Dear readers,
We would like to say, from the heart, that not everything that is planned turns out as expected. Especially when one's plans depend on exterior factors that cannot be controlled, such as those which are meteorological.
But no matter, we're not stupid and we know where we are, where we're going and what we might expect. Nevertheless, the hope was always there, and if we're honest, there it will remain.
We would like to say, from the heart, that not everything that is planned turns out as expected. Especially when one's plans depend on exterior factors that cannot be controlled, such as those which are meteorological.
But no matter, we're not stupid and we know where we are, where we're going and what we might expect. Nevertheless, the hope was always there, and if we're honest, there it will remain.
We are also conscious that these words will bring a sly smile to the faces of more than one..."Not everything is fun and games, kids"..."It's wintertime, what did you expect?"..."I told you so"...and other such bits of wisdom that one is inclined to offer from a distance, from the comforts of home with heating and a daily routine with which to pass the cold days of winter...and of spring...
What we would like to write about today is the weather in Sicily, especially that of Messina. We arrived here over a week ago, "escaping" the bad weather of Calabria with the hope that the promised land would warm our cold toes, allowing us to work in a city desirous of bubbles and music, make some money and plan our next destination.
On the Amalfi Coast, we met a cyclist who advised us to pedal Sicily counterclockwise...and now we understand why. Given that the gap between Sicily and Calabria is quite narrow, and given that in this narrow gap the warm air from Africa joins the cold air from Europe, the result is some mighty strong winds that within minutes, can cover the sky with clouds, dropping a good amount of rain nearly every afternoon.
Not only rain falls from the sky here...yesterday it snowed! It didn't stick, though, because it had rained the day before and the ground was wet. And it didn't snow all that much...but still, IT SNOWED! IN SICILY!!!
Even with these conditions, you have before you two people who know how to do it up good. We're in a house, with firewood, food, air conditioning if needed, making pumkin bread, eating lentils with sheep's head, gorging ourselves on oranges from the yard, and doing all of this with clean clothes!!
What we would like to write about today is the weather in Sicily, especially that of Messina. We arrived here over a week ago, "escaping" the bad weather of Calabria with the hope that the promised land would warm our cold toes, allowing us to work in a city desirous of bubbles and music, make some money and plan our next destination.
On the Amalfi Coast, we met a cyclist who advised us to pedal Sicily counterclockwise...and now we understand why. Given that the gap between Sicily and Calabria is quite narrow, and given that in this narrow gap the warm air from Africa joins the cold air from Europe, the result is some mighty strong winds that within minutes, can cover the sky with clouds, dropping a good amount of rain nearly every afternoon.
Not only rain falls from the sky here...yesterday it snowed! It didn't stick, though, because it had rained the day before and the ground was wet. And it didn't snow all that much...but still, IT SNOWED! IN SICILY!!!
Even with these conditions, you have before you two people who know how to do it up good. We're in a house, with firewood, food, air conditioning if needed, making pumkin bread, eating lentils with sheep's head, gorging ourselves on oranges from the yard, and doing all of this with clean clothes!!
We can easily say that we lack for naught. We work on the farm a bit each morning, not very much, really, and we spend the afternoons catching up on our to-do lists. There's a gas station nearby where we can go to use free internet, we're invited to lunch on Sunday at the house of the grandfather of the farm...We're living in luxury, despite whatever might be coming down outside.
What happens to free-spirited people, however, is that this stability ends up killing us. Too many rules - for the kitchen, the fireplace, the lighting, the farm - and the obligation to do this or that according to another's idea of how things should be...It is difficult to simply duck our heads and follow orders. At least 6 months have passed since we've had to follow any orders outside of our own, and the good thing is... we'll be on the road again before we know it, hehe.
The short term plans, we'll know when we get there. For now, we send you our warmest greetings from Mili San Marco, Messina, Sicily, Italy, Europe, Planet Earth and beyond...
José and Colleen
What happens to free-spirited people, however, is that this stability ends up killing us. Too many rules - for the kitchen, the fireplace, the lighting, the farm - and the obligation to do this or that according to another's idea of how things should be...It is difficult to simply duck our heads and follow orders. At least 6 months have passed since we've had to follow any orders outside of our own, and the good thing is... we'll be on the road again before we know it, hehe.
The short term plans, we'll know when we get there. For now, we send you our warmest greetings from Mili San Marco, Messina, Sicily, Italy, Europe, Planet Earth and beyond...
José and Colleen