Sicily/Rome in April 2013…still as intriguing as the first two times!

Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a TriniDiva

On this trip to Italy, I went back to two cities I love, Rome and Sicily.   I never get bored there seeing and doing the same things over and over again, especially eating and drinking wine…Mamma mia!  The weather was perfect and the people were just as warm and inviting as they always are and Sicily and Rome welcomed me as they always do.

This time in Sicily, there was some excitement from Mt. Etna.  She (Mt. Etna) put on a show like I’ve never seen before with accompanying visual and audible effects.  Yes, Mt. Etna erupted while I was there.  What a sight!  Something so deadly as red, hot lava looked so beautiful against the night sky.   The lava would shoot up towards the sky and then gracefully flow down the side of the mountain.  This show was enhanced by the patches of snow that were still sitting on top of the mountain.   So many of Mother Nature’s forces coming together in one place.  The eruptions caused the earth to shake, similar to an earthquake.  I should also mention that this eruption was not too big or dramatic, but it was enough to cause the airport in Catania to close. 

Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a TriniDiva
 

I actually took a trip to Mt. Etna two days before the eruption.  It was a beautiful but very cold day and it was very peaceful because there were not too many other people there.  (On top of the volcano is always about 10-20 degrees cooler than the actual temperature.)   While I was on the mountain, there was no indication that an eruption was eminent, except for later that night when I heard and felt some slight rumbling.



The day after the eruption, Mt. Etna simmered down but she sent enormous plumes of smoke into the air.  This smoke was filled with ash and, which can be blown by the wind many, many kilometers away from the mountain.  The ash is very crunchy when dry and when you step on it, it crumbles into tiny black pellets or sometime into black dust.  These are very difficult to clean up, and the streets, sidewalks yards and balconies of homes are sometimes completely covered with the ash.  Sicilians have learned to deal with this minor inconvenience as the as contains many nutrients that help the agriculture on the island.

Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a. TriniDiva

The market place in Catania is a glorious fanfare, with fish & meats, fruits & vegetables, cheeses & preserved food vendors all vying for your attention and your euros.  Some of them will sing or yell what they are selling while others offer you samples of their fare.  It’s a beautiful scene.

Taormina is a beautiful old town on a cliff with a long and interesting history.  The small streets are filled with all sorts of vendors, and you are never far away from an amazing view of the ocean or the mountains.   A side trip to Isola Bella was also part of the Taormina agenda.  You can get to this adorable little island from the shore by literally walking across the water during a low tide, since it’s only a short distance away.  It looks as if you are walking on water when you cross over to the island.  It was still cold so swimming was not an option, but it was fun to walk along the shore next to the water.

Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a. TriniDiva

Rome was also very exciting.  Starting with a trip to St. Peter’s Basilica where Pope (Papa) Francesco and some of the cardinals were having service.  There were thousands of people from all around the world in attendance and the standing room only courtyard of the Basilica had gigantic jumbotrons to make sure that no one missed seeing the beloved Pope.  Papa Francesco did a good job of involving the crowd in the service and egging crowd  participation.  The audience absorbed every minute and second of every word he said during the service.  Each nationality was clearly proud to be in attendance and even more proud to represent their country.  The thousands and thousands all displayed their national flags in the courtyard and other memorabilia they had with them.  Each group also responded to Papa Francesco in their national language.


Photo taken by and property of NSL-R a.k.a TriniDiva

Inside the Basilica is absolutely breathtaking!  I am always wowed beyond imagination by the statues, the commanding structures and other works of art on display.  Whether they are big or small, they are wondrous sights to see.  You can look up, down, left or right and something is sure to capture your attention.

Then it was on to the other monuments, the Pantheon, the Colloseum and the Forum, the Vittorio Emmanuelle, and the many other churches throughout the city.  They were just as impressive as the first time I saw them.  I did a lot of walking in Rome because it’s the best way to make sure you don’t miss anything.  Walking around this sprawling metropolis is fascinating and getting lost only leads to another adventure.

I really believe that I can go back to Italy and Sicily over and over again and never be disappointed!

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 6/8/13. All photos taken by and are property of TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R)