My trip to Sicily was bookended by boat trips. I took an 8 hour train from Naples to Palermo, which is on the island of Sicily. Once the train got to the edge of the boot, it unloaded onto a boat in sections, and rode a boat over to the other side!
Starting off with a video: here we are loading the boat.
Leaving "the boot" behind.
Here's me being astonished that a train is inside a boat.
We're in! I travel to see the water:
That's Sicily behind me!
The captain takes a break and steers with his knee. (Ok, not really, but traffic is light on the sea.)
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I saw this dog right when I got there. Dang, I love dogs.
View from my hostel room. This was the party street. Live music till 3am.
One of many crowded markets I squeezed into. Anything you want - fresh fish, produce, even bootleg DVD's of current movies, all there.
It's hard work cuttting swordfish.
It's easy work serving calamari.
I found the coolest thing - a marionette puppet show!!! Before the show, here's the lady putting finishing touches on the evenings' performers.
Check out this army! One guy was doing the voices for all of the characters - you only really knew who was talking when they would jiggle their head and wave their arm.
This might be one of the best videos of the trip. I so hope this plays for you. At the climax of the play (all in Italian), the young hero defends the honor of who-knows and has this epic battle. Enjoy the brilliance of a The Greatest Puppet Battle of All Time.
I took another boat out of Sicily! This was basically a cruise ship without dancing shows. Mainly old people smoking and playing cards. But we all crowded into the on-board cinema to watch the soccer match between Italy and Spain.
Italy ended up loosing. Everyone crowded outside to smoke and curse
This was my boat - the Compania. "N" is backwards. I don't think that's the way its supposed to go....
In Venice now. It's hot! And the computers are as slow as the table service, but not nearly as charming. Ciao!
9 comments:
Ciao! U R right about the web service - maybe U should try out the parchment and bottle?! This blog took over 72 hours from the time U published it to post here. But it was worth waiting for! I was fascinated by the whole train within a boat thing, and the puppet show surpassed anything I could have imagined. Thanks for those great pix & the videos continue to be a source of amusement at lunch time for my office mates. Someone suggested you change the blog name to "Mr. Vonage goes to Europe". I told him I'd submit the idea for consideration. :(
Enjoy Venice and blog when you can - we'll be waiting on the other end. Say Hi to the Langs for me! LOVE, MOM
What I say. Slow computers...slow boats...trains in boats...tight shopping aisles...up tight marionnetes...fed up soccer fans...sounds like Sicily to me!! I'd hoped to see bright pics of flowing lava from Mt. Etna's latest eruption. Probably too far to go from your port in Sicily. Well, I know your luck will change in Venice. It should only take a gondola trip or two to soooooooth your nerves (or maybe a fast computer). Good times! Love ya, D.O.D.
SICILY!!! Well I love the Dog!!
LOL.. Interesting that's for sure. I like the puppet show. I've seen a lot of those but that was really cute. The jumping picture was good, love that also. The train/boat tour was good, love your videos. Sorry about the computer, here I'll do it for you, I hate computers,I hate computers,I hate computers,Computers I hate. Ok feel better now. Onward we go. What and where is next.
Love it Brian,
Aunt Margie
A train in a boat??? What will they think of next...a bus in taxi???? CRAZY STUFF! LOL. I'm glad to see the dogs are friendly in other countries. Dogs are awesome. And I give you thumbs up for your bucket list job of wanting to wrestle someone you've just met. DO IT!
I'm kind of floored by how many places you've been. Well done.
I love those puppets. Worth the long trip, I'm sure.
Enjoy Venice! Lots of pigeons and tourists.
Brian I don't think i have left a comment yet. I am pretty sure the one time i tried it erased EVERYTHING i wrote (computers, great machines eh?). But let me tell you, I have not missed ONE blog! I have it set up in my mail on my Mac. So every time you write something new I KNOW!!!!! I check everyday. I love what you write. I love your videos. I LOVE YOU! Got your postcard! Thanks man. Gosh i wish i could be there with you. You don't know how much my heart yearns for such an adventure. I miss you man. Keep soaking it all in. And update often! Love you.
That dog had the greatest face ever!!!
Your jumping filled the A quite well.
Hey man, don't blame computers for your misconduct. Everyone knows that the Internet is for porn and here you are trying to blog on it. Disgraceful.
Trains on boats is about as cool as helicopters. Word.
It looks like that dog was about to come "Make you and offer you can't refuse."
Happy trails... Peace.
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