Destination One

Destination One: Messina, Sicily
May 24th, 2014

view from the car rental

Warnings if you are on your first trip to Italy:
#1- Most Italians are, to put it simply, CRAZY drivers. (ex: run red lights, pass on turns, double park, etc., etc...) If you rent a car as we did, it would be advised to pick your most aggressive, experienced driver to (wo)man the car. And if you want to rent cheap to cut expenses, you will most likely be offered a car that has a stick shift. And manual roll-down windows. And is fun-sized. Crazy stuff. Beware.
#2- Italian backroads are more like sidewalks. By sidewalks, I mean two-way, bumpy streets that should really be one-way streets.
A small example of just how crazy it can get:
My father, our most experienced, aggressive driver, was manning the car. We were heading to the Teatro Greco, an ancient Greek amphitheater where many movies have been filmed and plays been performed. Fortunately and unfortunately, the road it is located on is pedestrian only. Which means when your father navigates the car through double-parkers and traffic to the front of a dead end pedestrian road, you are forced down a side alley. Turns out, not the road we wanted= dad being forced to make not a 3 or 5 point turn, but more like an 18 point turn in a narrow alley, with a stick shift, on a hill, with an annoyed Italian behind us. I think "crazy Americano" had to have muttered more than once along with weird looks. So, in short, be prepared.
#3- Speed limits are posted in kilometers. Not a surprise if you're from anywhere but the US. But, being an American, I was shocked and slightly worried to see the "130 km/hr" sign flash by the first time. (130 km/hr = roughly 81 mi/hr... so, still pretty fast)
And if those warnings have left you too timid to brave the streets yourself, no worries: there are many taxis available.

Once you have acquired your mode of transportation, you can commence with the adventure!
Recommended stops: (aka where we went)
#1- Mount Etna (a volcano, last eruption: Dec. 3, 2015)

A brief description from my journal: GORGEOUS! There were mountains upon mountains of glittering volcanic rock and vivid, green pine trees. We hiked up pretty high and the view of the rolling green carpet that contrasted against the jagged volcanic rock was incredible. There was wave after wave of rolling fog, making it seem like a new undiscovered sight was looming around every corner.

(If you are super in-shape, ignore this warning. If you are not, like me: you will probably get winded very fast)
10/10 would recommend. And soon, before it erupts again. (Ha-ha just kidding. Sort of)

#2- Teatro Greco (ancient Greek amphitheater)
Another brief description: The amphitheater was large and previously had mosaic tiling as a floor, but was recently renovated with wood. White plastic benches were put on top of eroded stone steps in certain areas. There were two stone arches at the front edge and a crumbling hole that cloudy Mount Etna could be clearly glimpsed through. The view from the top of the amphitheater was incredible looking down at the proud stones and shimmering port backdrop and Mount Etna peeking through, all surrounded by stone terraced benches.
Tip: There is an amazing cannoli place down the street from the theater. Best my mom said she's ever tasted. If you visit Italy, you gotta eat at least one cannoli.

Sicily overall:
Amazing. Enchanting. A crazy-driving adventure. Old. Vintage,  Colorful. Cramped apartments. Overflowing flowerboxes. Spanish-tiled roofs. Tiny cars. Vespas. Fast. Gorgeous, rolling landscape. Antiquely welded, metal window designs. Very picturesque. Tiled and bumpy streets. Orange and lemon and palm trees... We are in love with Sicily.

-Kelsey, co-editor: Kate