| On a beautiful Sunday morning I had another | | | | Two restaurants adorn the beach and a variety |
| lovely breakfast on the paradise that is the | | | | of umbrellas and lounges can be rented. Most of |
| terrace of the Hotel Villa Nettuno. This Sunday I | | | | the sunbathers actually congregate on a tiny strip |
| had planned to rent a little motor scooter to | | | | of sand on the edge of Isola Bella which turns into |
| explore the countryside around Taormina. So | | | | the sandbar that connects the island with the land. |
| after my morning meal I strolled just a few steps | | | | The island itself was blocked off by a locked gate, |
| up the street on Via Pirandello and found a local | | | | and a small sign indicated that free tours are |
| car and scooter rental office. I had already | | | | available every Monday and Thursday at 10 am |
| completed and paid for the entire scooter rental, | | | | and 4 pm. |
| and the gentleman started showing me how to | | | | I sat down, relaxed and enjoyed the scenery and |
| operate the machine, a 125 cc Vespa | | | | the steady stream of people that were coming in |
| double-seater motor scooter, how to turn it on, | | | | to enjoy the water and the sun, most of whom |
| how to brake, how to look the steering wheel, | | | | were local visitors rather than tourists from other |
| how to fill up the gas and how to lock my helmet | | | | European countries. Part of me was wondering |
| in the cargo holding box at the back of the seat. | | | | what this place might look like in July and August, |
| Then, in a moment of fleeting brilliance, I told him | | | | during main travel season. I could see that popular |
| "Let me put this machine up on the kickstand, | | | | places like these can easily get overcrowded. April |
| just to see how it works." | | | | or May are probably some of the best months to |
| Well, it didn't work. I thought I was a pretty | | | | travel in Sicily since the main tourist rush hasn't |
| strong girl, but I was simply unable to heave this | | | | started yet, but the weather is generally nice |
| heavy machine onto its kickstand. That was a | | | | already. In addition, everything is in bloom and the |
| sure indication that this particular vehicle was | | | | aroma of all the fragrant shrubs and flowers fills |
| simple too large and heavy for me to handle. | | | | the air. |
| Unfortunately the much lighter single-seat 50 cc | | | | In the early afternoon I enjoyed a tasty lunch at |
| version of the same scooter was not available, so | | | | the restaurant at the far end of the bay, and |
| I had to cancel my rental agreement. But I wasn't | | | | noticed that there is a dive centre right next to |
| about to give up, I checked out another three | | | | this restaurant. Apparently, Sicily features some |
| scooter rental places on the west side of | | | | great diving, and Isola Bella is a favourite |
| Taormina, and guess what, they also only had 125 | | | | destination for underwater exploration. After a |
| cc motorscooters. None of the places actually had | | | | filling lunch I decided to walk back up to the main |
| the much lighter and smaller versions available. | | | | coastal road which is elevated from the beach. |
| With a slight twinge of sadness I had to give up | | | | Walking northwards past Mazzaro I turned the |
| my idea of exploring the countryside around | | | | corner and caught an astounding view of the bay |
| Taormina on two motorized wheels. | | | | on the other side of Isola Bella towards a town |
| So I trekked all the way back to the east side of | | | | called Letojanni. A five-star hotel complex was |
| town and decided to try another mode of | | | | perched on a promontory overlooking the beach, |
| transportation: I decided to take the "Funivia", the | | | | and in the faint background I could make out the |
| cable car, from Taormina up on the hill to the | | | | silhouette of the Italian mainland, the southern tip |
| waterfront village of Mazzaro. Taormina's hilltop | | | | of Calabria to be exact, which in this area is |
| location makes for great views, but it probably | | | | located at a distance of just about 40 km from |
| takes a solid half hour or more to get down to | | | | Taormina. |
| the waterfront on foot and much longer to get | | | | The sky was clouding over and I decided to head |
| back up after a long day in the sun. My failed | | | | back up into town and took the Funivia back up |
| motor scooter experiment gave me a perfect | | | | the mountain. After a nice rest I headed out in |
| excuse to try out another form of locomotion. | | | | the evening for dinner and decided to explore the |
| The ride is inexpensive, 3 Euros for a return | | | | restaurant "Panoramica" right next to the Funivia. |
| ticket between Taormina and Mazzaro. I didn't | | | | This restaurant has very active promoters that |
| have to wait long until a group of 4 small | | | | hand out flyers in different parts of town and one |
| suspended cabins arrived, each capable of holding | | | | of the employees always stands outside to wave |
| maybe 10 to 12 people. Within a few minutes the | | | | customers in. Unfortunately they did not have a |
| cable car whisked me down to the Mazzaro, a | | | | seat available by the window, and I had just |
| town that could be considered Taormina's beach. | | | | dreamed of sitting next to the window to enjoy |
| The town is a little elevated from the coastline, | | | | the phenomenal view over the coastline. |
| with various bed and breakfasts and hotels on the | | | | So the restaurant promoter said no problem, took |
| waterfront and a variety of retail and hospitality | | | | me by the hand across the street to another |
| establishments on the inland side of the road. | | | | restaurant called "Trattoria da Nino", where he |
| I decided to walk south on the coastal road and | | | | handed me over to the owner of the |
| after the first promontory that sticks out into the | | | | neighbourhing restaurant. I was very surprised to |
| Ionian Sea, there is another bay which features | | | | see such an unselfish gesture, particularly |
| Isola Bella, literally translated "Beautiful Island" and | | | | considering how heavily the first restaurant was |
| often referred to as "The Pearl of the Ionian | | | | promoting itself. But I guess in a town like |
| Sea". Isola Bella is a tiny island that is connected | | | | Taormina, where everyone knows everyone else, |
| with the mainland via a thin sliver of sand. This | | | | where there are enough tourist dollars to go |
| island used to be privately owned until 1990, but | | | | around, it's maybe not so surprising after all to |
| since then it was bought by the Region of Sicily | | | | see such a gesture of generosity. Either way I |
| and today it is a nature reserve. Sightseeing boats | | | | had a great mushroom risotto for dinner and a |
| were anchored just off the shore, ready to take | | | | good rest for my first day of Italian lessons at |
| visitors for a spin along the coastline. | | | | the Babilonia language school. |