After passing inspection in the apartment, and getting our 200 Euro security deposit back, we headed down the road on to Messina and Taormina. Our Apple maps led us on some local roads right along the sea coast. I think this is the first time the road has been so close to the coast. It was beautiful.
When we got close to the freeway - A20 - we drove under the piers (or piles) holding up the freeway - so high above us. How were we going to get up there. I wish I could have taken a picture of it. The height was amazing. Of course we eventually got up there. From then on it was a series of long and short tunnels through the mountain, followed by brief glimpses of daylight before plunging into dimly lit tunnels again. Frequently, you would go down from two lanes to one, supposedly for road work. But we seldom saw anyone working. We drove about 144 Kilometers on A20 before exiting.
We are staying a few days in a hotel condominium - a cross between an apartment and a hotel. We found the entrance just after we passed it. Again, it is very small entrance with walls/gate on both sides. We make a U-turn and go in - but which building is it? We pass a tiny parking area on the left, but see no sign for the hotel. So we go up the very narrow steep road. This is too strange, the road is no longer paved. We find a slightly larger parking lot and turn around. Going down the road looks even steeper! At the bottom where we started, was an area of the first building that looked like it could be a lobby. We had arrived. As we check in, the manager tells us expansively - park anywhere you want - there is so much space as we don't have many guests now. I would say you could fit maybe 4 US sized parking spots, but the entrance was way to narrow by US standards. So you just drive on the sidewalk or whatever to get to a parking spot.
We have two bedrooms and two baths and a common kitchen living room area. Once again we have a distant view of the sea. The rest of our time here is predicted to be cool, rainy and grey. But we need a few groceries and so head off down the road again. But a working van has parked at the entrance and is blocking off a good part of the exit/entrance lane. I got out and tried to guide Michael in getting the Volvo through the tiny area. It was literally a couple of inches on either side - the wall and the workvan. The next day the workvan was parked in a larger area! By the way the workman is trying to fix the elevator which is right next to our front door.
We found the supermarket the next town over in Naxos. It is a Super Deco - not sure how that compares with the Gourmet Deco we frequented in Cefalu', but it had everything we needed. Michael is in the mood for a stew and since he likes to cook, I am all for it. We also got enough soft cheese and other things to have a French picnic tonight.
I mentioned that we have two baths - that is true, however my bath is in my bedroom. It is a glassed off area in one corner. I have never and will never understand why anyone would think it is a fantastic idea to have your bathroom made of glass. We have run into these before. In fact there was early in our travels, that was at the head of the bed. It was not even a full wall of glass to the ceiling - so every sound could be heard from the bedroom area.
I suppose they think the glass walls make the small room less dismal? But I agree, I want bathrooms walled off and soundproofed as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI recently went to the bathroom facilities at the top of a tower and the stall at the end was directly up against the floor to ceiling glass window. Just pee and admire the view.
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