Cruise - Messina, Sicily (Italy)

We woke up in Messina, Sicily (Italy).  Our shore excursion didn’t leave until 11am so we had plenty of time to sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast vith a great view.

While we were sitting in the theater of the ship waiting for our tour to be called, we met a nice young couple from New York who were also on the same tour.  Together we boarded the bus for a two hour ride up to Mt. Etna.  Jason again kept himself occupied with his Gladiator book while Samantha slept.  Once at the top we stopped at a local restaurant and enjoyed a cannoli.  The tour guide told us it was too windy to walk along the crater’s brim as the tour description stated.  Not pleased, the New York couple headed to the crater on foot.  Mike and I were concerned that we would not be able to get to the crater and back with the kids in the 30 minutes we were allotted at this stop, so we settled for climbing on the lava.

The crater is the bowl looking spot at the top.

The New York couple did make it back in time but they confirmed that we never would have made it.  They showed us pictures of how windy it was.  While they were away I spoke with the tour guide a second time and insisted that we be allowed to go to the crater’s edge as the tour description stated.  So we drove to the crater’s edge.  The New York couple told us to hang onto the kids tight because of the winds.  They were not exaggerating at all.  We only lasted a few minutes at the edge as it was cold and the winds were extreme. 

Mike isn't pulling Samantha... she is trying not to blow away.

I hung on to Jason with one hand and my camera with the other.  This didn’t leave any hands to grab my glasses as they flew off my face and tumbled over the edge.  Luckily I had my prescription sunglasses on the bus and a spare pair back on the ship.  The kids told everyone as they boarded the bus.  Apparently I yelled “My glasses!” which the kinds found funny (and continued to joke about for days after).

We were back on the ship with enough time to clean up and get to dinner.  After dinner we dropped the kids off at the kids program and went to the bar for a drink.