HI Sebastiano & Luca,
Please forgive me for the tardiness of this email. I had intended to write you immediately after our wonderful vacation in Sicily. We look back fondly on our stay in Taormina and our visit with our cousins in the tiny village of Sclafani Bagni in the Madonie Mountains. We can't wait to return to the beautiful island of Sicily. It is my favorite place in the world.
I am sending you some photos from our tour with Luca and I'm also including a few from other places in Taromina. I hope you enjoy them. I kept a diary of our special day with Luca. I thought I'd share it with you.
Up early. 7:30 Room Service for Breakfast. We all got ready for our excursion to Mt. Etna. Riley and I walked out ahead to meet our driver.
Luca Grasso was waiting for us on the street- 23 years old...the NICEST guy!
Soon we were all on our way in a Mercedes van. Luca spoke English very well and knew a lot about his island- born in Catania. The boys were very excited about the trip but were "un po stanchi". We drove through Giardini Naxos, a small fishing village and beach resort next to Taormina, just south. Then we drove up the mountain to Etna...stopped at Santa Venerini where we visited a church and a little open square where Mama Bella met a 94 year old man named Sebastian. Then, to the village of Zafferana Etna where they make honey-"oro d'Etna". We picked up some honey souveniers and tasted some different olive oils and some delicious wines and honey. Josie was the gal there, very nice...saw the bees in the honeycomb. Luca was not afraid one bit of getting stung. Then onward up to Mt. Etna...very touristy area with lots of people and buses. The landscape looked like the moon- lava everywhere. The boys, John and I climbed up to one of the craters while Mama Bella stayed below with Luca. It took about 45 minutes all together.
The boys LOVED running around. The weather was perfect- mid 70s and a little breezy. Fa bel tempo! We walked back down, bought a few souveniers , grabbed some water, and headed down the mountain. We had lunch in Giardini Naxos at Café Angelini , friends of Luca's. We enjoyed a delicious meal of fish, pasta, formaggio-you name it, we ate it. Mangiano bene! Then back to the hotel, said our goodbyes to Luca and got his email address. We must send pictures. We had a fantastic time on Mt. Etna.
So, there you have it. Better late than never. We look forward to our next vacation to Bella Sicilia. I'd love to visit Siracusa and Agrigento some day and look forward to doing it with you.
Felica Anno Nuovo e Saluti a Tutti...with a special hello to Luca.
Please forgive me for the tardiness of this email. I had intended to write you immediately after our wonderful vacation in Sicily. We look back fondly on our stay in Taormina and our visit with our cousins in the tiny village of Sclafani Bagni in the Madonie Mountains. We can't wait to return to the beautiful island of Sicily. It is my favorite place in the world.
I am sending you some photos from our tour with Luca and I'm also including a few from other places in Taromina. I hope you enjoy them. I kept a diary of our special day with Luca. I thought I'd share it with you.
Up early. 7:30 Room Service for Breakfast. We all got ready for our excursion to Mt. Etna. Riley and I walked out ahead to meet our driver.
Luca Grasso was waiting for us on the street- 23 years old...the NICEST guy!
Soon we were all on our way in a Mercedes van. Luca spoke English very well and knew a lot about his island- born in Catania. The boys were very excited about the trip but were "un po stanchi". We drove through Giardini Naxos, a small fishing village and beach resort next to Taormina, just south. Then we drove up the mountain to Etna...stopped at Santa Venerini where we visited a church and a little open square where Mama Bella met a 94 year old man named Sebastian. Then, to the village of Zafferana Etna where they make honey-"oro d'Etna". We picked up some honey souveniers and tasted some different olive oils and some delicious wines and honey. Josie was the gal there, very nice...saw the bees in the honeycomb. Luca was not afraid one bit of getting stung. Then onward up to Mt. Etna...very touristy area with lots of people and buses. The landscape looked like the moon- lava everywhere. The boys, John and I climbed up to one of the craters while Mama Bella stayed below with Luca. It took about 45 minutes all together.
The boys LOVED running around. The weather was perfect- mid 70s and a little breezy. Fa bel tempo! We walked back down, bought a few souveniers , grabbed some water, and headed down the mountain. We had lunch in Giardini Naxos at Café Angelini , friends of Luca's. We enjoyed a delicious meal of fish, pasta, formaggio-you name it, we ate it. Mangiano bene! Then back to the hotel, said our goodbyes to Luca and got his email address. We must send pictures. We had a fantastic time on Mt. Etna.
So, there you have it. Better late than never. We look forward to our next vacation to Bella Sicilia. I'd love to visit Siracusa and Agrigento some day and look forward to doing it with you.
Felica Anno Nuovo e Saluti a Tutti...with a special hello to Luca.
Robin, John, Devin & Riley Jameson & Mama Bella!
P.S. I appreciate that I can write this letter in English. It would take me FOREVER to write it in Italian. :)
