October 26 - JFK-Rome-Catania

It is obviously easier in some ways to travel solo. One thing I didn’t anticipate is how much fun I’d have observing people, with all this energy and attention to spare. All these faces in the security line at JFK. All the interactions between children and parents and friends and couples traveling together. These gorgeous, interesting faces. There was the sweetest dachshund in line and I hoped he’d be seated next to me. Unfortunately that wasn’t to be.

The flight from Rome to Catania was beautiful and I found myself looking out the window like when I was a little kid. I remember thinking that I’d like to get off the plane and sit on the clouds. I looked out the window like that on this trip, choppy water below.

The flight was short and there was a quick drink service. The flight attendants walked right by our aisle without addressing my row-mate and I, without explanation (I’m sure they were in a hurry). He hadn’t said a word to me until then, seeming shy and serious, but he gave me a look then and we shrugged our shoulders and laughed.

October 28 - Siracusa, breakfast

When I’ve traveled without J and the kids previously, there are always a few experiences (if not many) that make me feel reverse homesick. As in, not wishing I was home, but wishing they were there.

So far Sicily hasn’t been exactly like that. I always love J to be with me when I travel but, notably, on this trip, I’m finding moments where I long for my friends. This morning I saw a group of women my age at breakfast in casual, long dresses. They looked like they had a day of great adventures planned and a lot of gossip to share. I thought about sitting down at their table and asking how they were doing.

Oct 31 - Menfi

I am eating a prickly pear fruit. It tastes, actually, like a mild pear. I expected it to taste, I don’t know, like a cactus?