Sicilia!!!

I seem to have stumbled across wireless Internet! I am currently sitting on my [once removed] aunt and uncle's balcony (which has a SPECTACULAR view of Mt. Etna!) while listening to people shout in support as the Italy vs. New Zealand game begins.

I have been keeping a travel journal, so I will type in the entries on here (with corresponding photos!) as I find interwebs/get home. I have SIX PAGES so far! Sooo HERE GOES! xD


June 18-19: The ones that blur together.

I am currently so tired that I am having a bit of vertigo and can barely see straight - so my writing is suffering. Alas, I will do my best!

I had a hard-core breakdown two days before the trip. Lots of yelling and arguing and crying. Tensions were very high, and I was worried that they would carry over to the actual trip. But it turned out ok!



Our first flight went well. On time. We landed in DC around 5pm on the 18th. We were supposed to leave from DC to Munich at 8:15, but the flight was delayed until 10:05. It was disheartening, but we knew we would still make the connection from Munich to Catania, Sicily. So we spent time eating, walking around the terminal, and played cards--

My uncle just asked my sister if she wanted a beer. AND SHOUTS FROM THE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE OF THE ITALY VS NEW ZEALAND GAME THAT IS CURRENTLY GOING ON. AAAANYWHO!

--We certainly enjoyed our time in a non-cramped space.



On the flight, which was an easy 8 hours because we flew at night, there were 2 mostly-well behaved infants and 2 HORRIBLY behaved toddlers. They threw tantrums and just screamed and yelled whenever they didn't get something they wanted. It was awful. I had trouble sleeping during that flight, though I believe I slept quite awhile beacuse when I awoke (TO ONE OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PAIN-IN-THE-ASS TODDLERS SCREAMING "TURN THE LIGHT OFF!!" AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS FOR TWENTY MINUTES WHEN STEWARDESSES WERE BEGINNING TO SERVE BREAKFAST. I told my sister that I was seriously considering silencing the kid myself, and we all know that it wouldn't end well for the kid--but the rest of the plane would probably testify in favor of me in court), we were being served breakfast and had only an hour and a half to go. Still, I have been in need of good sleep ever since.

Once we arrived in Munich, we chilled until our flight to Catania, which left a bit late, but no worries. I slept soundly for a solid hour during the flight, hugging my backpack. I'm fairly certain I looked like the guy in SkyMall.


Anyway, lots of pictures, a landing, and almost losing our luggage later, we met our waiting family outside customs. I am sad to report that we did not get a Sicily/Italy stamp on our passports, as we received a stamp in Germany because both countries are in the EU. I am very sad.

My dad and Maurizio, my cousin, once removed, went to get my dad's renal car while we waited in the outside pick-up area with my once-removed uncle Tino. We were waiting and this adorable stray dog came up! He looked to be part German Shepherd, as his markings matched those of our dog, but he was a little on the skinny side and had burrs in his fur. His nails were clipped, though. He rummaged through trash cans and begged off of people, but he ended up sniffing us then laying down on Amanda's foot to sleep. In all that noise! Also, this is the first dog with balls intact that I have ever seen.



Dad and Maurizio finally returned with their respective cars, and we left for Tino's house, where my aunt Mary was waiting. And they have a HUGE dog! He's 11 years old with nothing wrong with him! Sooo cute! :3



Food, talking, trying to understand excited relatives, baths, more food, and learning new words.

And now -- SLEEP! It's only 9:30pm. I feel like an old fart! :-P


June 20: Taormina

I slept like a rock last night. I woke up a couple times but fell right back to sleep. I had a couple weird dreams, though. One was: a friend from high school and I went to my old church and I just was so upset and my parents were there and I think I was making out with someone (can't remember who--someone I haven't seen in awhile) then people showed up for church and I got out of that situation but started making a scene because "nobody got it" and blah blah blah, I rocked the boat, the Christians hate me, parents drove me home, the end.

And now that I've written the second dream down, I can't remember the first one. It was something to do wtih my last 2 swipes and food. Whatever.

We went up to Taormina today. They don't want lots of people driving up there, so they won't let non-residents park there. We parked in a parking garage then took a bus.



Taormina is really touristy, but we went in the morning, before the tourists got there. My sister and I each bought a Taormina bag--few people are going to have one or even know where it is. Just so you know, it is a city up in the mountains, so it's beautiful and surprisingly hot. It was absolutely gorgeous. We spent more for lunch than we did for 2 bags and an apron! 30 euros! And 24 for the other stuff. It's not horrible, really--and much less than we'll be spending in Rome--but it's ok. It's not like we didn't learn our lesson. Now we're headed back because Aunt Mary made pasta (which dad also didn't think about. Oh well!).



We're just relaxing tonight. Maurizio said there's a fantastic Italian ice stand close to the house, so he might take us all there later. :)

Tomorrow, we're going to Mount Etna. It's going to be really cool! Then we'll go back to the house for lunch, then say goodbye and drive 2 hours to Fontane. Amanda, Mom, and I all want Sicilia hoodies, so we're going to look for them there because it'll be less touristy and cheaper.

I'm understanding a lot more Sicilian than I expected to. There is no English outside my immediate family, so I'm learning a lot through immersion. I was expecting my knowledge of Italian to be better--here's hoping I'm just as good at it as I am with Sicilian! I'm still having the anxiety when peopole speak to me, so I don't understand much then, but my listening (and interpreting for my Ishy and mom) is pretty good! Then again, this is based on me expecting not to understand anything. The French and Latin has helped a lot.

Dad is sharing music with Mauizio. He loves 80's much, like ACDC and Led Zeppelin and Van Halen and such. It's hilarious.


ANYWAY! Goodbye for now! Perhaps you'll hear from me tomorrow afternoon before I leave for Fontane, but who knows!