At Sea

To pass through the Straits of Messina today was to pass from one world to another.

We had woken to a rather severe mostly grey morning accentuated by the silhouettes of Lipari and its volcanic companions. We passed over green-grey still seas and a too brisk wind blew across the deck. Soon enough a heavily snow capped Etna dominated the Sicilian skyline ahead and we slowed for the Straits.

Even as we approached, the sea began to glisten and as our transit continued past Messina on the right then Reggio to the left, sunshine dominated a still level sea and followed as we began our long lazy swing to port and towards Greece.