26 Oct 2026 — Sicily: Mount Etna in the Fog and an Uphill Adventure in Taormina

Oct 26

5 min read

26 October 2026 — Messina, Sicily: another day of discovery.

Sicily had a little bit of everything waiting for me today: a volcano hiding in the fog, a beautiful hillside town that made me earn my lunch, and enough good Italian food to finish the day very happily. It was a full day ashore from Explorer of the Seas, and although Mount Etna did not exactly cooperate with my photography plans, I certainly came back with a story.

6:00 AM — Up Early and Off to Explore

I woke up at six and got myself ready for the day. By seven, I was at the Pinnacle breakfast, keeping things simple with a bowl of cereal. There was no time for a leisurely morning today. As soon as I finished, I raced down to the theater to get ready for my next exciting shore excursion: Mount Etna and Taormina.

8:00 AM — Mount Etna Had Other Plans

The drive toward Mount Etna took about an hour and a half. I had been looking forward to seeing the volcanic landscape around the Silvestri Craters and photographing the old lava flows. The idea of standing on the slopes of this famous volcano was certainly enough to get me out of bed early.

A moment aboard our excursion bus with a fellow traveler. The scenery outside may have been disappearing into mist, but there was still plenty of personality inside.

Then we arrived at the Silvestri area, roughly 6,230 feet above sea level, and discovered that the main attraction was fog. Thick fog. The sort of fog that made me wonder whether our bus had somehow taken a wrong turn and ended up in London.

Low cloud and mist on the slopes of Mount Etna — the volcano was keeping its views to itself.

There were supposed to be dramatic craters and a landscape that looked almost like the moon. I will have to take some of that on faith, because the view was doing a very good job of disappearing. We were also told it would cost another five euros to continue farther up the trail. I said, “Heck no!” I had already seen quite enough fog without paying extra for it.

So I walked around, took in what I could see, stopped at the restaurant, used the facilities, and waited for the bus to take us to our next destination. Sometimes travel gives you the photograph you imagined. Sometimes it gives you a good laugh.

Making the best of a foggy stop at Mount Etna.

Taormina — Beautiful, Busy, and Uphill

Our next stop was Taormina, and this lovely hillside town gave us plenty to enjoy. There were a lot of tourists, I have to admit, but the overcast weather made walking comfortable. It was neither too hot nor too cold. The temperature was just fine. The hills, however, were another matter.

Everything seemed to be uphill. And when I say uphill, I mean uphill. Taormina may be picturesque, but it certainly makes you work for the scenery. We walked through town, passing shops, restaurants, and narrow side streets, with something interesting around every corner.

Taormina clings to the hillside beneath a dramatic Sicilian sky. Beautiful to look at—and quite a workout to explore on foot.

One of the loveliest stops was a beautifully preserved garden. We learned that an English woman who lived here about a century ago had helped shape it. It was a welcome place to slow down, look around, and appreciate a quieter side of this busy town.

Even the garden had more steps waiting for me! Sweeping stone stairs, decorative brickwork, and flower-filled urns made this another beautiful reason to pause with my camera.

Arched brickwork, rustic balconies, and a patterned garden path made this one of my favorite stops in Taormina. There was plenty here to keep my camera busy.

A brilliant red hibiscus brought a splash of color to the garden's weathered stone and terracotta details. Sometimes the smaller sights deserve a photograph of their own.

Lunch at Granduca — A Very Welcome Seat

After what felt like a considerable amount of walking, we finally reached Granduca. I have to admit, I was very happy to see a chair. After about an hour of walking uphill, sitting down felt like an attraction all by itself.

The restaurant had a large table ready for our group, and lunch was really good: white wine, good pasta, a nice serving of beef, and an excellent dessert. A comfortable seat, a good meal, and a glass of wine can do wonders for a tired traveler. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

White wine being poured at our group table at Granduca. After all that uphill walking, a comfortable seat and a good Italian lunch were very welcome sights.

A happy traveler taking a welcome break during a full day in Sicily.

After lunch, we wandered around town a little more before gathering in Piazza Duomo to wait for our guide. There was time to watch the other visitors, enjoy the setting, and give our legs a brief rest before heading back to the bus.

Taormina's cathedral rises above Piazza Duomo, its rugged stone facade and rose window catching my eye while visitors come and go across the square.

Visitors gathering near Taormina’s cathedral in Piazza Duomo.

5:00 PM — Back Aboard and Ready for a Rest

We returned to the ship around five, and I was definitely feeling the day’s miles. I went straight to my room, cleaned up, and took a short nap. There was still an evening to enjoy, and I wanted enough energy to appreciate it.

7:45 PM — Keeping the Italian Theme Going

Since I had spent the day in Sicily, Giovanni’s Table seemed like exactly the right choice for dinner. I enjoyed more excellent Italian food and a glass of very good red wine, raising a quiet toast to the day’s adventures. Mount Etna may have hidden behind the fog, but Sicily had still treated me well.

10:00 PM — One Last Walk and Thoughts of Naples

Around ten, I took a walk through the ship’s interior. People were gambling in the casino, browsing the shops, strolling along, and generally having a good time. After a busy day ashore, it was enjoyable just to watch everyone settling into their own evening.

Eventually, I returned to my room and went to bed, tired but happy. Tomorrow brings Naples and the Amalfi Coast, places I have wanted to see for a long time. Tonight, though, I was glad to put my feet up. Taormina had certainly given them a workout.

1 Comment

Gina Garabedian

Joe, your volcano experience reminds me of our volcano experience in Maui… they tease you that you’re going to get to see the sunrise at the top of Holiakala, Maui’s giant volcano mountain… but instead, we experienced fog and rain! And we had paid to bicycle from the top, all the way to the bottom — at least it gives us a good story!