Looking forward to following along. If your schedule permits, take a ferry from Milazzo in the north out to the Aeolian Islands (Vulcano, Lipari and more). I briefly landed on Vulcano last year and pulled into the fuel dock at Lipari but didn't go ashore. Lipari looked beautiful and very upmarket whereas Vulcano was very basic but with a live Volcano to add some interest! Have fun.