com also shows your other options, including train.
If you look at Rome2rio.com, you will find a link to the bus company that covers the Catania airport to Ortygia connection. I didn’t see an English version of the site, but it should be fairly easy to navigate….
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Catania-A.../Isola-Ortigia
Rome2rio.com also shows your other options, including train.
Jul 11th, 2017, 06:59 PM
#32
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Really it wan't too difficult at all. We just picked up our luggage at the carousel and went outside to wait for the bus. It did take us a few minutes to figure out exactly where to wait, but after we had figured that out, it was a cinch.
We have a T Mobile international plan and have used that our last few trips even though we used to buy local SIM cards for our unlocked phones. What carrier do you use?
We have a T Mobile international plan and have used that our last few trips even though we used to buy local SIM cards for our unlocked phones. What carrier do you use?
Jul 13th, 2017, 08:07 AM
#33
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Thanks Kja and Julies for that info. Looks like I'll have to wing it because of my arrival time in Catania. May be able to catch a direct bus but may have to go to
Catania to get next leg to Ortegia.
I am looking for suggestions on Agriturismo or other stay in the wine country, anywhere in a triangle area formed by Marsala to Salemi to Selinunte if anyone has had a good expience?!!
Catania to get next leg to Ortegia.
I am looking for suggestions on Agriturismo or other stay in the wine country, anywhere in a triangle area formed by Marsala to Salemi to Selinunte if anyone has had a good expience?!!
Jul 13th, 2017, 03:22 PM
#34
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Hmmm ... I think the buses depart from Catania airport for Ortygia approximately every hour or so. I find it difficult to imagine that it would make sense to go into Catania first.... Did you check the link I provided?
Jul 14th, 2017, 12:51 AM
#35
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Yes Kja. It appears to me that the schedule may vary upon the time of year. We are looking for an Octobe 10 date and what I read is a 3:30 which we will probably not make and then 6:10 pm. These are the direct to Syracuse.
