Buona notte,
You guys had an up and down day today.
THE FIRST SET OF UPSUp early for a ride from the hotel in Sorrento to the porto to catch the ferry to Napoli. You were a bit anxious about Napoli after your experience on the train ride from there to Sorrento. Pick-pockets etc. So you opted for a ferry ride that turned out to be an excellent choice. Only a few euros more but what a view from the bay leaving Sorrento and entering the city of Napoli that sits under Mt Vesuvius - magnifico!!! Cafē and then you decided on a tram ride from the porto to the stationzione treno only 1 euro and 20 cents, taxi's were charging 20 euro!!! Then the treno ride to Scicily. You booked with the hotel reception online yesterday. So getting onto the treno was no problem.
THE FIRST DOWN
The seats you booked were occupied by another family. So you sat in the carriage hallway on seats that pullout from the wall. Comfortable enough but a bit of a squeeze when people walk by.
THE SECOND DOWN
The conductor came for your tickets and you then realised that the hotel receptionist had bought you tickets for tomoorw and NOT today. To avoid being thrown off the treno at the next stop you needed to buy new tickets at twice the price of the online tickets. This was negotiated through a very helpful young Italian woman whom you gratefully rewarded with some chocolates bought for that someone special, it was her. It was no major drama just a bit dissapointing. That's life, move on. You'll get reeimbursed for the first set of tickets at the bargain online price tomorrow.
THE SECOND SET OF UPSAfter another hour or so, seats in one of the 6 seat cabins became free and you took them along with these two guys, 1 from Poland and 1 from Sheffield in England. Had a blast with them over the next 4 or 5 hours and polished off a bottle of Gin in the cabin - a criminal offence in Italy!!! The treno ride to Scicily travels straight onto the ferry between the mainland and Scicily (30mins by ferry). Went up on deck to check the scenery and then back on the treno for the final 30 mins from Messina to Acicreale.
Arrived at an empty stationzione treno in Acicreale at 9.30pm. And while you were trying to workout how to get to the hotel, a car drives up alongside and a woman rolls down the window and asks if we need any help (in Italian). She offers a ride and her husband follows just behind in his car to help out as well because her car is too small. Against all the advice you split up and get in the two cars and hope for the best. MAFIA? MURDERERS? MUGGERS? ............ No! Two beautiful people who were willing to help. They drove you the 2 or 3 kms through the city to your hotel and refused to take anything offered them in return except for Italian hugs and kisses. Your very warm welcome to Acicreale and travel experience here has just begun. Time for bed, you're stuffed!!!
The seats pull out from the wall. Italian travel can be unpredictable and sometimes a ticket for a train ride doesn't gurantee a seat, even if it says you have one. Your seat may be occupied and you need to sit in the hallway until it comes free. This is a 2nd class carriage, the hallway is 3rd class or lower!!!
Below: From left Gareth from Sheffield, Casper from Poland, Rosy from Pluto and Frances from cheapsville with the paper cup.
These are polizia boxes and are all over the place in Roma. Down almost every dark alleyway and Polizia are there 24/7 making sure all is well. A great feeling of safety not that this was ever an issue in Roma.
You guys fell in love with this guy. He drugged you to do it. Those are complimentary Limonchiller shots, sorrento is famous for them. The consumate hots, he lured you into the shop, ploughed you with free shots, and had a few himself and you came out with 4 bottles, 3 packets of shot filled chocolates, glowing red cheeks and had your first hug and kiss from an Italian playboy. Lotsa fun!!!
This horse is about to get married!!!
A wedding we came across.
Game Over. She wins.
Now hows that for parking!!!
Ciao for now bloggers.
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