Today we arrive in Taormina which is very close to Conrad’s relatives in Messina Sicily so they are coming to the port to meet us. As we arrive it’s very overcast and rainy and it seems like the place that we will tender to shore is far from Taormina but when we message Rino he says it’s the right spot. We go ashore to be ready for them to arrive but since it’s raining we sit in a cafe and have another coffee.
Taormina from the ship
Taormina from the ship
Mt Etna from the ship
The port is quite busy but they find us and when they arrive they not only have Lalla and Rino who we expect but also Davide their son. We all jump in the car and they start off to drive towards Messina. We decide that due to the weather we won’t go to Taormina. instead they take us to a cheese shop that they know where they are making buffalo mozzarella. We sample several different cheeses there and then we continue on to a fish market and restaurant where we have a feast of Swordfish, Tuna and other seafood.
Rino, Lalla and Davide
We don’t get to see these relatives often so we really enjoyed spending some time with them just catching up on how they are and how things are going. After lunch we go back to the cheese shop for gelato and cheesecake. The car ride back to the ship is almost an hour so Rino goes back to the apartment in Messina and Davide takes over the driving. He and Lalla take us back to the ship and we head back onboard with lots of presents bound for family in the US.
Conrad took some pictures of Taormina all lit up before we leave after dark.
Taormina after dark
Taormina after dark
Taormina after dark