Chapter 4

01-14 Aug (Tropea and area surround)

ROAD
Siracusa - Messina ferry to Villa San Giovanni - Tropea

DISTANCE
Kms 270 (Miles 168)

FREEWAYCOSTS
Catania - Messina Euro 3.50
Messina to Tropea free

The following day we left Sicily and travelled back to Mainland. On this occasion we had a very old ferry to take us back. It resembled a ferry in Africa. We did not have any of the ticket trouble that we have when we arrived, as we have purchased the return tickets. I certainly am glad of this, because if it looked disorganised in Villa San Giovanni, then it was mayhem in Messina!

The ferry had an open deck for the vehicles and then a deck upstairs. On the outer deck there were benches to sit on. We enjoyed this crossing more than the one we used to arrive. Health and Safety is not really a concern like when taking the ferry in Dover, or other such ports.

Once across and back in Italy, we made our way to Tropea where we were to spend the next two weeks at the beach. The road back to Tropea after leaving the freeway is quite bad in certain areas, with potholes and windy roads to reach the town. The road passes through mountains and has very narrow S Bends. Finally we reached Tropea and the view from the above the town is amazing. The house which we rented was on the beach.  This was a treat, as very few apartments in the area are on the beach, but rather up the hill (which is a long walk) and in the town. The view was amazing from the house, we could even see Stromboli, which was erupting!

The roads in Tropea are small, congested and we found it difficult to pass through some of them due to the size of our car. Parking is another mission, no matter what the vehicle size, but for us it was almost impossible. Sometime really amazing was that entire families, use one Vespa as the mode of transport, and only the driver wears the helmet!

During our stay in Tropea, we did take some time out to visit nearby towns, including Catanzaro, Pizzo Calabro, Nicotera and other small villages.

15-18 Aug (Gaeta Itri Formia Sperlonga)

Once we left Tropea, we travelled back North and stopped on the coast of Gaeta in a town called Itri. It is about 100km south of Rome. Here we stayed for 4 days and visited family. We drove around the area and visited local towns of Formia, Gaeta, Sperlonga and Itri. In Itri there is an amazing Castle which dates back to the 9th Century, We walked right to the top and took in the view of the whole town and outlying areas. We were amazed to also find that it is quite normal for families to be out and about with young children well after midnight. It is normal due to the heat, to sleep between 2 and 5 in the afternoon and then to get up, relax, eat and then only go out after 9 or 10 in the evening.

19-22 Aug Milano to the Isle of Man

ROAD
Milano - Basel - Offenburg (Germany) - Strasbourg (France) - Metz (France) - Luxemburg - Bruxelles - Lille - Dunkerque - Calais - London - Liverpool

DISTANCE
Kms 1600 (Miles 970)

FREEWAY COSTS
Milano - Como (border) about 4.50
We had already pay the freeway in Switzerland when we came down
Strasbourg - Metz about 7.00 euro
Then the rest was free

We then made our way back via Milan and stopped for a day, taking in sites around the city including of course the Duomo. My wife made the mistake of not being dressed with her shoulders covers (due to the heat) and could not get into the cathedral. Remember if you wish to see any religious sites in Italy, that you need to be dressed appropriately.

We then decided to take a different road back, and went via Germany, France, Luxembourg and Belgium. The distance is the same, but the journey was pleasant. Remember to fill up your tank in Luxembourg and not before, as Diesel is much cheaper there!

Sadly the holiday came to an end, and we headed back over the Channel and the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man. We are ready for our next adventure!!

Ferry from Messina (Sicily) to Villa San Giovanni (Calabria)

Tropea

View from Tropea of the volcano Stromboli

Sperlonga

Calais