As we anchored, early in the morning, in the bay outside Naxos we could see smoke from Etna. The scenery is impressive and we can also see the reason for our stop this morning, the lovely village of Taormina on the top of the steep hills. The famous German writer, Goethe, found this charming village and made it well known to a greater audience.
Taormina is placed up on the hills, nicely overlooking the sea and with a view of Mt. Etna. Until the end of the Napoleonic Wars, pirates were something to take into account and a good reason not to build by the waterfront.
At Taormina we did a nice walk and ended at the old Greek (later Roman) theater. Afterwards, we sauntered around the village to discover shops, cafes, and ice-cream bars (see the photo). Italian blend has style and fashion but is always expensive.
By lunch we were all back to the ship and later some went back to the beach at Naxos to spend a few hours in the afternoon. As we sailed from this beautiful place in the late afternoon, Tom Heffernan prepared us for our next stop, Malta. The islands have been a place for raiders, conquests, and religions. Before Malta could gain its independence, the British had to leave. Our lecture also focused on a much earlier history, that of the Crusaders.
This evening is also the last of this journey, and Captain Jorgen Cardestig and his crew invited all of us to farewell cocktails and dinner.
