Observations on a train

I am in Sicily. It has become one of my favourite places to visit and I am extremely lucky to have friends who live here. They live on a hill near Capo D’Orlando with a view that takes your breath away overlooking the Aeolian Islands. The lunch table set above will never not fill me with joy - pinching myself constantly.

To arrive here I fly into Palermo and take a slow but efficient train along the coast to their nearest station.

Some might find this journey too much after a flight but I love it. I sit and watch and take in every little detail of being in a new country just hours after leaving home.

Observations this time:-

• The two young girls in the station under the ‘Non fumare’ signs enjoying a few puffs of cigarette - defiance.

• The tourists (me included) grabbing an arancino for the journey ahead - we are in Sicily after all.

• The citrus groves with mandarins just turning and lemons still to ripen but if you squint you can spot their abundance amongst the glossy, verdant foliage.

• The families on the beaches nestled under a bright fringed umbrella sharing lunch, much of it brought in plastic tubs from home.

• The washing on the lines low down in houses and high up in apartments (all of which are built with their own washing line). Saturday must be the day for towels and sheets.

• The fishermen sorting nets and making little adjustments to their ancient boats.

• Tall Cyprus trees and Norfolk pines unfamiliar to our coastlines.

• The couple and their dog enjoying the inflatable paddle board.

• The brightly coloured, almost fluorescent bougainvillea which always make me think of Mediterranean holidays.

• The nudist who found his own secluded patch of beach but was happy to give the Messina train a little show.

• The three older ladies who had been on a day out to Cefalu, dressed smartly in silk tops and gold bracelets who were already discussing what was on the menu the next day.

• The young girl who carried a beautifully packaged tray of pastries but who could not resist and slipped out a small biscotto for her journey and carefully folded the paper back into place so that nobody would know.

• The older man who would wake with a snort and a snuffle every now and then - hopefully he is going to the end of the line.

My station nears, Anna will be waiting for me. A week of swimming, eating, markets, chatting and chilling lays ahead. Lucky me.