Arrival in Scicily, September 11, 2012

September 13 - 0745 (1:45am EST)

Renne' and I are aboard the ferry right now enroute from Catania, Scicily to Naples, Italy. We boarded the ferry last night at 2030 (8:30pm) and departed about 2130.  Our understanding was we would be in Naples by 0700 this morning.mas of right now, the port is still not in sight. This is NOT a small ferry!

Let me digress a bit though. We left the boat tied up at St. Simons Island, Ga last Saturday morning, September 8th, headed for Norfolk, Va. 

As we got close to Charleston, we got suckered into the idea of leaving for Rota and picking up a flight from there. We were able to get a Space Available flight leaving for Rota, Spain, however, just prior to departure we learned we would land in Dover, Deleware, for a bit of maintenance on the fuel system. We arrived into Dover aboard a C-5A aircraft 

at 2130 (9:30pm for folks in Rio Linda) and discovered we would not be leaving Dover until late Sunday night.  When flying military aircraft, we always need to be prepared for flying with minimal heat, so here I am ready for some coolness (sometimes, it is downright frigid)  in the cabin.  This is NOT like flying on American or Delta!  One takes what one can get!
One advantage of being a retired Navy Captain (O-6) is access to the Distinguished Visitor (DV) Lounges at the air terminal. That meant some comfortable couches and chairs, access to a computer and TV where you can choose the channels we want to watch. So we settled in for 20 hours of wait time.  We walked to the nearest restaurant for breakfast (1.2 miles each way), ate, and walked back. 

We repeated the trip again at lunch, and again at dinner. When we returned, we learned that check in was at 0025 And departure would be at 0430. Yawn! 

That meant another night on couches and chairs. 

There was a man in the lounge with his two young daughters (5 and 7) who had been waiting for three days for a flight, and when we left, he had NOT made the priority list for the flight he was looking at, so he was going to head for Philadelphia to catch a flight to Madrid.

We left as scheduled finally and I dropped off to sleep as the wheels came off the deck. I woke up as we landed in Bangor,  Maine (WTF??) at 0730. I guess they decided to refuel. That took 2 hours.  By 0930 Monday morning, we actually were headed toward Rota, Spain. The flight was 7 hours, and when you add the 6 hour advance in time, it was 2130 Monday night when we arrived.  So Renne and I checked in to the DV Lounge there, again, ordered a pizza for dinner, and crashed with her on a short couch and me on the floor.  Tuesday morning found me up most of the night and Renne' stiff.  Breakfast was easier, it was in the next building. Here in Rota, the arrangements are a bit different.  The base is actually owned by the Spanish Government, and they frown on visitors staying on base.  So we were actually asked to leave the terminal.  The flight from Norfolk wouldn't arrive until Wednesday morning, so we went to town, found a hotel, got our passports stamped, and went to the beach for 5 or so beers.

This is the lobby, looking up the stairway to the rooms, of the La Parrita Hotel, about six blocks off base.  A very nice place for about $85 a night.

This is Renne' lounging on an outdoor sofa at our bar on the beach.  She added much to the scenery.

The beach is not cleaned every day when tourista season is over. Last year, the beach was virtually covered with bodies and umbrellas when we were here in Jully, 2011.
So Thursday morning, 5 days after leaving Georgia, we left Rota enroute to Sigonella, Scicily. 

We we're lucky enough to run into David Lawton, a young Navy Petty Officer who was gracious enough to give us a lift into Catania with his buddy Jason. 

We bought them dinner, got to see Elephant Square and a sub-terrainian Roman Amphitheater (pretty cool archeological dig in the middle of town) before we boarded the ferry. Pretty cool guys, thanks so much!

We are still not in to Porto Napoli at this point. 

As I said earlier, this was not a small ferry! Close to 300' or more long.

These were our accommodations aboard.  Another night of sleeping on chairs.  Atleast these reclined a bit.  Renne' took the row behind and stretched out for the night.

But we will pick up a bus when we get there and head for Porto Mesino in Bacoli, Italy. We are finally getting close to Barb and Doug. They should be in this evening by 5pm. We will be glad to see them.

So meet us at the docks tonite for sundowners, Italian style. Barb and Doug like theirs cold!

JonNe' (arriving Porto Napoli 0830)


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