For 20+ years now, I have longed to return to Italy. The people, the food, the wine, the sights, the food, the language of love, and did I mention the food? I finally had the opportunity when the Navy CNREURAFSWA (CNIC Navy Region Europe Africa Southwest Asia) N6 hosted its annual Region N6 Director's Workshop at Sigonella Naval Air Station. It was a fantastic time to get together with all my peers from around the Region and discuss the pressing issues affecting all of us at our respective bases.
I arrived in Sicily on Monday afternoon and made my way to the Navy Gateway Inn. As usual for me, nothing is ever easy but it is ALWAYS an adventure. At the airport, I asked the Information Booth attendant the easiest way to get to the base. He said to go outside, buy a bus ticket at the first booth and take the bus. It will drop you off at the base. Cool, or so I thought. After purchasing the ticket, I still had about an hour before the bus would leave so I got a Panini Classico and ate it voraciously. When the time came, I boarded the bus, ready for the 22 mile trip to the base.
We were riding in wonderful air conditioned comfort as it was now mid-afternoon and about 92 degrees outside. Suddenly the bas driver yells out "SIGONELLA!" So I grab my bags and I get off the bus (the only one to get out). As the bus took off, I looked around. To my dismay, I was standing on the highway, looking at the base perimeter fence in the distance. With limited options, I took off walking. After nearly a mile, I found a gate to the housing area (just one of the MANY geographically-separated sites). I walk up to the gate and explain the situation, telling the gate guards (Masters at Arms (MA) and an Electronics Technician (ET) augmentee) about my dilemma. The ET explained I was at the wrong site and there is a shuttle bus every hour - oh, there it goes out the gate now! To my surprise, he said "Please just wait here inside the gate shack" while he got on the phone. In about ten minutes, his wife showed up and drove me to the correct location and made sure I got all checked in. What an incredible act of kindness. I'll be sending a thank you letter for him and his wife to his commander on Monday and relay the story.
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| Mt Etna, Europes only active volcano, from my hotel window |
After getting to my room and freshening up after a long hot walk, I went to the base pub nearby for an informal ice-breaker and to meet my counterparts. It was a good time and I stayed for a short time, it had been a very long day.
On Tuesday morning we commenced with our briefings and enjoyed the camaraderie and the valuable information we shared with each other. That night though would be an outstanding culinary delight. Our host had reserved a special dinner for us at
Farm Oasis Francesca.
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| Agriturismo Oasi di Francesca |
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| Agriturismo Oasi di Francesca |
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| Classic 1940 Fiat 1100 |
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| Agriturismo Oasi di Francesca |
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| The EURAFSWA Region N6 Crew |
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| Antipasti della Casa |
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| Primi Piatto |
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| Contorno e vino |
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| Cannolicchi - mini cannoli |
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| Madedonia con gelato al limone |
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| Limoncello, mandarinetto e alloro |
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| Caffe |
Finishing up a memorable meal, we headed back to the base. Tomorrow would be another day of meetings and briefings.
The morning came and I was in desperate need of coffee. So I walked up to the Air Terminal and to my surprise, I found a 'Chock full o Nuts' restaurant. I remember the brand of coffee but I don't know I ever heard of them having a chain. The coffee was good though - so they get my stamp of approval.
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| Yummy Sicilian Canolli w/pistachios |
Wednesday night earned a visit to Valentino's Ristorante at the base of Mt Etna. On the way there, one of my N6 crew pointed out the German pillboxes strewn about the hilltops. From these firing points, the Germans unsuccessfully attempted to defend Sicily (and all of Italy) from the invading American forces.
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| Gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce and chicken parmigiana (and of course a mezzo liter of white wine) |
The final day of briefings was great and we wrapped up the conference. It was a fantastic opportunity and it tied together a lot of the loose ends I still had in my transition from Air Force to Navy.
Now it's time to head back to Romania. I didn't get a chance to explore much of Sicily on this trip because it was a very busy business trip, but I will be back.
A lift to the airport (no walking on the highway), a flight to Rome, and a connection to Bucharest will put me in mid-evening. Then it's an Uber to the train station, a 3 hour train ride, and a short taxi ride home.
Can't leave Sicily without one last Canolli!
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| Ok, what's up with the heads? In Sicily, there are ceramic heads everywhere? |
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| More heads - a shop full of heads in the airport! |
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| More heads |
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| Wow, these are scary heads!!! |
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| A Roman McDonald's!!! A cappucino sounds good right about now. |
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| The meal section of the McDonald's isn't open yet but the menu looks pretty yummy. |
For lunch while in Rome, given a choice between all the delicious food - I'll choose a tasty salami panini!!!
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| A Presecco Bottega Restaurant - better not let Frankie near this, she loves Prosecco! |
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| Waiting for my flight in Rome. |
I made it to Bucharest with just 30 minutes to get from the airport to the train station and have my butt in a seat. The plane leaving Rome was late so I had less time than planned. I caught an Uber and asked the driver to get me there on time - as if you have to "ask" a European to speed... Anyway, I got to the station with seven minutes to spare, now to grab a ticket and get a seat. Ok, so it was close but these two REALLY nice young girls in front of me let me go ahead of them and even helped with my Romanian so I could get the ticket. There are wonderful people still in the world. I find more nice than mean people so I have hope for humanity.
So here I am, on my first train ride since I left Europe the first time 30 years ago - this should be interesting. The ride is comfortable and I don't have to worry to much about crashing like you do in the taxi. I'm kinda liking this.
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| Comfy in my seat, they have plugs on the cabin walls for your phone - coolness! |
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| Conductor dude punching my ticket - pretty cool. |
Saying goodbye to my train, now to catch a cab to the base. Fortunately there's another Navy chap here with me and he already ordered one. We'll share the cab and I'll pay since I get reimbursed for my travel and he was just on leave in Germany with his family who flew over to visit.
I finally made it back to the base and into my room at about 1:30 am. It was a long day but a great journey. I have to get to bed though because in just six hours, another adventure begins!
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* Probably the most famous version of the gruesome moorish heads story, is the one retold by Boccaccio in the Renaissance short stories from his Decameron. Boccaccio sets the story directly in Messina, the main protagonist is Lisabetta or Isabella, an orphaned noble girl who is jealously guarded by her three brothers.
Isabella falls honestly and spontaneously in love with Lorenzo, a local boy with modest means. Their love affair goes on in secret until the three brothers discover Lisabetta leaving to meet her lover and decide to put an end to the relationship to avoid tarnishing the good name of the family. The brothers lead Lorenzo out of the city and murder him, hiding his body in a shallow grave. On their return home, they tell their sister Lorenzo simply left on business.
But when Lorenzo is absent for too long Lisabetta becomes desperate with worry. One night Lorenzo appears to Lisabetta in a dream telling her he was killed by her brothers and describing the spot where his body is buried.
Determined to find Lorenzo, she obtains permission from her brothers to go on a trip to the countryside with her female servant. She finds Lorenzo’s body and unable to give her lover the burial he deserves and insane with grief she cuts off Lorenzo’s head. At home she hides the head in a vase and plants some basil in it. The plan blossoms, watered by Lisabetta’s tears.
Isabella’s behaviour alarms the neighbours and her brothers discover Lorenzo’s head. They get rid of the evidence of their crime, leave Messina, and flee to Naples leaving behind a distraught Isabella to die of a broken heart.
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Well, that was really creepy.
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