Cruise - Messina

This is the last post of our wonderful cruise adventure. I have had fun revisiting all of the places that Joel and I went together. It was definitely the most incredible vacation I've ever been on. We got to see so many beautiful places. I'm really glad that our first trip to Europe we did a cruise. We found so many places that we would love to go back and visit again, and some (surprising) places that we have no desire to see again. I hope some day in the future we can go back to spend at least a week in Rome. I want to be able to see the Coliseum at sunrise - Vatican City at twilight. I would go to the Sistene Chapel every day.  Croatia is a must see. I would go back to the bakery in Messina with the Cannoli. There is an indescribable feeling that you get knowing that you're walking on streets that have been there for hundreds of years.

Well, here is the birthplace of the Godfather - Sicily (Taormina to be precise). Some of the film was actually shot in this very city. It was quaint and peaceful. We will probably be back here someday; there is a world renowned film festival here. Joel is so incredible at his job, I'm sure we will be here again in the future. 

Things we learned:

1. Never take the bus from Taormina to Messina at 11:40 or you may be sitting at the stop for an hour and a half waiting for the bus to actually show up.

2. Canoles are a small taste of heaven.

3. Even when you buy merchandise from a bakery, you can't go sit in front of the cafe where they have tables and chairs apparently...

4. Yes, we really did pay 8 euro to go to the Greek Theater...

Side Note: This place was amazing! I would pay way more than 8 euro to see it again. The view was GORGEOUS and the tour guides have amazing facts about the theater. 

This was built in 300 BC. Incredible.

5. The rest of the world is lazy. We got to Taormina at 8:15 am and the entire city was still asleep! Street - empty They didn't even start opening them until 9 and all weren't completely open until 11. Lazy.

Side Note: I actually loved that no one was up...the smell of the bakeries were AMAZING. Walking the empty streets was soothing.

6. You need to be insane to drive a bus in Sicily! Even though the streets are 15ft wide with cars park on both side, they can (and do) pass one another with millimeters between and think it is fine...

7. Yes, a coach bus can and often does make u-turns.

8. Italy doesn't think it is prudent to make lanes on any street, even on the highway. People just drive aimlessly.

9. In America, people drive on the left. In England, people drive on the right. In Italy, it's optional.

10. All men in Europe carry man bags.

See picture below for description.

I love that the rest of the world thinks disco is still popular...

Doesn't look like much, right? WRONG. This is an ally way. We saw someone walk into this tiny space and disappear into its depths. No wonder none of these people are fat! They couldn't even get to their flats if they were! Not to mention, if I had to walk through that every day, I might become a claustrophobic. 

Joel's dream :)