Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Absentee Ballots
Friday, September 19, 2014
Mt. Etna
One of the things I'm really looking forward to on our trip is seeing Mt. Etna.
If you're interested in learning more about it before we leave, I found these two articles interesting:
National Geographic (you have to join to read it on line, but it's free) article from 2002 with fantastic pictures, entitled "Etna Ignites": National Geographic link
An article from the Daily Mail last month (August 2014) with video: The Beast is Risen
National Geographic (you have to join to read it on line, but it's free) article from 2002 with fantastic pictures, entitled "Etna Ignites": National Geographic link
An article from the Daily Mail last month (August 2014) with video: The Beast is Risen
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Taormina
Taormina, according to the city's web site, was born as a tourist town.
Founded by the Sicels and later occupied by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabs, Taormina has always been prized for its magnificent setting high above the sea, its famous view of Mt. Etna, and its mild winter climate.
The city's location on a deep wedge of limestone saves it from earthquakes, preserving both the Greek theater (first built in the 4th century BC and rebuilt by the Romans during the 1st - 3rd centuries AD) as well as the medieval downtown area.
More recently, since about 1700, Taormina has also been known as a writer's haven. John Dryden, D.H. Lawrence, and Truman Capote have all spent time writing there. You can read more about "The Literary Ghosts of Taormina" in this article from the Times of Sicily.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
New Airport Security Procedures re Electronics
In July of this year the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) implemented new, stricter rules regarding electronics carried onto planes bound for the United States.
According to this article from the New York Times, published in July 2014, "Passengers will have to turn on the electronic devices while being screened by security personnel to prove
that the devices are harmless, the T.S.A. said Sunday. The fear is that
unresponsive phones have been hollowed out and filled with explosives"
In other words, it will be important to have ALL of your carry-on electronics (cell phones, laptops, IPads, etc.) easily accessible for the security check. Please be sure to that your devices have sufficiently charged batteries because if you cannot turn it on when asked, you will either have to leave it behind or miss the flight.
Rome's Fiumicino airport is implementing the new procedures and travelers are reporting significant delays at security on Trip Advisor.
The statement from the Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, can be seen on the Homeland Security web site here.
In other words, it will be important to have ALL of your carry-on electronics (cell phones, laptops, IPads, etc.) easily accessible for the security check. Please be sure to that your devices have sufficiently charged batteries because if you cannot turn it on when asked, you will either have to leave it behind or miss the flight.
Rome's Fiumicino airport is implementing the new procedures and travelers are reporting significant delays at security on Trip Advisor.
The statement from the Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, can be seen on the Homeland Security web site here.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Alitalia Carry On Luggage Rules
Alitalia allows each passenger to bring one piece of carry-on luggage. In addition to this you may also carry on a laptop, a briefcase, or a purse. These secondary items must all fit under the seat in front of you.
Your carry on bag dimension cannot exceed the following:
- Height ("a" in the diagram for a rolling bag) - 21.5 inches
- Width ("c" in the diagram for a rolling bag) - 13.5 inches
- Depth ("b" in the diagram for a rolling bag) - 10 inches
More information on the Alitalia web site here.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Optional Excursion to Catania
Another option for our free day in Taormina on Thursday, October 30th, is a tour of Catania, Sicily's second largest city and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Although there is evidence that the area was populated by Greek colonists as far back as 700 BC, the city we see today is largely from the 18th century, rebuilt after the 1693 eruption of the volcano razed it to the ground.
Our walking tour starts with the Cathedral square and church, after which we'll stroll along Via Crociferi to Piazza Stesicoro to see the ruins of the Roman theatre (an interesting contrast to the Greek theater we'll visit in Taormina), then back to the Cathedral square along Via Etnea, Catania's main street.
If we are there in the morning (timing is TBD) we'll also stop and see Catania's lively fish market.
The fee for this optional four-hour excursion is $45 per person.
Although there is evidence that the area was populated by Greek colonists as far back as 700 BC, the city we see today is largely from the 18th century, rebuilt after the 1693 eruption of the volcano razed it to the ground.
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| Catania Cathedral di Sant'Agata |
Our walking tour starts with the Cathedral square and church, after which we'll stroll along Via Crociferi to Piazza Stesicoro to see the ruins of the Roman theatre (an interesting contrast to the Greek theater we'll visit in Taormina), then back to the Cathedral square along Via Etnea, Catania's main street.
If we are there in the morning (timing is TBD) we'll also stop and see Catania's lively fish market.
The fee for this optional four-hour excursion is $45 per person.
Optional Excursion to Mt. Etna
On Thursday, October 30th (our last full day in Taormina) you can choose to take an optional three-quarter-day tour to Mt. Etna, Europe's largest active volcano.
will depart from the hotel at 8:30 AM for a 90-minute (approximately) bus ride to the south approach to the volcano, stopping along the way to view the lava flow from the 1992 eruption. At Crateri Silvestri we'll stop to view two ancient craters that are not far from the parking lot (flat land, easy walking).
We'll have some free time to explore the area, including the nearby Rifugio Sapienza, the base camp for hikers and skiers on the mountain.
On the way back to Taormina we'll stop at a local winery for a lunch of local specialties (and a bit of local wine). We'll be back at the hotel at approximately 2:30 PM.
The fee for this optional tour, which includes transportation, guide, entry fees and lunch, is $70 per person.
Learn more about Mt. Etna on the National Geographic web site here.
Read about the history of Rigugio Sapienza here.
Watch Etna erupting in June 2014 below:
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| Mt. Etna |
will depart from the hotel at 8:30 AM for a 90-minute (approximately) bus ride to the south approach to the volcano, stopping along the way to view the lava flow from the 1992 eruption. At Crateri Silvestri we'll stop to view two ancient craters that are not far from the parking lot (flat land, easy walking).
We'll have some free time to explore the area, including the nearby Rifugio Sapienza, the base camp for hikers and skiers on the mountain.
 |
| View of Rifugio Sapienza from above |
On the way back to Taormina we'll stop at a local winery for a lunch of local specialties (and a bit of local wine). We'll be back at the hotel at approximately 2:30 PM.
The fee for this optional tour, which includes transportation, guide, entry fees and lunch, is $70 per person.
 |
| 2011 Eruption |
Learn more about Mt. Etna on the National Geographic web site here.
Read about the history of Rigugio Sapienza here.
Watch Etna erupting in June 2014 below:
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