Confusion at the train station! I went to track 2 but it didn't look right. There are 3 separate train companies that operate in the Campania region, so I was at the wrong track 2. After, I remember that some girl had mentioned that to me and I had forgotten about it. Really, it was all my fault ... but still ... shouldn't a good guidebook warn you about that? Enough Let's Go bashing for today. I will have plenty more opportunity to do so in the future, I'm sure.
The train was over 30 minutes late ... not like it matters as it's a VERY long ride to Taormina anyway (7-8 hours). This guy on the train put his suitcase on the seat and stood for over an hour because the luggage racks were full - all he had to do was move 2 pieces of luggage around the racks above and he could've easily fit his on there. Didn't make any sense.
People were very friendly in the train compartment. Some older guy from Calabria was talking to me. Italian, but living in Australia right now. Back for a short visit. Everyone in the compartment was chatting - I wish that I spoke Italian! I only got pieces here and there but everyone still made an effort to include me. I heard that Sicilians were very friendly - that has now been confirmed!
One of the ladies asked if I liked Italian women. She told me that Sicilian women are even more beautiful than the mainlanders. But as beautiful as the Spanish? I doubt it!
The lady asked if I liked Napoli - I told her no and diplomatically gave reasons why. The guy next to me asked me what I said about Napoli and I repeated it. After, I asked him where he was from - "Naples" was his answer. Great ... I've insulted the guy after only knowing him for 30 minutes. Usually it takes me at least 45 minutes.
Started reading "Nausea" by Sartre. Trippy, introspective, and bizarre. It's written in the style of a journal. The guys likes to make lots of rude observations about people/situations. I feel a bond with this man! Really, it's a journey into his mind ... I guess that's what a journal is supposed to be. But this book delves very deep ...
There was an unexpected take on things - he describes a cliff "flinging itself against the sea". Really, the sea is the constant and the cliff is what changes ... it makes sense but also defies established beliefs, in a way.
Intriguing description of music - notes are "born and destroyed and obliterated" as they "strike him". He "accepts their death" because "holding them would kills its beauty". So eloquent and thought-provoking. His description of music is like a description of time and life, no? Hold too tightly and it slips away and dies. "Nothing can interrupt it but anything can break it." Wow ... can't say that I understand much about existentialism ... but I found that it made me question elements of my own existence. Few things in life had made me do that. I might need to learn more about it when I return from my trip.
One part really stoked my imagination and struck a chord with me - "This joy was worn out a long time ago ... is it going to be re-born today?". Where was this book years ago!?!?!!
Got to Taormina - took a bus to town from the train station. Chatted with an Aussie couple. On the way to the hostel some construction worker waved a pipe at me in a threatening manner, for no reason at all. Drop the pipe and send your buddies home and see how tough you are, dumbass! Pathetic!
At the hostel, I ran into the Spanish girls from Positano. Small world! Not much to say ... apparently we have nothing in common. Taormina is nice ... but cloudy today. I walked to a plaza overlooking the ocean. Like the "Balcony of Europe" in Nerja in a way, but it was nowhere as large, nice, or vibrant.
Walked around town - pastries are very pricey here. Nooooooo!!!! How will I survive???? Had a bit of a splurge dinner. Tortellini with ham/cheese/cream. OK, but the sauce was a bit runny. Sicilian bruschetta - salty, but flavourful. Mixed salad - nice tomatoes with nuts and lettuce. The dressing tasted like alcohol - a bit bitter. Steak was paper thin! I guess it's typical here. Probably a bit of a tourist-scam place, but I was hungry and basically picked the first place I saw. Dessert was cake - overall, a forgettable meal.
I finished "Nausea" this evening. Found another great passage that really spoke to me - "When you are living, nothing happens. The settings change, people come in and go out, that's all. There are never any beginnings. Days are tacked onto days without rhyme or reason. It is an endless, monotonous addition. Now and then you do a partial sum: you say: I've been traveling for 3 years, I've been at Bouvilla for .... "
"All at once, all together, the 3 years collapsed into the past. I didn't even suffer ... I felt empty. Then time started flowing again and the emptiness grew larger." Geez, if I had found this book years ago maybe I wouldn't have had to quit my job and go traveling for 3 months to find myself!
"Nausea" tailed off at the end. It started out promisingly but didn't quite deliver on it. Exchanged it for "Crime and Punishment". Read a little and then I was off to bed.
