A day in Messina, Sicily began at 2 pm when we docked. It was a long way from Egypt to Sicily and after leaving around 7 pm on Thursday, we sailed all day yesterday and half of today. The excursions began almost as soon as the shop was officially docked. I went with Margaret, Glennor and Bob early so I could again sit in the front seat. This time I was really happy for the accommodation as the journey up the side of the volcano Mount Etna was really curvy and twisty. I thought about my friend Anita, and I'm afraid that even with her patches, she would not have survived the trip. All she will need to think about is the trip from Pericles' village to the lunch restaurant to understand what my trip today was like – TWICE!
We learned at breakfast that one of our group fell overnight – gave herself two black eyes, a cut at the top of her nose and cracked her head hard enough to need stitches. Apparently she had been ill during the night, had become dehydrated and passed out. Luckily her roommate heard her fall and called the medical team. They came immediately and took her to the ship's hospital for examination, stitches, and finally quarantined to her room for the day. At dinner we learned that her roommate may be catching whatever caught our friend in the first place. We wish both of them well. If you ignore a quarantine imposed on you and leave your cabin, you will be unable to get back in because your room keycard has been disabled.
The trip up the volcano was really interesting. We went through a number of villages, all that had been destroyed several times by the volcano or earthquakes between eruptions. It makes me wonder what keeps the residents there, rebuilding their lives, their homes and their futures, time and time again. Margaret just compared their attitude to the Californians who live on the earthquake fault or on the coast and hills that continue to give way during their rainy season. I guess the need to stay in place exists in many forms.
It was 2 hours from the ship to the location on the volcano where we spent about an hour. We were at just over 6,000 feet and the top was still about 4,000 feet above us. There were no odors or other indications that we were on an active volcano. However the whole area was rebuilt within the last 5 years after the most recent eruption. There is a small village of shops and restaurants, and a gondola that can take you to the top of the volcano. We did not have time for that experience. (These photos will try to show the 'other worldliness' of this experience. The colors in the photos are very true to life, and if you can locate the people, you will have a sense of scale.)
We did go to the Silvestri craters from the 1898 eruption. They are low enough in some areas to climb and walk the rim, which most of us did. Another cone across the road was considerably higher and with sharper sides, so a walk up that one would have taken too much time. Before we visited the craters, we were treated to juice, fresh cannolis and almond wine. The juice and cannolis were tasty, the almond wine not so much. We also had time to visit the gift shop. There was always time for shopping on this trip!
Walking the edge of the crater was an exhilarating experience. The wind was blowing strongly, it was much cooler than at the port, and the view was very different than I have ever seen. I took lots of photos of the desolation and regrowth.
We were a bit late getting back to the ship, and the gangplank was pulled in right after we arrived. The dining room was ready for the late seating, so we needed to go to the Windjammer for dinner.
I came back to the room to begin organizing my stuff to pack tomorrow. I have the large suitcase packed but it feels too heavy so tomorrow I'll move some stuff around. Margaret made it back from the evening show, so I'll end for tonight.
May 29, 2010
Here is where my blog will become a little empty, as I find I didn't write an entry for our last day at sea. We left Messina, Sicily in the evening and sailed all night arriving early morning. So I guess all I have to tell you is that we slept through our last hours on the ship. A nice restful way to end a wonderful trip. I will post just a small entry with my thoughts after returning home.
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