The train from Sicily....

This part of the trip was **slow** travel.   An overnight train (intercity notte) from Riposto to Milano, then a **fast** travel bit - Frecciarossa high speed train from Milano to Bologna.

Salvadore, Rita, and Nilla took us to the station.  (We could have walked - it was only 3 blocks, but they insisted.)  Cicio met as at the station as well.   We felt loved by the cousins!  While at the station they saw a friend who's daughter lives in Irvine... Small world.

I had made a mistake when booking this overnight leg.  I'd selected "interno" - but when I went to the next page it had reverted to "promiscio".  Unfortunately, I didn't notice, so we had 2 people in one room of the sleeper, and 2 people in another.   We asked the conductor, when we first boarded... she thought it *might** (forse) be possible to put us in one room - but we'd need to ask the conductor that would come on the train after we cross the straits of Messina.  He was able to make it work...  But till he gave us the go-ahead, I was nervous.  (That control freak in me wants everything settled!)

- So how does a train get across the strait of Messina?  By boat of course.   They load the train cars onto the boat - cross over to the mainland, then unload the train.  The following pictures are of 1) our train car on the boat, 2) the boys and the crossing.

The train had cuccetti - 4 to a room.   Lou fell asleep almost as soon as we crossed to Reggio di Calabria.   Rigo was shortly behind

They were so tired they fell asleep before the sheets and pillows were issued.   Lou is now officially caught up on sleep.    Unfortunately, our window in the hall was pretty dirty - but I watched a gorgeous sunset into the Mediterranean Sea - alas no green flash.

We were on this train (including the ferry crossing which was about 90 minutes total) for what was supposed to be  19 hours.... I was ok with this because it avoided a change in trains at 3 in the morning - our other option.   We used the time sleeping, eating a picnic dinner, and I taught the boys poker.   (Note - always keep a deck of cards in your purse!)  Unfortunately, the train seemed to fall behind schedule early... and often.  We spent several long waits on side tracks - I presume because we had lost our "slot" to move north and had to wait for a new slot.  We arrived in Bologna about 40 minutes AFTER our next train had left.   I was able to use my new Italian skills to ask the man at the biglietteria to authorize our tickets on the next Freciarossa train.  Standing room only - but only an hour delay from our scheduled arrival in Bologna.

The Frecciarossa is FAST.  An hour from Milano to Bologna.   I used the google app My Tracks to see how fast we were going - we averaged about 175mph - with a peak speed of 191mph.  Wow.   There was one empty seat at the back of a car - and we shared it.  The boys also hung out between the cars... No AC -but space to sit down.

Next up - Bologna...