Gray's Academy

I am in Sicily, in my apartment outside the Messina gate! Marina, who helps run the Osteria that is on the first floor of the small building that houses my small apartment, told me – ‘you are family now that you are here.’ Wow!

I traveled thru the Brussels’ airport. Like many airports now, it is also a shopping center. When and why did that become a ‘thing?’ It is almost as if the plane terminal is an afterthought to the shopping experience. It is a lovely airport. Biggest takeaway? No one was sitting alone talking on their cell phones. In fact, people were sitting together without their devices. Even when close by I didn’t have to listen to anyone’s side conversation. It would have been fine because I know even less French than I do Italian. I am happy to be here already!

More on Sicily later, I am taking the train to a small village to find somewhere for lunch. Since Taormina sits on a hill over the Ionia Sea I will take a funicular down the the train station. Another perk of travel – words like funicular!