Taormina

On the eastern coast of Sicily is Taormina, a famous Ionian seaside town. Although over 2 hours away from our base near Tusa, it came highly recommended. Like most coastal Sicilian towns and cities, the narrow, rocky beach is bounded by clear, blue/green water and a steep mountainside. Most of the city clings precipitously to the cliffs and is reached by narrow, serpentine roads packed with cars and people. Taormina provides an arial tram to shuttle visitors up and down the mountain, from the beach to the village. An added bonus - views of the smoking crater of Mount Etna, 30 km to the west.

Wandering a narrow alley, we saw a beautiful lemon tree behind a stone wall. I stopped to take a photo as a woman approached. "Would you like one?", she said in Italian. She was staying at the house for the summer and we chatted a while about my trip and Taormina. The native lemons are twice the size we see and sweeter. If only I could slip it past customs, I could make my own Limoncello back home!