Taormina
Taormina was an hour from Mount Etna. At first, the coach driver had to contend with thick fog or low cloud - whichever you prefer to call it as we wound our way to a lower altitude. Then we were off the mountain and back on the coastal motorway heading north. Taormina is a small coastal city that sits on high ground above the sea. It has been a popular tourist destination since the late nineteenth century. In addition, it is a very ancient place that was settled by Greeks as early as 734BC. Sadly, after alighting from the coach and catching a shuttle bus to the centre of Taormina, we had less than two hours of sightseeing time. I knew of the amphitheatre that was built by the Greeks and later developed during the Roman era and we headed straight there. Perhaps unfortunately, the annual Taormina film festival is still in progress and this meant that a huge silver screen and modern seating have temporarily been installed at the ancient theatre so our vie...