First Junior Game - Cantazarro and The Ferry

Loading the charter bus at 6:00 a.m. to head out to the game. Long  5 hour trip to Cantazarro, Italy on the mainland.

This is one of the ferrys that takes cars, buses, and even large trucks from Messina to the mainland.

Loading the ferry

The coast line of southern Italy

This past Sunday was another new adventure for me. We got up and loaded a charter bus to travel to the mainland for our first junior game. But in order to get to the mainland we had to take the charter bus on a ferry. Now this ferry crosses the ocean that has many unknown creatures living in it. Now if you know me, you know I don't do water so I stayed on the bus instead of standing on the rail watching - the Loch Ness Monster could have come out of there and taken me down. Well we did make it safely across and headed to Cantazarro to play our game. We traveled along the coast of southern Italy so the pictures show some of that. When we got into town the entertainment was waiting to see how the bus driver would get through the narrow streets. At one point, because there were cars on both sides of the street, we couldn't go up and we couldn't go down. So the driver honked his horn, someone came and moved a car, and we kept going. I looked out my window and there was maybe 6 inches of clearance on each side of the bus. Travel today was scary. Now my junior team is made up of young players with very little background in football, but they are eager and willing to learn all they can. Now football in Italy is different from Texas football - equipment and facilities especially. The field looked a bit rough - nothing like a Joe Newton field- but it wasn't until the other team came out in elbow pads, knee pads, etc. that I began to worry. There was more gravel on the field than grass so my guys came away from the game with some scraps for sure. We didn't fare too well, but the guys played hard and we will get better. It is a great group of guys to coach because they love the game and want to learn and get better. We were supposed to play 8 minute quarters but the first half lasted longer than an NFL game. But it was a learning experience. Headed back to the island and was ready for bed. Had been a long day.

A New American Friend

Well, last week was busy because I got braver and made my way to some new places. Still visited my mall near the house for my pastries - so far it's the only Italian food I have been eating other than pizza. Went around the area where I live and checked on places to take Gwen when she comes in March. But Sunday was my big day of adventure. Went to church - great sermon and good to be around believers - and of course had my free meal. This time the best was the coconut cake and chocolate cake. Other stuff was good but the desserts were really good. (I guess I can make it until Gwen gets here. I have already ordered a big plate of fried chicken). Anyway, I met another American at church. She is a young girl from Alabama who plays professional basketball here in Sicily. Sidney played for University of Tennessee for Pat Summitt. Well, Maggie and I spent many hours watching those games so we had a connection there. She had a game in Siracusa (?) which is south of Catania and invited me to come. So I got the GPS and made my way there. It was all highway so not the traffic mess that I usually have in town. The basketball game was played in a domed stadium and was it ever wild! The crowd was crazy  - loud and everyone was talking with their hands and yelling at everyone else. They all had whistles and those giant horns so things were noisy. Sidney's team won and I was impressed with the level of play. After the game I even found my way back home - so one new adventure to put on my list. Have our first Junior team game on Saturday, so looking forward to that.

A New Church and New Friends

Today I visited Calvary Baptist Churh which ministers to the Naval Air Station folks. I was so proud of myself for finding it. It was good to be able to be with believers here. Allen Hamilton is the pastor and I really enjoyed the sermon today. There was a small group there but felt a part right away. After church I got to stay for lunch. A couple in the church - he is in the military and she is from Spain - cooked lunch for a few of us single folks. IT WAS GREAT!!! She fixed chicken parmagina (?) mixed vegetables and mashed potates. First real vegetables I have had since I have been here. I told the preacher that the sermon was good but if they fed me real food every Sunday I would be back for sure. Next week we are having ribs! Good old Baptists! On the way back home I took some pictures which I am posting. A different view from driving to Dallas for church that's for sure. They even sent me home with some kind of green tea. See I am trying some new stuff over here.

The Missing Box and More

Another day and a new adventure. Gwen sent me a care package from home - chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter, wash cloths, and a magic jack. Seems simple enough - but it hasn't turned out that way. Gus, my interpreter and one of my players, came to get me to find the missing box. We had to go the post office to get it - or that's what we thought. Got there and the box evidently is somewhere with a courier so the hunt for my cookies is still on. Maybe tomorrow! One good thing I did get to take some good pictures of Capo Mulini and the coast. Robert and I  also went to get pizza today. The place was closed but the owner was very nice and cooked for us anyway. Even got to see the oven he cooks in - open fire cooking. Really very interesting and the pizza was really good - Italian sausage and buffalo mozarella.

Driving in Sicily - It's Crazy

One of the last things I did before I left Texas for Catania was to renew my driver's license. I knew that I would have a car and the thought of driving in Europe sounded like a great thing to do. I had read before I left that the drivers in Italy could be considered to be crazy drivers - that red lights and stop signs were just suggestions was one of the things I had kind of prepared for. But nothing prepares you for the driving experience here. To begin with, some of the streets here like in other older cities in Europe are very narrow. Barely room for one car. One thing I did know was that you needed a small car here, which I have. (Just a side story - minivans don't work here. Bronwyn had one when she first went to Austria, and coming down these narrow streets is not fun in a Windstar!) When there is no traffic, it is nice. But once the traffic begins, it is every man for himself. As you can see from the pictures - this was on the way to a meeting in downtown Catania - there are no lanes. Everyone drives wherever they want. Not only are there cars, but you also have to avoid the motorcycles and vespas. Don't stop at a red light or the driver behind you will either honk or run you down. Pedestrians just step right out in front of you so you have to dodge them too. So, I am adjusting and finding my way around pretty well. I have a GPS but sometimes there are no street names and I find myself turning down an alley or into someone's driveway. I guess the good thing is that so far I have always made it back "home"!

Super Bowl Sunday in Italy

On Super Bowl Sunday, the team was invited to attend a Super Bowl party at the Naval Air Station. About 25 of the team members attended. We did not watch it at the normal time since we are seven hours ahead of the states, we left our house at 1:00 AM. to head that way. They had gone all out and the party included "games" for the kids and some American food.  Thought I would share some pictures of the event. The best part was not the game but I got to have sausage, bacon, eggs, and biscuits for breakfast before we headed back to the house to go to bed. We will repay the favor by going out to the base and having a football camp for the kids on the base. Seems fair to me!

Some of the players that attended

Robert - our quarterback and Texas Tech grad



A Sunday Stroll in Capo Mulini

The weather finally turned out to be nice today, so I decided to take some pictures of the local sights around Capo Mulini, the area where I live. The rocks in the background are called the Cyclops Rocks from the story of Odysseus and the Cyclops. Gwen told me all about it since she teaches the epic in her class.

I didn't realize that Mount Etna was this close to where I live. It is an active volcano and when I took this picture today you could see smoke coming out of the vent.

This is just a street in Capo Mulini. These two lanes of traffic become four lanes in heavier traffic.

Another picture of the rocky coast

Street in Capo Mulini

This bench is down from my house. I saw it on the first day I took a walk down to the water. Told Gwen that this would be our place when she comes. A very peaceful place.

Just another picture of the beautiful water - there were people fishing and scuba diving today.

Catania Elephants' Practice

GianMarco - #2 Linebacker

Our Very Own -Joe Sturdivant #25

Good Look at the team practice - at the base of a volcano

Our Center

We practiced on Saturday afternoon on a rugby field which is where we had our camp last weekend.  It was cold because we were at a higher elevation than where we live. Odd to me - we usually start in the August heat and end up playing in the cooler weather. Just the oppposite -start in the cold and rain and end up in July heat (which is not Texas heat). The players continue to want to learn all they can about this game.

A Little Car

Driving in SIcily

Got hungry so I had to go to the grocery store. Not Kroger for sure but did come home with something other than apples. Found some bread, turkey ( I think that is what I bought) chips, diet coke, and iceberg lettuce. Not too bad for my first trip out. But now I have something to eat around the house. Gwen asked what I wanted when she came - fried chicken. Can't wait! I'm adding a picture of the car that parked next to me at the store. Smaller than a smart car. Looked like a go cart with tires. With gas at $8 a gallon, everyone over here drives small cars. You have to if you are going to drive - streets are all very narrow and curve around so it is hard to get around. sometimes you think you are going to hit the walls  or the car next to you. People step out from between cars right out in front of cars. They get hit and just keep going. When I drove to practice today, I followed Gus - one of the Italian players - and even he got lost on the way. Some of the streets don't have names at all so it's not hard to lose your way. But I have found that if I drive downhill I can always find my way back home.

Rain, Practice,Canceled Practice, Meetings....

Well, I have been in Catania for a week now and beginning to adjust. The weather is not the best - thought we were having a hurricane on Monday. Rain like I've never seen and a wild ocean. Walked down to take some pictures but didn't have the memory card so I have none. Spend most of the days with three guys - Joe, Brandon, and Robert. Feel like the old show "My Three Sons".  Meeting on Tuesday night with owner and coaches and then dinner. Didn't venture out - pizza tonight. This is a good place - taking Gwen there when she comes. This late dinner - 10:00 - is not my usual routine. Wednesay brought more rain and then canceled practice. The rest of the week looks better - sunshine tomorrow, a trip with Robert to the Naval Air Station, and watching the Super Bowl on Sunday at the NAS.  We will be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday at 2:00 a.m. on the big screen television. Now that is a sports fan. In exchange for getting to watch the Super Bowl our team - the Catania Elephants - will go out to the base to have a camp for the kids at the end of February or the first part of March.  Seems like a good exchange. Then I am planning on going to church at the Calvary Baptist Church on Sunday. Supposed to get a meal after church - free lunch for all singles. That's me. The driving over here scares me! I have been driving but you have to a defensive driver - red lights are just suggestions. And the horns are always honking! Hopefully the rain will stop and I will be able to get out and see some more of the city and post some pictures.