Over the Strait of Messina into Sicily

After arriving at Tauranea yesterday we visited the archeological site adjoining the campsite. Here we saw this impressive 2000 year old roadway made of gneiss slabs ever so skillfully put together.

View down to the sea from the archeological site.

Today Tuesday 24th April we set out to cross to Sicily. The approach to the straits of Messina became more and more difficult on "ordinary" roads so we finally resorted to the motorway where we stopped in a service area to get this view accross to Sicily.

There was absolute chaos at the ferry port - no proper signs as to where to go - no one directing the traffic and everyone cutting everyone else up! Eventually we got on the ferry - you can see our van right at the front during the crossing to Sicily.

When we got over to Sicily things went from bad to worse. Again trying to drive on "ordinary" roads we found the conditions very difficult indeed and again resorted to the motorway.

Eventually and with not too much help from our sat nav Tomasina (the Tom Tom) we found our way to an aire at Giardini Naxos on the way from Messina to Catania. A cloud of volcanic ash from Mount Etna had descended on the town that morning and everybody was frantically sweeping up. Here's some of it on the bonnet of a parked car.

Giardini Naxos is a nice little town with a pretty harbour and views across the bay to grocksville! (Taormina)

Today was the first really hard bit of travelling we've had on the trip so far and we're a bit freaked out by all this. We nearly managed to get locked in the archeological park here this evening when Ann thought it was 5.15, it really was 6.15 and the park closed at 6.30! We made it to the exit with 5 minutes to spare!