As our bus wove its way up the
winding streets into the high village of Taormina, my eyes danced around at the
novelties and scenery of the town. The influence of the Greek was immediately
noticeable in the numerous fragments of ancient ruins scattered amongst the
town and the surrounding countryside full of luscious greenery, with Mount Etna
in the distance.
The main street, Corso Umberto, was
lined with high-end boutiques full of designer clothing, shoes, jewelry, home
goods, and pottery. Outdoor restaurants were clustered together in the piazzas,
where people congregated over good food and wine to enjoy the scenic view of
the Mediterannean Sea. Pasta alla norma, seafood spaghetti, crispy arrancini,
and the colorful array of granita beckoned for me to taste them. At my favorite
restaurant, Miele, where I ate dinner three nights in a row, we were served an
after dinner shot of Mandorla wine, a typical Sicilian tradition. It tasted
like almond liquor, and to top it off we were served miniature almond cookies
for dessert.
However, my favorite part of my
days in Sicily was the mornings. Every morning I would wake up at 6 am to go
for an early run. The sky was still a dusty shade of blue, but as I would make
my way down the empty streets of Taormina I could catch the sunrise on the
sea’s horizon. At this point I would stop my run and just stare at the beauty
of the sunrise as the sunlight warmed my skin. It was the most peaceful time of
day where I could clear my head and get in touch with my innermost thoughts. Back
at the hotel I would go and enjoy the continental breakfast that was laid out
for us, and sit down at a table overlooking the mountainous terrain cascading
into the bright blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
The culture of Taormina contrasted
strongly with my impressions of Italy, particularly of Florence. In Florence,
the streets are busy with cars, scooters, buses, and people on their way to
work. Thousands of tourists flood the city centre where the most historical
buildings and monuments are located, but there is still an industrial side to
the city that takes away from some of its old-world charm. In Taormina, I can
see the charm in the smallest things. The locals chatting to each other in the
streets, making jokes and filling the street with laughter; the way the sun
hits the facades of each building and reflects the light of the cool blue sea;
and the beautiful flora and greenery that grows in every empty space. Shop
owners and the locals of Taormina were so welcoming and willing to talk to people,
whereas in Florence I don’t get as many pleasant interactions.
From my week in Taormina, I was
able to interact with the locals and form connections that I have yet to make
in Florence. I introduced myself to the waitress at Miele, whose name is Magdalena,
and she told me that she remembered the Minnesota group that came to visit
spring semester. I also made a connection with the manager of our hotel, who
recommended a couple of very good restaurants and had a talk with me about my
study abroad experience. Anywhere our group went around the town, we could tell
people we were students at Babilonia school and they would immediately know
what we were talking about and talk about it with the highest regard – at most
places, we would even get a discount for being Babilonia students.
My experience in Taormina was an
eye opener to the vast array of cultures in Italy, and in my opinion, Taormina
is the city that holds the key to the soul of Italy.
