If you read PART 1 FLORENCE we also were in TAORMINA, SICILY which is very quaint and an awesome view of the IONIAN SEA.

We stayed in a small hotel high up on the hill.We had rented a car at the airport which we just parked at the hotel.WE took a taxi to town.It was the easiest and most practical way.Plus, I love chatting with the taxi drivers.Uber in ITALY is MORE expensive I was told.Plus it required another APP!I don’t know about YOU but I do not want ONE MORE APP!

Here is our rental car ORANGE!I couldn’t have asked for a BETTER color in SICILY!Here they assist you with the car. Show one how to turn on and off and help with luggage.ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING!

I may never have gotten it out of PARK.

MY FIRST LEMON GRANITA BELOW!

Waiting for my SECOND GRANITA of the day………

VELVET AND YELLOW FRAMES with photos of Celebrities!

I KIND OF GRAVITATED TO THIS BAR!

I WONDER WHY?

FRAMES, YELLOW, VELVET OUTSIDE!

I LOVE IT ALL………..

Plus, a customer in my antique shop once said my shop “was full of WANDERLUST!”

THIS IS THE Main Street IN TAORMINA.

Churches and restaurants and tourist shops line the street with food and fabulousness.

THE OLD THEATER where they were setting up for a film festival the next day.We were in a restaurant where we saw MICHAEL DOUGLAS and a TALL BLONDE!The first thing that popped into my head was “THATS NOT HIS WIFE!”.It came across my phone the next day that he was there for a FILM FESTIVAL and receiving an award.The TALL blonde was a PRODUCER in the film industry.ITALIAN of course!

THIS IS VERY OLD STUFF……….third century B.C.

Built by the GREEKS and the ROMANS.

Gives you an idea of the height of the walls.

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MARVEL TO SEE!

NO HOME DEPOTS.

NO POWER TOOLS.

THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL MAN MADE BY HAND!

I WAS HUFFING AND PUFFING BY THE TIME I GOT HERE.

THIS WAS A REST SPOT FOR ME and as much as I wanted to go up to the TOP I knew it was BEST to enjoy the view of the SEA from HERE!

MY HAT served me well.

$19.99 at CVS.

When is was not in use it was used as a section inside my Basket Bag!

I turned it upside down and it carried the phone and a little bottle of water.

I am using it still as a divider inside the basket.

EASY ACCESS!

THE AMBIANCE WAS FANTASTIC.

LOOK At those HEAD VASES AS LAMPS!

I MAY NEED TO DO THAT IN MY KITCHEN!

Did you know I wanted to be an ARCHEOLOGIST in the 9th grade?

I DID!

From the LACE CURTAINS to the ceramic heads and succulents……………..A balcony to stop and admire!

This is where we saw Michael Douglas walk in………….

He was SHORT!!I mean really short which surprised me, but very generous with his time shaking the owners hands.Seemed like he knows everyone there!THE ITALIAN would not let me SNAP a photo when his back was turned!MY HUSBAND IS VERY PROPER and OLD SCHOOL which I ADORE about HIM!!!

MY OUTFIT is by Bryn Walker in BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA and the shoes are BIRDIES.

NECKLACE by ANGELA CAPUTI.

YES, exactly what I was thinking” I WOULD LOVE TO OWN THIS!”

This is where they filmed WHITE LOTUS if you watched that mini series!

THE BEACH SCENES.

THERE IS AN ELEVATOR that takes you down to the water and beach.

A GROTTO that we went into by boat!

LOOK at the COLORS!

They used these GROTTOS during THE WAR………….WWII.

I couldn’t understand all he was saying but got that much!

MORE VIBRANT IN PERSON!

ISOLA BELLA,we did not get there by foot, however the owner of the boat IL CAPITANO let us swim around a bit!I could jump in NO PROBLEM ,but getting me up and back onto the boat was a CHALLENGE!I had ONE PUSHING FROM BEHIND and the OTHER PULLING from THE BOAT!

IT WAS COMICAL FOR SURE!

I turn 65 on JULY 22. This year was a real challenge for me.

As I mentioned in the First Post on the trip I slipped in SICILY about 8 days into our trip!I did not hit the ground but twisted the back something awful.I am wearing a BACK BRACE as of TODAY and am on heavy duty pain meds.NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!

With the taxi rides in ROME no cushions in those back seats and a MAJOR POTHOLE HIT I managed to really do damage to my LOWER BACK!Somehow, I kept walking those warm streets and seeing the sights.ONLY ONE DAY DID I HAVE TO STAY IN BED AND RECOUP and I think that was more the HEART STUFF than back.The worst part for me was laying down in bed and getting up.

I was calling my chiropractor from the ROME airport!After visiting him four times in two weeks after we got back; I had to go to URGENT CARE and get more X-ray done.They found my L-1 was fractured, however that was not the cause of MY PAIN NOW.That was an old fracture.Have no idea how that happened or when but the last few years I have been complaining about wearing BRAS!

No matter the size it hurt!

Can VERTEBRAE just break if you have osteoporosis?

For the last three years I have done the RECLAST DRIP LINE.

SO, I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR MEDICARE and ready to see what happens next!

ANY suggestions from you DEAR READERS On WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH THE BODY AND HOW I SHOULD SPEND MY TIME!?SLOW DOWN OR SPEED UP………let me know how you are spending the GOLDEN YEARS!

I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GOOD SUMMER or WINTER where ever you reside!

TO LEAVE ME A MEASSAGE KEEP SCROLLING DOWNWARD!

I WILL ANSWER EACH AND EVERY COMMENT.

I PROMISE.

PS. For years I spoke about those EYE EPISODES I WOULD HAVE. I would lose my sight and feel faint and the grand final was a headache for one to two days.THEY ARE GONE AFTER 10 YEARS of SEARCHING FOR AN ANSWER!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

AS of APRIL 13 th 2025 I had my LAST EYE EPISODE!

A CERVICAL SPINE CHIROPRACTOR FIXED ME.

TOOK ABOUT 8 MONTHS but MY ATLAS NOW IS HOLDING IN PLACE.

IF YOU SUFFER GROM HEADACHES OR VERTIGO, ETC I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A CERVICAL SPINE DOCTOR.NOTHING THEY DO HURTS.I would be happy to share more if you want email me at iolacontessa@gmail.com

XXX

YOUR BIRTHDAY CONTESSA REFLECTING

What an AMAZING 65 YEARS IT HAS BEEN!