Gene and I decided to head to the mainland of Italy for Labor Day. So we drove 1.5 hours to Messina and took the ferry to Reggio Calabria on the mainland of Italy. We drove to Capovaticano which is near Tropea, another 1.5 hours from the port and stayed at a resort and spa for a relaxing weekend. Calabria is famous for their red peppers, so vendors all over the streets sell strands of dried red peppers. The water is a beautiful blue color and the Aeolian islands are visible when it is clear. Stromboli is one of the islands and is an active volcano (a very beautiful view from the beach). If we had time there are tours that take you on a boat around Stromboli at night to see the flowing lava. It erupts/flows daily.
The first day of our weekend was cloudy so we headed to the spa and used the pools and had massages and I had an exfoliating peel. The second day was perfect weather so we layed on the beach all day until our massage and facial appointments at 6pm. I have never had a "spa weekend" but there is something very tranquil about sleeping on the beach, waking up, and realizing you get to walk right over to the spa. It was a great break from work and screaming preschoolers yelling, "Ms. Lindsay" every second of the day.
When driving back to Messina to catch the ferry we drove along the Strait of Messina and saw the very top of Sicily. It was cool to see how close Sicily and the mainland of Italy really are.
The first day of our weekend was cloudy so we headed to the spa and used the pools and had massages and I had an exfoliating peel. The second day was perfect weather so we layed on the beach all day until our massage and facial appointments at 6pm. I have never had a "spa weekend" but there is something very tranquil about sleeping on the beach, waking up, and realizing you get to walk right over to the spa. It was a great break from work and screaming preschoolers yelling, "Ms. Lindsay" every second of the day.
When driving back to Messina to catch the ferry we drove along the Strait of Messina and saw the very top of Sicily. It was cool to see how close Sicily and the mainland of Italy really are.
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| Our resort, Capovaticano Resort and Thalasso Spa |
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| the beach for our hotel |
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| Gene enjoying our "welcome punch" |
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| the pool |
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| relaxing with an Aperol Spritz |
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| Our first sunny day :) |
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| the city of Tropea |
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| a very cool apartment building in Tropea |
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| back to our hotel |
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| Capovaticano |
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| a walk after dinner |
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| a full moon at dinner |
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| a view of Stromboli |
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| bellissima! |
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| the Strait of Messina and the very top of Sicily |
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| the ferry back to Sicilia...Arrivederci Calabria! |
