Around Calabria

It is not a touristy area in winter down in this part of the world but such a beautiful coastline and the train lines hug it all the way through the constant use of tunnels and viaducts. We got ripped off by a taxi driver from Reggio airport to our hotel (covered up the meter and charged a rounded figure of Euro 40) only 15 minute drive away. But hey, it was dark, crowded and us with very little Italian - after such a long day we were just happy to get somewhere. The iPhone is working really well for internet access - most places have wireless internet access (some pay like at the airports, some free like at the hotels) so we can read Australian newspapers, email and book hotels and check train times all from the hotel.
Stayed only one night in Reggio and then caught the local train system up to Tropea where we are staying 2 nights in a beautiful apartment right in the old town. The trains are like buses on tracks - single carriage diesels that run more or less to time, but mostly less! When they docome along though, they fly.
Tuesday we were in Scilla - a little village about 30 mins north of Reggio - staying in a hotel again in the old town on the beach. Southerly wind blowing a gale - but of course being a southerly in the northern hemisphere it was a warm wind. There is the obligatory castle on a hill, church bells ringing at all hours, churches everywhere - religious lot these Italians! Dinner is much later than we are used to - our usual 'dinner at 6.30' has turned into 'dinner at minimum 8.00' - we are of course starving by then. Had a seafood spaghetti with mussels and lobster last night and the house Calabrian wine - all very passable, very passable indeed.

At the castle in Scilla - windswept and interesting...

Today's (Wednesday) travel has been train waiting for much of it - trains seem to get cancelled quite regularly but no one seems to bat an eyelid - must be just par for the course.

Arrived into Tropea about 1300 and wandered down to the old town to look for a place recommended by the Lonely Planet guide book. Asked a few people and finally found it but no one around. Pulled out the trusty iPhone and Tarn pulled out her Italian phrasebook and we texted to the mobile on the door in our best Italian if there was a room for the night. Immediate response and here we are in a beautiful apartment with a terrace upstairs which overlooks the sea and the old town.