We left Sicily at nine last night on the overnight train from Palermo.
It was a debate right until the last minute whether we would take the
train or the ferry. The train won out more on logistics than on
comfort. Neither the ports of Palermo nor Naples are convenient to get to
or from, although the ferry berths come with toilets and showers. Train
stations are centrally located, hotels abound and there is transportation to
the airport for tomorrow. Tring, our cabin mate, was on his way back home
to Shanghai after several years juggling hats (truly) for the circus. He worked
in the States with Barnum and Bailey before coming to Italy. Interesting
guy and it was fun watching him bound cat-like to his upper bunk.
Our last night in Italy, near the train station in Naples,
the worst area in the worst city, will be a survival test. I just walked
around looking for a supermarket, not easy to find on a Sunday. Naples is
a mafia town and thought I was on Times Square in NYC circa 1980.
Every piece of cheap junk you would never want is for sale on hastily set
up tables. Sharpies deal three card monte, complete with shills raking in
their "winnings," always with an eye for the cops, who reputedly are among the
most crooked in Europe. It's too early for the hookers, the obvious ones
anyway, but I suspect they are lurking if you know where to look. But our
hotel is nice and secure with a good wifi connection and BBC on the television, a rare
treat.
In nearly three months we explored Italy from the top of the boot to its
pointy toe and beyond to Sicily, the triangular island that is about to be
kicked. We visited new friends and met newer ones. Visitors find so much great scenery to see, so much to wonderful food to eat and wine to drink, so many people to watch - so much of life to live - that they might be tempted to skip an art museum or two. Big mistake! Italy's art treasures are as much a part of its soul as the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower. Italy is not for the "faint of art." To get the most from your visit, study up on the Renaissance beforehand.
This batch of "Schengen time" is about up and we must move on. We are off to Australia tomorrow:
Naples-Frankfurt-Abu Dhabi-Sidney-Perth. I think we arrive on Wednesday
- but I'm not sure what month! We will travel/camp in a campervan rental rather
that look for hotels. After all the cities we've been in, all the churches and
museums, and all the restaurants, we are looking forward to some nature and
home-cooked food. And some warm weather.
See you there!
