Thursday - after two great weeks in Palermo it's now time to move on. Our plans have changed a little from our original itinerary - we have met with people already that have given us very good information on the two ministries we were going to in Ragusa & Catania and at this stage, although we may pop in to meet the people they will not be future opportunities we will be exploring!
SO up and off to the train station, catching the 9.30am train across to Catania, 3 hours later and a 1/2 hour bus trip we arrive at the airport to collect a rental car.
Deane so wanted to go to Siracusa, so down the coast we headed. Didn't take long on the autostrada and then driving out to the coast to the city. Siracusa was way bigger and busier than we expected, we wanted a swim, it was soooo hot, but the only two beaches we could find that didn't have large rocks on the edge were either pay to enter, which wasn't too big a deal, but there then there was no car Parks!
Cities here have a city circle with a no traffic zone, if you go in without a pass they photograph your car number plate an charge you even if you go over 1 metre! So we were always cautious of where to go and where not to go!!
So back in the car and down the coast, we drive for a couple of hours and arrived in Pozzallo, beautiful beach side town, approximate popoulation of 20,000 except for the summer time when its inundated with tourists.
So for a couple of days we are the tourists!!!! Lovely spot on the Mediterranean Sea to swim, rest, relax and reflect on our time in Palermo! There is so much information from Palermo to process, there are many people doing great things to help the migrant population, it feels like anything we would do would just be a "drop in the ocean".
To be honest we are feeling very overwhelmed - it is so easy to sit at home in NZ and think this is where you are going & what you are doing, but it is another thing to be here, not only seeing the help needed, the desperation of the refugee situation and so many related issues, but after two meetings on Wednesday it's also the visas & work contracts needed to come to Italy, the housing situation, a vehicle is out of the question (the price involved with purchasing, licenses, insurance etc are prohibitive) and of course language!
Anyway we would value your prayers, especially that we would continue to be focused on the ministries we are connecting with in Greece 😊
