Getting to Sicily

We can’t believe that we are going to Sicily today. Half of my roots are there and we both have been looking forward to this. We start our day walking about 1.2 miles to the train station that connects to Vienna National Airport. Because I like to leave plenty of time in catching trains and such, we actually catch a train 25 minutes earlier than the one we planned on. It is a little late but now I don’t care. We get to the airport and walk our way over from terminal 3 where the train stops to terminal 1 where the ticket counter is. We are flying Air Malta with a connection in, imagine that, Malta, and then on to Catania, Sicily. There is no check in signs for Air Malta when we get there but a board says counters 176 to 178. No one there yet so I ask at information and they do not open the counters until 0835, which is about 25 minutes from now. Only one thing to do in this case and that is find some breakfast. There is a small Billa grocery store around the corner with surprisingly cheap pastries and items considering the location. We get two Apple strudels, one spinach, and one tomato baked item for lunch and a coffee for 5 Euros. We eat at a small stand up table outside the store and by the time we are done, and walk back, the counters are getting ready to open.
We bought our tickets on Expedia and were unable to get seats prior to today and we at least get the same row although not together. The connecting flight has two together so that is nice. We work our way through security or so we were thinking, when Carol the Troublemaker, gets pulled off to the side. She is carrying a knife and they must check it out. The knife is part of a corkscrew which is part of Carols be prepared kit. The knife and corkscrew gets measured and they are Okay to bring on. But Carol is now suspicious so must be tested for bomb making material residue. All they find is cremeschnitten residue and waive her on.
We eventually board our flight and then are delayed on the Tarmac for a priority landing flight. The 35 minute delay causes me worry as our connection was only a 1 hour layover to begin with. During the flight, I tell the flight attendant about the short connection and she tells me that she will have the Captain let them know we might be late. She also says don’t worry, Malta is a small airport.

Island of Malta

We make up time in the air and only arrive 20 minutes late and when we get off, our connecting flight gate is right next door. Well kind of, as we exit the plane in the outdoors and have to walk into the terminal. The attendant sees us and says see I told you it was a small airport and no problem. I think she likes me.
It is very hot here compared to the cool temps we have been enjoying. We start the boarding process which involves squeezing as many passengers as you can on a shuttle bus and driving you two hundred yards out to your plane. When we get on the plane, something is very odd. They have misters on the plane and the misty fog is coming out from above the seats and the ceiling. It is appreciated with the hot temperatures but kind of eerie and disconcerting when you first walk on.
A nice young man from Malta sits next to us and we spend the whole hour flight chatting with him. We learn a bit about Malta and Sicily, and Ray as he asks to be called learns a bit about the U.S. He is a teacher and is visiting friends in Siracusa which is where we are going also. He is an extremely pleasant and easygoing guy. When we get off the plane, he makes sure he stays with us to show us where we catch the bus to Siracusa. We thank him, Carol gives him the obligatory hug and kiss on the cheek, and we are on our way.
First, since the next bus is not until 1540 and it is 1440, we find the toilette. That being done, we walk out to the bus stop and find the ticket booth. I ask the guy for two tickets on the next bus and he says 1640 bus. I say no isn’t there a bus at 1540 which is right on the written schedule I am staring at. He says yes but it is about to leave so the next bus is 1640. It is not quite 1500 yet. So I buy two tickets and then he says you can take that bus. We walk fast and as I approach, the bus starts to pull away, and I run up to the door and get his attention. He stops and let’s us on. Now I know I am back in Italy, where the buses have their own kind of schedule. The ride to Siracusa takes about an hour and when we get off at the station, it is pretty warm. What is a little more sweat? We start our roughly 1.5 Mile walk down the street. First step is to negotiate our way across a traffic circle. Feel like frogger but no one comes too close to hitting us. Than we cross the bridge onto the small island of Ortygia where we are staying. It is the old fortification part of the city. We find our way pretty easily to the BNB, absorbing all the new sights and sounds along the way. Roberta, checks us in and our room is way more than we expected.

Kitchen Area

We booked a double room, which turns out to be a bedroom with double bed, a small sitting room, a kitchen with small table. There are also steps going up to a small loft with two more beds. It is beautiful and immediately meets Carol’s clean seal of approval. The best part right now is the air conditioner was on, works great, and we can cool off. Catching the phantom bus means we arrived at the BNB earlier than we were supposed to get to the bus station so that is nice after our long day of travel. We settle in and then brave the heat to get our bearings and check out some restaurants for later. The one I had pegged for today is closed on Mondays so we look at a few others. We also stop and buy an obligatory bottle of Sicilian red wine. In Sicily, like most of Italy, the restaurants closed down around 1430-1500 after lunch and do not open until 1900 to 1930. We settle on our first and second choices, shower and prepare to go eat.
When we arrive at Sciale, they have a nice table for two in their garden patio and we have a seat.

Antipasto

We get an antipasto, two pasta dishes, and vino bianco. When our antipasto comes, the couple next to us says you have just decided for us what we are starting with. It has olives, sun dried tomatoes, prosciutto, salami, and several cheeses. We start a conversation with the couple while we are eating and they are from Germany, near Frankfurt. We enjoy each other’s company while we dine. They are on their last day and tell us the place they ate last night was really good but was closed today. Turns out it is the one we wanted to go to so we will try to eat there tomorrow. They are driving and I asked him if the driving is difficult here, and he says not too bad because everybody just assumes that everyone else is going to do something wrong so they are cautious. Interesting theory. After dinner we have some gelato and head back as we are tired after our travels. Besides it is almost 2200. Nice first night.
Expenses
Breakfast and lunch items from airport market 5.7E
Airfare from Vienna to Catania Sicily 336 USD
Bus from Catania to Siracusa 11.4E
Bottle of Wine 4.8E
Dinner and wine at Sciale 37E
Gelato from Bel Bon 4E
La Giudecca BNB 81E
Walked 7 Miles