Arrived yesterday 4/24/2010. Condo type marina just like Florida with a
series of cannels so they can get the maximum number of boats jammed in
here. Got drinking water and fuel. Had a non-eventful motor sail into
about 7 kts of wind from Ceflau. The price has jumped from 30 to 81 euros
per day - inflation or the summer rate schedule? We rented a car yesterday
also 80 euros and drove the north east side of the island. Went up to the
top of Mt Etna and then hiked up to the crater. Last eruption 1986. No
rumblings yet. We had lunch at a little family run trattoria (restraunt).
Sunday all the tables were reserved but Antony talked our way in to a table
with two other guys. We introduced ourselves and one of the men was retired
from a job of 40 years in NYC. Had a great time and it cost us 12 euros for
the three of us with house wine, bread and all the extras. I had lazonia -
you just have to know where to go like anywhere else.
We finished the day with a drive into Messina and a had dinner on the water
front at the straits. Looks to be about two miles maybe across to the
Italian mainland. You can almost see Greece from there. We walked the
strip until about 10 PM, lots of families and kids out, and then headed back
to Portarosa. Getting ready to turn in the rental and do some shopping
before heading to Liperi in a few hours. More later.
