Post-match analysis...
- Kathy Orbie
- Jun 27
- 5 min read
The Red Devils convincingly beat New Zealand 5-1 last night.
Still a bit groggy from lack of sleep, I thought: Post-match analysis is a perfect title to look back on my train journey for a moment. And that way, I also stay in football mode for a little while longer. ;)
My last day in Sicily got off to a fantastic start:
To be honest: I had to peek at the neighbors to see how to get started... ;) Simple as can be: you break off a piece of your croissant and dip it in a lime, pistachio, or white chocolate cream. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water again. A delicious latte macchiato to go with it, and my day is already made.
Did you know, by the way, that Italians only drink a latte macchiato in the morning? After 11 a.m., they don't think it's a good idea to drink so much milk. Much too taxing on your digestive system. Pretty smart of those Italians... ;)
It promises to be a lovely summer day, so I’m heading out to sea. Read: I’m falling into a mega-tourist trap and booking one of those little boats to cruise around the island. Oh well, my train journey can’t go wrong anyway, so I decide to just go for it and enjoy myself. Come on, what’s not to like?
And admit it, when your guide speaks English with such a delightfully juicy accent, you spontaneously get a Manuel vision (you know, from the Fawlty Towers of yesteryear...).
Never heard of this Manuel from Barcelona? Then be sure to check out this at times cringe-worthy but oh so entertaining clip from Fawlty Towers:
Anyway, back to bella Italia. After returning ashore, I sit down for a moment to let the nausea subside a bit. Before departure, I had asked if the sea was calm, because I get seasick quite easily on a boat. Of course there wouldn't be any wild waves that day, they had assured me. Yeah right. ;)
I strike up a conversation with Alfonso, 80 years old, who has lived in Siracusa his entire life. He calls it "il balcone il piu bello del mondo," the most beautiful balcony in the world. And I can only agree: wherever you look, you see idyllic scenes, clear blue water, and beautiful vistas.
Alfonso is a very charming man (and no, the fact that he repeatedly asks me out to dinner has absolutely nothing, but really nothing, to do with this...haha... PS: Just for the record: I didn't accept his invitation either. Really :)
I don't dare discuss the elephant in the room with him, or the thorny issue: the refugees trying to reach Europe en masse via the Mediterranean.
I'll look it up: according to Google, the number of arrivals has decreased. In 2025, there were "only" 66,000 (!). I briefly thought this was a typo, but it turns out to be correct after all. Upon arrival, the migrants are usually transferred to nearby refugee camps.
But I also read that the Sicilian Mafia has a big hand in things and that refugees are also being used as cheap labor. I will spare you the further details...
I take another sip of a delicious mandarin and pineapple granita. The palate in my mouth is instantly numbed; what a culinary treat....
And then, unfortunately, it is time for a reality check. The journey is over.
I covered nearly 3,000 km from Dunkirk to Sicily; what a treat. Honestly? I’m actually quite proud of myself. But also super grateful that I was able to make the trip. Normally, I was supposed to be graduating from the Academy (photography) right now. That unexpectedly fell through, and I decided to book this trip at the last minute. Yes, Johan, we all know by now: every cloud has a silver lining...
I notice that I'm actually getting a bit emotional now that the end of the journey is in sight.
What we have learned:
veni, vedi et vici: I came, I saw, and I conquered. While I had some doubts before departure about how I would cope with a solo train journey, it turned out to be completely unnecessary. I thoroughly enjoyed the travel itself, the encounters along the way, the cultural gems, the delicious food... Honestly: I am still savoring the memories!
Did everything go well and did I not experience anything unpleasant? I thought about it carefully, and the worst thing that happened to me:
I took the wrong tram to the hotel in Milan (which turned out to be the right one after all)
I managed to lose the key to my suitcase and was amazed at how quickly the receptionist could open the lock (undamaged!).
When I had to catch the train to Rome, the metro gates turned out not to be working and I couldn't get out; fortunately, a gallant Italian came to my rescue.
There you go; apart from that, I haven't experienced anything exciting. Not in a negative sense, anyway ;)
A train journey certainly doesn't have to be expensive: I bought a train pass via Interrail and chose the plan allowing free travel for 10 days within a 2-month period. While planning, it turned out that for shorter distances, it was sometimes cheaper to simply buy a single ticket. That way, I could save a travel day and save it for a longer trip. Fact, and above all a luxury problem: I came home with a pass that hasn't been fully used yet, so now I have to leave again in July. Yes, I readily admit it: I have a very hard life.... ;)
I absolutely need to move more: while I was on medication for back pain for the three months leading up to the trip, it vanished like magic after the first day. So yes, it is a cliché, but exercise really does work (even if it is in the form of walking, though perhaps preferably not with a backpack full of cameras on your back...).
I noticed that I really enjoyed writing the blog, even though the technical aspect gave me a few grey hairs now and then. But I also enjoyed the positive reactions I received from you. So thank you for all the sweet comments.
And above all: I need to do this more often! I loved getting away from the daily grind for a while, and even a change of scenery for a week can do wonders for your mood. For me, it was also therapeutic, in the sense that I finally had time to sort things out. It’s time to make some tough decisions. :)
For statistics enthusiasts: I took exactly 10 different trains to cover this route:
Would I do it again? Immediately!
Ciao Sicilia, a presto!
I wish you all a wonderful summer, and if you have any questions about this or any other train journey, feel free to ask!
Next stop: Paris! Always a good idea... :)
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