I am enjoying a cappuccino and free fast wifi at a lovely cafe near the central square of Agostoli on the Greek island of Cephalonia (one of many spellings).  What a difference from the wifi on the ship! So I shall try to resume my travels from Messina, Italy, our first port.

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

Sailing to Messina

After breakfast in the Lido--not terribly crowded today--I return to find that no one has been to check out the plumbing--so back I go with another complaint.

This morning's itinerary takes the Zuiderdam cruising down the west coast of Italy's boot heading for the Straits of Messina.  This is where European trains are loaded on boats for the short crossing between the mainland and Sicily.  Will and I shared this crossing twice in 1990, once in the daylight and another time asleep in our sleeper car.  We pass two or three islands as we approach the Straits, and get great views of Stromboli--the famous volcano that chooses to erupt unexpectedly every hundred years or so--and shoots sandwiches wrapped in lava.

I appreciate the wonderful views of both shores as we dock right in the center of Messina.  After a pizza lunch in the Lido I head ashore to explore the town.  Although Messina rates only "interesting" in the guide books, there is much to enjoy in the small central area:  the Cathedral with the largest astronomical clock in Europe and a wildly baroque interior, a smaller church built under Moorish influence, and the Modern waterfront, rebuilt after the massive bombing of WWII.  Most tourists head for Taormina, which is quite beautiful, but having spent three days there with Will in 1990 I don't see the need to return, especially for just a few hours.  But for those passengers who have not seen Taormina, it is certainly a highlight of Sicily.