Taormina

Images: A typical house with overflowing flowerboxes in Taormina;PJ and SL in "Commune da Taormina"; The girls on the drive up to Taormina

Taormina
One of the difficulties that I am finding in writing a travel blog is that you tend to run out of superlatives. I am sure that colour commentators on TV must face the same problem. Wide receiver makes a spectacular catch in the superbowl: “That has GOT to go down as the most incredible catch in Superbowl history!!” next play.... Wide Receiver makes a sensational catch, gets up, gives the referee the ball, goes into the stands, delivers three beers to waiting customers, and throws 4 bags of peanuts right on target to those who ordered them.... I mean, what DO you say now?
Taormina – we drove through Giardini Naxos along a beautiful coastline and parked about 200 M below the Centro of Taormina. I gotta give K the props here. She has never once complained about the walking, the stairs, the long drives, the fact that I am always right and she's not....
Once we climbed the stairs, we entered the “Commune de Taormina” - a beautiful park filled with statues, gardens, and historical remnants from another age.
Oh, how I wished my buddy Brian were with us. There was a display of a MANNED TORPEDO from WWI. Two navy types in scuba gear actually rode this thing underwater – not a submarine, more like riding a dolphin on steroids and growth hormones (and with the accompanying attitude) to deliver the explosive warhead in the nose to the intended target.
Taormina itself is very touristy, but for a reason. The scenery is spectacular, as it overlooks the Mediterranean from 1500 feet, and the town retains much of its ancient charm. Window boxes overflow with bourgainvillea, flags flutter from the walls of buildings crowding alleyways, and tenors stroll the streets singing.
We loved San Gimigiano, Sienna, Firenze, and of course, Roma, but Taormina might just take the prize in terms of sheer beauty.
I am not looking forward to leaving Sicilia....