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Sicily (20th Sep 2014)
10th Oct 2016
We
wandered
into
Cagliari
this
afternoon
-
bought
some
sweets
to
take
back
and
some
postcards.
One
shop
offered
us
small
treats
to
taste
so
we
had
to
buy
something
to
discharge
the
guilt.
A
lot
of
Africans
either
begging
or
selling
things.
Cagliari
itself
is
a
port
city,
sloping
hills
-
rich
shops
but
also
narrow
streets
and
holes
being
dug.
23rd Sep 2014
I
will
remember
Venice
as
the
highlight
of
this
cruise,
and
especially
the
enchanting
ride
on
a
gondola.
This
really
gave
me
an
impression
of
Venice
as
an
ancient
city
with
rills
for
roads.
A
city
where
you
get
around
in
a
boat,
where
you
might
take
a
vaporetto
rather
than
a
taxi.
A
city
defined
by
water
not
by
land.
On
our
tour
we
saw
the
famous
Bridge
of
Sighs
which
led
to
the
prison,
the
Doge's
Palace
from
which
not
only
Venice
was
ruled
but
also
the
vast
area
Venice
had
dominion
over
when
it
was
a
city
state.
We
also
trooped
around
St
Marks
Basilica,
from
which
the
water
had
just
receded.
As
an
organised
tour
we
beat
the
massive
queues
in
St
Marks
Square.
There
were
seven
cruise
ships
in
and
Venice
was
packed.
People
said
this
was
the
last
time
cruise
ships
could
sail
up
the
Grand
Canal.
20th Sep 2014
We
docked
at
Messina
then
did
excursion
to
see
Mt
Etna.
I
went
prepared
with
reversible
fleece
but
even
two
thirds
of
the
way
up
Mt
Etna
it
was
warm
even
with
a
breeze!
Our
guide
Guiseppe
gave
a
long
history
for
Sicily,
including
raids
by
Arab
pirates
but
not
including
anything
about
the
Mafia.
Mount
Etna
is
still
very
active
as
volcanoes
go.
Recent
eruptions
flattened
ski
lifts
and
restaurants
which
are
rebuilt
to
cope
with
the
visitors.
There's
a
sharp
tree
line,
then
where
grass
is
trying
to
colonise
the
dark
earth,
then
where
its
naked
rock
which
has
oozed
and
conglomerated.
Some
of
the
trees
were
dying
of
a
growth.