April 7, 2019 - Cruise 2019 - Singapore to Rome
- Jae Wiens
- Sep 2, 2020
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 3, 2022
Here is the final instalment of my trip. I had planned this trip for months and now it's suddenly completed. Going home with a plethora of fabulous memories, terrific new friends and knowing without a doubt that the world is certainly not the scary place that many make her out to be! The travel bug has certainly been reignited! So to continue....
April 4th, we were in Sicily, where I had been a number of years ago. Three years ago I had taken a trip which included visiting, all too briefly, the active volcano of Mount Etna. At that time it was raining, and on this current visit, Mount Etna was not really visible at all as we stood on the rim of her crater looking off into the raging, full on blizzard - snow, rain,...all at once!
Howling, blowing and COLD, which seemed all too familiar considering this past winter back home! I was dripping - not only in chilly torrents of Sicilian rain and snow - but also in sarcasm at how "great" it was to be reminded of winter a few days before my return! The other tourists from Australia, New Zealand couldn't help but comment on how I must be "used to such weather"! Sigh!
So, instead of standing there freezing, we went for an early lunch and filled up on wonderful pasta, salad, wine, lemon cake, and Mt Etna's Firewater which was like Fireball with a kick! WOW!
We then traveled to the ancient city of Taormina and the Greco-Roman amphitheatre there. What can I say about this amazing, awesome, phenomenal place with its quaint shops, cafes, souvenir stands, boutiques, hotels, churches...and historical ruins!? I could see myself living there since I felt so at home, but only if Sicily wasn't situated on a major earthquake fault line with an active volcano. But really, what could go wrong!!?!
During our time traveling to Mount Etna and then to Taormina, our guide Sergio, filled us in on a bit of history and current lifestyle. A tumultuous history in every way imaginable - politically, culturally, and physically!
Physically, the tragedy of 1908 is never too far away from any Sicilian's mind.
December 28, 1908, a major earthquake shook the city of Messina (and southern Italy - Calabria). As taller buildings crumbled and people ran for their lives to the harbour, a tsunami swept in out of nowhere. Within seconds, a thriving population of about 120,000 citizens was decimated with over 80,000 killed. This has since led to major earthquake measures in constructing buildings all over the island.
Politically, from the reaction of Sergio, they may share a government with Italy, but they are first and foremost, Sicilian. Very proud of their chaotic, vast history with rippling effects of influences seen everywhere from their Norman castles high on rocky outcrops, the Greek ruins, the Roman theatres and pillars, Byzantine influences
cropping up in images of the Madonna and Child, Spanish language mingling in the Sicilian vocabulary and dialects...on it goes.
Besides being proud of who they are and where they came from, culturally they are so passionate about family, food, religion, and Mount Etna (“Momma”, as they lovingly refer to her!).
Family lunch on Sundays after church with homemade tomato sauce and pasta. In the summer, pasta with seafood or "pasta with the sea" is a popular meal - with lots of strong, robust, Sicilian wine, of course!
I found out that pizza with pineapple is considered "unconscionable", and not considered pizza at all but only a "pineapple experience"!!! LOL
Mount Etna is so important for Sicilians and a great source of energy for them. This active Lady is second only to the Virgin Mary, who is the protectorate of Sicily and stands guard at the port gates of Messina for all to see.
After visiting Sicily, especially Taormina, and our other ports of call, I am thirsting for explanations of historical sites, art, architecture....
Naples, our first truly Italian city in this adventure, is incredible. It seemed to be a very practical city, realism with cultural and historical splashes, sitting below a famous
volcano known for her 89 eruptions, the most famous occurring in 79 AD when she blew her top - literally! One angry Lady!
I was honoured to hike to the top of Mount Vesuvius, the pathway going from pebbly soil to uneven volcanic scree, fenced in and lined with signs warning of "falling rock", cautioning people to be aware of their surroundings. Making it to the top, the views were beyond imagination and so impressive.
How do I describe looking inside a volcano? I can tell you that every layer was dissected in detail with steam billowing out from channels in the ground as wisps of clouds descended into the crater, where trees grew out of rocks and bright, green moss covered the reddish, black landscape. Such mystical and etherical beauty, eerie but leaving me curious and cautious!
I was glad to be there, but grateful to leave and this feeling intensified even more when we next traveled down the mountain through what is called the "red zone" and then made our way to Pompeii.
The "red zone" is the channel between Mount Vesuvius and the neighbouring mountain where in the event of another eruption, the lava would travel down this trajectory - if they're lucky! No one is allowed to build in this area, but of course, there are houses being constructed and creeping onto the outer fringes! Talk about living on the edge!!!
Pompeii was remarkable and bigger than I thought. Our group spent about 2 hours there and only saw a fraction of it. To know that it was once a viable society influenced mostly by ancient Greek and then by the Romans, with homes, temples (to Apollo), bakeries, markets, town squares, theatres, stadiums...made the tragedy in 79 AD all the more "real!"
At one point I was sitting watching the throngs of tourists in the piazza (town square) - young and old - playing, hugging, kissing, jostling for the best photo, carefree and caught up in life. And then, I looked up and saw Mount Vesuvius in the near distance! Watching us, it seemed!
It was especially sobering when I came across displays of the charred remains of a dog, a praying man, and a child. They are some of the Pompeii citizens archeologists found when excavating the city, who had succumbed to the volcanic activity. (The majority of the city has yet to be uncovered and still lies under 3 metres of ash!) A riveting and chilling history of this amazing area!
And now I am in Rome - where all roads, or waters, have led me on this phenomenal journey over the past month.
Such a sensational city! The Eternal City, as it is known, was founded on April 21, 753 B.C. It is amazing to me that this city has had people living in it for almost three millennia. What an incredible and influential history! So much to see, do and just gaze at in awe!
Rome is so busy, especially these past couple of days with loads of tourists, many who have been a part of the Rome Marathon today.
There’s not a “bad” view in the entire city with its monuments, Egyptian obelisks and Sphinx statues, fountains, cafes, boutiques, church domes, memorials to its Roman Emperors and leaders. And on it goes!
I’ve been walking lots, stopping to smell the lovely spring blossoms and when I feel the “need” I stop for cappuccino, pizza, pasta, wine...! Why does everything taste better here?!!! “When in Rome” - I could get used to this pretty easily!!
And just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, trying to see it all in one day before leaving tomorrow is all but impossible! Guess I just have to return!!!
It has been a real privilege to write to you and share my experiences with you. Thank you for being on this great adventure with me!
I trust that you’re doing awesome and taking great care! Homeward bound...!
Ciao, Jae
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