Tues 18. [18 February 1902] We left at 8 - it was a gray [sic] day rainy
early but the sun came at midday. We went right across the island to
Taormina. We took our lunch with us and eat it in the train which was
very full of people going to Siracuse [Siracusa [Syracuse)]. We left
without knowing for sure that we could get in at Taormina. We passed
mostly through rolling uplands, at first rather bare and full of sulphur
mines, then covered with flowering almond. The nicest part was as
we ran between Castrogiovanni and Calascibetta, both standing up
on the tops of the hills. It was a little early in the year for flowers and I
fear the country does not flourish as it did when at Henna the hounds
cd not follow the game for the scent of flowers; but the narcissus and
the blue anemone were out covering the fields. Etna [Etna, Mte] was
hidden from a little above the snow line upwards. We had tea at
Catania and a delicious journey along the blue sea by Aci Reale
[Acireale] and Aci Castello. Arriving at Taormina was like coming
home and fortunately we found we had got rooms at the San
Domenico a delightful hotel with wide passages and cells and a
charming garden full of flowers. H [Hugo] and I rushed up the hill from
the station and then to the theatre, but it was shut. Lovely moon. The
Geralds and Ruffs arrived at 7. Dinner and talk and walk in the
garden and bed. Taormina divine under the moon.