Sat 25 May  -  Taormina Riviera
Now that I have had the most thrilling Skype call from granddaughter Jay in Illinois, I can settle to writing up our adventures today starting in Catania, which is on the coast of the Ionian Sea. Archaeologists have found sculptures here dating back to the Bronze Age. Of course Catania is dominated by the live Mt Etna known as Mamma Etna which has an outlet at all times
 It is when that outlet is blocked that she gets angry and erupts ( so they say). Catania has a population of 3020 and is an extremely fertile region. We did catch a glimpse of her,  but she was shrouded in cloud today. Our big morning tour is tomorrow  so hopefully she will reveal more of herself close up.
We were taken to the Piazza del Doumo and let loose for shopping. However I happened upon  the cutest little motorised guzzi and made his day by hiring him to putter around Catania CBD
 It was gaily bedecked in Sicilian fashion and played such catchy tunes. People were filming us, waving and cheering. It was outrageous fun for 45 mins. We saw more Cathedrals and ruins galore but, really, seen one, seen 'em all now. We just enjoyed causing traffic jams and providing photo opportunities for other tourists.
After yet more food and caffe, we boarded our trusty coach and headed for the hills of Savoca up hairpin Mamma Mia roads. We were greeted there by the staff of the Bar Vitelli with a granita and brioche. This would be delightful on a warmer day, but we're too early to do warm.
We then started on the vertical climb to the church of Santa Lucia, famed for its part of Michael Corleone's wedding in The Godfather.
What a stunning vista from this height, despite the inclement conditions.
We then zig-zagged down to our resort on the Taormina Riviera with its own beachfront. I dragged Peter out onto the beach but really, another 10 degrees would have made it a more pleasant experience.
We realise now that we have made a mistake rushing out of this luxurious accommodation at 4am on Monday to catch one of the only two flights to Malta. We had a choice of a 7am flight or 11.55pm. Do we want to sit in Malta airport from 8.00am till 2pm to wait for our Airbnb to be ready for us, or try to make our way to goodness only knows where at 12.55am? Let's not even think about it.