Palermo to Cirella

First day of freedom from the tour group today so I finally had the time to find a good espresso macchiato for breakfast from a bar rather than the tour group hotel machine.
The Intercity train travelled along the scenic north coast of Sicily, then rolled into the lower level of a ferry to cross the narrow strait from Messina to Villa San Giovanni. Up on deck the straits were magnificent with wide sweeping views of Sicily on one side and the toe of mainland Italy on the other - easy to imagine the ancients sailing here and the strategic importance of it.
Changed train for the short trip to Reggio de Calabria where Pam’s cousin Frank met us for the two hour coastal drive to Cirella.
We were to stay with Frank’s sister Maria, her husband and four children Concetta, Palma, Rocco and Nicola, all single, forty something and living at home and working essentially subsistence level on their farm.
We had home made coppa cut in thick chunks, cheese, olives and chicken with peas. And loads of biscuits that Frank had bought in Bovalino.Read more