Siderno – Etnea

34th day

Today we head straight to the village of San Giovanni to catch another ferry towards Sicily. Crossing the Strait of Messina. The last time I was in these latitudes, Etna was in full eruption on a cruise to Greece. I remember it was night, and in the distance, you could perfectly see the tongue of fire sliding down the mountainside.

This time it wasn't as spectacular. The crossing of just forty minutes felt short 😊. Thorqui and Beast on deck for this trip, and we were one floor up enjoying the wonderful views that a coast gives when you move away and the other when it welcomes you.

Messina is the first city we encounter coming from Calabria. It welcomes you with a statue of the Virgin of the Carta, the patroness of the city, who, according to tradition, sent the island's inhabitants a letter from which the verses inscribed on the tower were taken, “Vos et ipsan civitatem benedicimus” (I bless you and your city).

Disembarking was super quick; this ferry is like a bus, it leaves every twenty minutes, and you can see the destination port from the deck 🤓.
Back on solid ground, our first stop was a campsite at the foot of Mount Etna, what better than to pay homage to the “monster” that rules the island with an iron fist, the one that, when it gets angry (and it does quite often), shakes the foundations of any civilization that dares to invade its vital space🫤.

Etna doesn't make its presence known when you arrive at the port; you need at least half an hour of driving to suddenly come face to face with a huge threatening white mass that challenges you to discover its secrets, but without the promise of not getting angry when you do 😲

The campsite is great, basic like all those in the area, but with all the services you might need. The ground is pure black lava, which by the way is super difficult to get rid of when it enters the house. Charming owners… and a bit wild, just how we like it 😊
Once we were both settled, we walked to the village, Zafferana or Etnea, to take a stroll.
Once we were both settled, we walked to the village, Zafferana or Etnea, to take a stroll.

An ice cream in a relaxed manner, although they are celebrating, and the whole village is decorated with flags. We didn't quite understand the reason for all the movement, and we didn't join in.
Dinner was light and peaceful.
Around seven in the evening, two motorcycles arrived, a couple, and they started setting up their tent. T, as usual, offered them a cold beer, and they stayed chatting.
I withdrew because I was tired 😴.
Good night… I’ll keep you posted 😘