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A short visit to neighbouring Sicily
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 Together with a group of friends from the San Gwann Local Council Orchestra I recently took a two-day cruise to Sicily. I've finally found the time to put the images up on the website.  I have been to Catania before, but this was my first visit to Messina and Taormina.  I think I wouldn't mind returning to the latter ... it certainly is worth a second longer visit.
Messina

Entering the harbour
Messina is the closest Sicilian port town to the tip of Italy - just where lo stivale (the boot) meets Sicily.  It is not a touristic town as such and owes its popularity to the presence of regular ferries to mainland Italy.  This is a photo taken from the MV Serenade just as we enter the port.

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Nettuno
From left to right: Gilmour, Charlo, Marica and James, standing in front of the statue of Neptune in Messina harbour.  We had just embarked on a (fairly) long walk in search of a music shop (the four are musicians).  It's Ferragosto in Sicily.  The shop was closed ... I did not complain ...

Il Duomo
The Cathedral of Messina is somewhat bizarre.  It has an unusual clock tower, a moving clock which gives an almost 15-minute spectacle daily at noon.  The moving parts and the screechy sounds have some allegorical significance ... but don't ask me what.

Taormina

     
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Our only morning on land was spent at the picturesque town of Taormina.  We (Charlo, Maria, Sean and myself) took a reasonably-priced taxi to the coastal town.  It is a purely touristic resort, but it also enjoys a rich cultural heritage.  Barely visible in the background, one can see volcanic Mount Etna.

The Clock Tower
This clock tower serves as an entrance to the city.  Originally built in the 13th century it was reconstructed by the population of Taormina in the 17th century after it had been razed to the ground during a French invasion by Louis XIV.

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The Greek Theatre, Taormina
 Apparently it's not known when this Greek Amphiteatre was constructed.  Those who believe it is of Greek origin believe it was constructed in the third Century BC.  What is sure is that the Romans made some changes to it over the years.

The Theatre is the second largest in Sicily, following that of Siracusa and is still used extensively for the staging of operas, plays,  concerts and other cultural events

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Isola Bella
 Literally translated, the Beautiful Isle, this little island is indeed unique.  Our taxi driver and guide tells us that someone actually owns the island and it is therefore not accessible to everyone from land.
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Back in Malta ...

Entering the Grand Harbour
It's eight in the morning and we are approaching the Grand Harbour at Valletta.  I couldn't help posting a few pictures of what is considered by many as one of the most majestic harbours in the Mediterranean.

These pictures show the Valletta side of the harbour.

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The Memorial
In the forefront, my friends Clinton and Lorraine.  In the background, the Siege Bell Memorial constructed in the 1990s to commemorate the victims who fell in World War II.  The Bell was inaugurated in 1992 by the President of Malta and the Queen Elizabeth II.



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