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Day 7: From Rome to Siracusa

Today is the day.

The real reason why I wanted to make this trip: I am taking the night train from Rome to Sicily and I am finally going to see how they put the train onto the ferry at the Strait of Messina. Yes: you read that right. The train literally drives onto the ferry.

On the coupe it says "Wagon de luxe". As the Germans put it so beautifully: Bin mal gespannt. In other words: I am curious. Are you coming aboard?




Well, I am content with my "hotel suite" for tonight. I meet my neighbor, who urges me to take good care of my belongings in Sicily. Even though he feels bad having to say this, he adds guiltily. I promise him to take his words to heart.

I tell the conductor that I absolutely want to see with my own eyes how the train drives onto the ferry, and that I came all the way from Belgium for that. Unfortunately, he has some bad news: for a few years now, you have to stay on the train, so you can't experience this up close. He sees my dejected face and promises to wake me up in time so that I can definitely watch from the window.

Damn, what a letdown... I had hoped so much to be able to experience this whole process up close. Damn it... Anyway, nothing to be done.

I am wide awake by 6 am, and according to the map, I am now in Calabria, at the very bottom of Italy. What a difference from the North, where I was just yesterday. I see beautiful seascapes gliding past in the lovely morning sun, but also abandoned industrial buildings.

Good morning, the light here is sooooo beautiful…



It is still early and we wouldn't be in Villa San Giovanni until around 8 o'clock. So that is the place where "It" is going to happen and where we board the ferry. I close the curtain again and turn over comfortably.


Then there is a sudden knock on the door: it is the train conductor. He has a surprise for me, he says. As a highly exceptional opportunity, I am allowed to be the only one to get off and observe up close how that whole process of transferring the train from the ferry works. I can't believe my ears, do an internal little dance of joy, and quickly put on my shoes. I am *not* a morning person, but this time I was ready *very* fast.

He patiently explains to me how everything works, and I try to follow his technical explanation. While we wait for The Big Moment, he tells me that his father once lived in Charleroi, of all places. He worked in the Marcinelle mines there for eight years. It leaves me speechless for a moment, and that doesn't happen to me often...


He shows me how the train is split in two: one part goes to Siracusa and the other carriages go to Palermo. I am allowed to film it, but to be safe, he asks not to get too close, otherwise the men will get angry... ;)



So, the train destined for Palermo is uncoupled, reverses, to then drive back onto the ferry on another track:





I find it all super interesting. We get out and he shows me how the gate closes, after which the ferry can depart:




Wow, I am seriously impressed by this spectacle. You don't see this every day!

I thank Marco profusely and hurry upstairs to enjoy the fresh air on deck.

The crossing takes only 40 minutes. Ideal for taking some photos.



In no time at all, we are on the other side and driving off the ferry. Welcome to Sicily!



In Sicily too (surprise!), it is a joy to look outside. As far as I'm concerned, it could have been a bit slower, like in this video... ;)




But look, all good things come to an end, and after 14 hours we finally arrive in Siracusa.

I'm treating myself to a super tasty ice cream right away, I've definitely earned it... :)




Only now that I’ve arrived do I feel that I am actually quite tired. A train journey of 3,000 km, it’s not exactly a wellness vacation. ;) But it is certainly a fan-tas-tic experience!

And let's be honest, a view like the one here in Siracusa makes it all worth it:



In any case, I'm going to bed with a big smile.

Or as a certain Bart recently put it so aptly:

I live on enthusiasm. I wake up cheering and I go to sleep cheering. ;)


Today's route:



 
 
 

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