entry 1
3-31-2007 15:04
Thursday and Friday were two of the longest days of my life. Just after my dad left me to fend for myself at SFO International terminal, I found out I was not the only one from the Sicily group on my flight. Four others had booked the same flight and were actually seated next to me, at least for the longest leg. So a team of five were we, and I was very glad to have the company and extra sets of eyes to help navigate three completely unfamiliar airports. The flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt was mostly enjoyable, with a little chatting to get to know each other and very little sleep due to the high school group surrounding us.
We arrived at Frankfurt airport where the first order of business on our seven hour layover was beer and sausages. As the only sausages to be had were “New York Hot Dogs” we settled for just the half-liters of Hefeweissen Six hours later we boarded the flight to Rome, then on to Catania. (Side note: I had my first bit of Italian food at the Rome airport: a proscuito and mozzarella sandwich. Yum.) The flight to Catania was delayed about an hour and a half, which blew all chances of me getting a bus to my hostel since they stop running at midnight. We found three other of our UCD compadres at Catania baggage claim and everyone but me was staying at the same hotel. I got a separate taxi and went to check in at my hostel; luckily they have 24 check-in service. I made my bed, set down my things, took a sleeping pill and went to bed.
Aside from getting little to no sleep through Wednesday Thursday and Friday, my sleep plan worked pretty well because I’m almost adjusted to the time change. During the travel I was so disoriented and my body clock was so screwed up I was literally dizzy on my feet, but now I’m feeling fine. I was totally wiped last night when I got here to the hostel and I passed out for a good 10 hours. I woke up in the morning right about the time all the other six girls in my room were checking out. I tried to go back to sleep but finally had to get up about quarter to noon, since there was an impromptu concert put on by some other hostellers right outside my door, and take a shower. The hostel bathroom is, well, an experience to say the least.
After a very centering hour on the hostel computer (3 euro, yikes) I decided to take a walk around the town to see what there was to see. It wasn’t very busy out, either because it’s Saturday or because it was during/after lunch for most people. I literally stumbled on a charming street market right around the corner from my hostel, and had my first taste of Italian gelato. Well, it was pretty much a drumstick straight from a corner markert freezer section but hey, I was starving and it was mostly about eating the next thing I could find. I walked around and around trying to find my way back and as soon as I was readying myself to ask for directions, I saw the duomo that had been my centering point and I was back.
Now I’m needing a cappuccino before Kristen gets here at 5:00. I hope she’s not completely exhausted, it’ll be happy hour at the hostel bar by then. I’ll let you know how the mimosa siciliana is (mimosa with blood oranges instead of regular).
Thursday and Friday were two of the longest days of my life. Just after my dad left me to fend for myself at SFO International terminal, I found out I was not the only one from the Sicily group on my flight. Four others had booked the same flight and were actually seated next to me, at least for the longest leg. So a team of five were we, and I was very glad to have the company and extra sets of eyes to help navigate three completely unfamiliar airports. The flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt was mostly enjoyable, with a little chatting to get to know each other and very little sleep due to the high school group surrounding us.
We arrived at Frankfurt airport where the first order of business on our seven hour layover was beer and sausages. As the only sausages to be had were “New York Hot Dogs” we settled for just the half-liters of Hefeweissen Six hours later we boarded the flight to Rome, then on to Catania. (Side note: I had my first bit of Italian food at the Rome airport: a proscuito and mozzarella sandwich. Yum.) The flight to Catania was delayed about an hour and a half, which blew all chances of me getting a bus to my hostel since they stop running at midnight. We found three other of our UCD compadres at Catania baggage claim and everyone but me was staying at the same hotel. I got a separate taxi and went to check in at my hostel; luckily they have 24 check-in service. I made my bed, set down my things, took a sleeping pill and went to bed.
Aside from getting little to no sleep through Wednesday Thursday and Friday, my sleep plan worked pretty well because I’m almost adjusted to the time change. During the travel I was so disoriented and my body clock was so screwed up I was literally dizzy on my feet, but now I’m feeling fine. I was totally wiped last night when I got here to the hostel and I passed out for a good 10 hours. I woke up in the morning right about the time all the other six girls in my room were checking out. I tried to go back to sleep but finally had to get up about quarter to noon, since there was an impromptu concert put on by some other hostellers right outside my door, and take a shower. The hostel bathroom is, well, an experience to say the least.
After a very centering hour on the hostel computer (3 euro, yikes) I decided to take a walk around the town to see what there was to see. It wasn’t very busy out, either because it’s Saturday or because it was during/after lunch for most people. I literally stumbled on a charming street market right around the corner from my hostel, and had my first taste of Italian gelato. Well, it was pretty much a drumstick straight from a corner markert freezer section but hey, I was starving and it was mostly about eating the next thing I could find. I walked around and around trying to find my way back and as soon as I was readying myself to ask for directions, I saw the duomo that had been my centering point and I was back.
Now I’m needing a cappuccino before Kristen gets here at 5:00. I hope she’s not completely exhausted, it’ll be happy hour at the hostel bar by then. I’ll let you know how the mimosa siciliana is (mimosa with blood oranges instead of regular).