October 27 Train to Messina

 We have been thinking of taking the train to Messina for a long time.  I am so glad we did as I really enjoyed our day there.

We stopped for a pastry and coffee on our way to the train station.  Then had a bit of a wait before our train.

I took a few photos out of the windows - just to capture a little of the countryside.  The train wound along the coast for a good while.  Then it got boring with nothing much to look at and many tunnels.

A frame out in the middle of nowhere!

A castle way off in the distance on the hill.

When we arrived in Messina - this mural was across the street.  We immediately went searching for the ferry port.  Our plan was to take a ferry across to mainland Italy to a town called San Giovanni in Calabria.  We quickly found it.  The ferry line for tourists we wanted to take did not have a ferry sailing for a couple of hours.  

The ferry we caught was a working ferry.  There was no going up on deck in the open to take photos.  So we had to sit inside next to the warped and dirty windows - so not very good photos.

Our first impression of San Geovanni were these buildings across from the ferry landing.

We headed up the street from the port/train station and passed this statue.  That was the most exciting thing we saw!  But we did find a delicious meal at a working man's cafe.  We know that because as we sat there 3-5 large groups of men in working clothes came in, sat down, and were immediately served - all the same thing, quickly ate and then left.

Back at the port we followed these signs, only to discover that all the semi trucks were being loaded on the ferry and we had to wait in a small cafe and watch them drive on.  If we would have taken advantage of the opportunity to take the train to Rome (as was advertised at the Cefalu train station) - we would have gone through San Giovanni.  Many people on the ferry had luggage and headed for the train station to travel on in mainland Italy.  We got the impression that very few people actually have San Giovanni as there final destination!  

A last shot of Calabria.

Back in Messina we headed for the main square - and of-course a Cathedral.

The current clock tower was built in the 1930's.  It was designed by F. Valenti who based his design on engravings and paintings from the 16th and 18th Centuries.

Inside the cathedral.  I found this one a lot more interesting than some of the more renowned cathedrals.

A closeup from the front door.

An interesting design on a building.

Surprisingly there were not near as many tourist shops here.

King Charles III of Bourbon.  He ruled Sicily before moving on to take over Spain.

I didn't know there was a store that sold Happy!  Unfortunately it was closed.

Back at the train station waiting for our train back to Cefalu.