A day of trian rides - then Ortigia...surrounded by ocean (and even a castle)

Well, I woke up and it wasn’t sunny, but it wasn’t raining so I walked the 20 min. to train station with all my luggage in tow. I guess I’m gaining muscle if not losing weight. The train was 30 min late but it's going to be 6 1/2 hrs of train rides today so I guess what's 30 min more. Now we keep stopping and waiting in the middle of nowhere on the tracks and it leads my imagination to wander since I have no one to discuss it with. No one hear speaks English and that can be unsettling at times. This is a good time for me to practice “being one with God” and trusting him no matter the outcome in life. I have to say it is a pretty ride along the ocean (that has no waves and some houses have paddle boats in their yards since the Ocean is so calm) but would be nicer if the sun was out to bring out the beautiful green, aqua colors of the water and if the train had heat. At least the seats aren’t too bad. This train has 3 people in my car and is freezing. Would also be nice to have someone with me on this part of the trip. But I survive and face my fears. And will be more gracious of visitors to the US.  The train ride was actually quite pretty:

Got to the Messina train station 1 hour late and barely had time to catch my next train but HAD to use the restroom no matter what. (Can't go on train when it's 3 cars back and I have all my luggage to keep an eye on since I'm on my own). I found what Binari my train was to come in on and went to restroom. Came out and the sign was gone saying my train was to be on that track. So I went back into station to look for departures and it had my train up there with no binari (track #). I started to panic but then took a deep breath and looked around and there were still people there with their luggage so I hoped that they were just changing tracks to board on…as there was no train on track 1. After about 7 announcements (only in Italian, mind you, where I could only make out Siracuse) a track # finally popped up. So I went there and am now on 4 hour train ride. Seems I have internet, except when in tunnels. This train is almost full and is just right temperature. I was on a train that was packed full in Palermo and people stood for 1 hour to get to their stop – crazy (and that train was freezing). This really is quite an experience and adventure, which would be better shared with someone, but I’m learning to do it on my own and each town is so unique and special that I am glad I came to Sicily, even if on my own.

And quite interesting too.  I even saw cows grazing in a field

I finished reading The Shack and my eyes were teary and I had to blow my nose and people were looking at me at the train station like “what’s wrong with her”. I’m sure they don’t know what a e-reader...where I can download a book onto a unit and read from there. So here I am reading my unit and crying…must be a sight they don’t see often. A few more kids here do have cell phones unlike Venice.
Here is the view from my room:

Below is the view looking back at my B&B building on the far right side.
FINALLY I arrived in Siracuse and got settled in to my B&B…after I took the wrong “little bus” that only brought me part way. So there I was lugging my luggage down cobblestone streets – you’d think I’d learn. NOBODY here speaks English so far. I found a man in a shop and showed him what via (street) I needed to find and he had a computer and looked it up on-line for me. Then he pointed where we were, pointed to two streets and I memorized the names and off I went. When I got off the bus the lady at the restaurant did not speak English, it started to rain hard and I just sat down outside, under their covered area and ordered a water till it stopped raining. I then talked to a lady on the street the best I could and she pointed, then finally found that nice man with the computer. I believe God is helping me find my way through all this.

Walking to restaurant (Island is 1/2 mile wide by 1 mile long)

I decided to get some fresh air after being on the train all day (later I was told I should ride the bus in Sicily that it’s much faster than the train…LOL…yeah, tell me now…at the end of my Sicily experience). When I went out to walk it was not raining at 5:30pm, but it was thundering and lightening…just like home. I realized I hadn’t eaten all day (not food on train and no time to find food with trains being late) so found a restaurant looking out at the sun and had my favorite, Caprese with fresh basil. I sat and listened to the thunder and a few times saw lightening. My B&B lady (who spoke a little English) said this was very strange winter and very long period of cold this year. It should be hotter she said.

The waiter who spoke a little English said that they don’t see this often and many where watching.

This restaurant did not serve a glass of wine - only a craft which is about 2 glasses for 3 euros. Amazing how low the cost if for wine wine here.  I ate early since I hadn't eaten all day - that is why the restaurant is empty.  Tourists eat about 6:30 ad locals come out to each around 7:30 (after closing up shop)

I walked on as was able to photograph a man catching a fish and the sun setting.

It really has the old world charm here.

It really is a nice little town with beautiful buildings and old world charm. These towns are very safe for me to walk in during the daylight hours…and probably at night, but I’m too tired by then and it’s a good time to blog and post pictures and recharge batteries.  Below is the statue outside their aquarium.  Not sure how much it costs to go in, but it doesn't look that big.

Big Church in the middle of the island

Off to view history tomorrow. I’ll ride the “little bus”, correct one this time, up to the train station and walk to the archeological site from there.

As night falls on the little town...I'm heading off to sleep myself.