A Slice of Heaven - Taormina, Sicily

After the bustling city life of Paris, we are headed to our next stop - Taormina, Sicily. This quaint and seaside village offers the perfect r&r for the group after the go-go-go of crossing the North Atlantic. 

But first, we are heading to Dijon, France, to join the TBMOPA Europe Convention for lunch. With this year's Around the World being solely TBMs and the TBMOPA Europe event falling in the middle of our route at the right time - it was a stop we couldn't resist! 

Gathered at Dijon airport, we were greeted by the Breitling Flight Team and the TBMOPA Europe attendees. An amazing event where we were able to discuss the amazing aircraft we fly, meet fellow owners and see first hand the tremendous power and beauty of the Breitling flight team - a real treat!




 Start up all at the same time - quite impressive!












After Dijon, we crossed the beautiful Alps and landed in Catania, Sicily. Characteristically known for its' "mob" background - this picturesque island oasis removes any feels of "the Godfather"-esque behavior reputed on the island.

Fueling in Catania is always a delayed process as airliners receive priority over general aviation. You are even lower on the totem pole if you are scheduled to stay overnight for a few days. With the amount of demand they have, its a first necessity mindset. We left the airport without refueling on arrival per usual since G had organized our fueling for the day prior to our departure. 

We were now bound for Taormina, a small coastal village 40 minutes from the airport. Our home for the next 3 nights is the stunning and historical Belmond Villa Sant Andrea. 

Set on a calm seaside bay, Villa Sant' Andrea was a former private villa that has since been changed into a Belmond property hotel - each room is different offering a different perspective of the view but all splendid nonetheless. 







Dining with a view - Belmond Villa Sant' Andrea

Our first full day on the island had us exploring Mount Etna in all her glory. Rising to nearly 11,000 feet, Mount Etna continuously spews ash and lava on a daily basis, making it Europe's most active volcano. 


Visitors aren't able to climb to the top anymore due to its continuous activity and the surrounding risks, however we are visiting level 2, out of 3, for a glimpse into the seven sisters, or volcanic craters that formed many years ago from previous eruptions of Mount Etna.


Tasting the local flavors - Sicilian breakfast of champions.

Making our way up to level 2, we stopped in a small village on Mount Etna with a lively main square. 

Mount Etna in the distance - billowing smoke




Local market in the small village had stands, group yoga, a car show - quite the bustling city center for just before 9am in Sicily!






Honey tasting! Mount Etna is known for it's wide variety of flavored honeys - all more delicious than then the next. 





We stopped at a bee farm/honey factory to learn the process of making Mount Etna honey.


So many tasty flavors!


Don loves them all!


Continuing our climb to the second level of Mount Etna, we visit the 7 Silvestri Spent Craters. Often found in the clouds or under fog, we were lucky to get a fairly clear view of these huge craters. Some of our group opted to climb the highest one to see the full view while others took a leisurely stroll along the lower craters.




Jim and Howard were two of those that opted for the high climb. 





 Tijl and Lizzie climbing out of the crater




After the short hike/stroll, a much deserved glass of wine was enjoyed at the Gambino Family winery. As mentioned earlier, Mount Etna provides rich soil and fruits for those living on her edge - a main reason why people continue to live and build on her sides taking on the risk.

The Gambino Family winery has a lush crop of red and white vines that we all tasted with no hesitation. 6 glasses of wine later and we were all feeling great!










baby grapes


 Views from the winery


With all the wine and delicious food, the group was ready for siesta time!

With such a long day exploring Mount Etna, only a few opted for dinner this evening - we enjoyed a delicious meal at La Capinera, a Michelin starred restaurant.

Wi



Our final day in Sicily was free to explore on our own. With the main part of Taormina being up hill from us, many choose to either walk, take the funicular or the hotel shuttle up to the quaint little town to discover its charm.









Upper Taormina city center




Belmond has two properties in Taormina, the Villa Sant' Andrea on the seaside but also Belmond Timeo located in uppter Taormina offering splendid views of the coast and Mount Etna. We enjoyed our final dinner on Timeo's terrace.



Dinner views





We rode the funicular up to Taormina - a short 5 minute ride.


We dressed appropriately for dinner....






Jim found his own way home


We are heading back to the airport for our next leg - off to Malta - just a short hop from Catania. Clear views of Mount Etna during our drive!


Lined up and ready to go!


Until next time Sicily!





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