Saturday we left for Tropea…way south of Rome and Naples.  Our 6 hour train ride to Rosaria was uneventful and really passed quickly.  We had a 30 minute wait there to change trains to Tropea.  A man and wife I sat next to on the train were so nice and the man ran into the station to check on which train track we needed to wait by.  People have been so nice to go the extra mile to help us.  The ‘train’ to Tropea arrived.  Three cars and it chugged like it had a lawn mower motor.  The Little Train that Could!  Our driver was waiting for us and took us to the hotel or whatever we should call it.  It is a timeshare place.  A compound of lovely apartments, a beautiful swimming pool, restaurant and bar with a mini market.  The grounds are spectacular and immaculately groomed.  Bougainvillea, lantana, cactus, hibiscus, roses, vines and olive trees that are hundreds of years old..loaded with olives.  There are date palms loaded with dates. And hundreds of geckos, scurrying everywhere.  One lives in the olive tree outside the restaurant and we have named him Steve…after the Geico’s gecko’s cousin, Steve.  When we arrived at the compound, we were hungry, so ran to the restaurant and each had a plate of grilled shrimp.  We have to de head them and peel, but they are delicious.  They gave us packets of hand wipes that we still can’t get open.  Need scissors.  Nice offer but useless!  Our apartment is very nice.  Nancy has a room with a double bed.  We have a kitchen and dining room.  Andy has a cot next to the big patio.  I have a tiny room with bunk beds…I took the bottom bunk!  It has a small armoire and is cute and cozy…just like I like it.  The patio overlooks the compound and the sea in the distance.  Slept well.   Yesterday after breakfast and coffee, we took the shuttle to the town of Tropea which is way below us.  We walked thru the town, did a bit of shopping and had a wonderful lunch.  Nancy and I both had an eggplant Parmesan dish…altho I thought we only ordered one for her…but because I asked about it, I got one too.  She got a grilled tuna that looked delicious, and I got a fish soup.  It came in a broth the waiter called ‘soap’ maybe meaning soup…with two grilled fish with heads, a giant shrimp with a head, mussels, and two little calamaris that didn’t look appetizing in their natural state.  The soup was wonderful.  Andy got melon with prosciutto.  Both restaurants that had been recommended were closed.  I guess because it was a Sunday.  We went to a tiny piazza that overlooks the sea-absolutely clear and a beautiful light green water with a long white, sandy beach.  Walked around the town, then caught the shuttle back to the compound.  After picking us up, the driver picked up the group down at the beach.  We passed a wonderful old cemetery on the way to the beach, so either Wednesday or Thursday, I’m going to ask him to drop us off there for an hour and pick us up on his next pass.  It looks fascinating.  Might need two hours.  Will take crackers and peanut butter just in case!  A picnic among the dearly departed.  We rested a bit and then went to dinner.  All of us ordered a grilled salmon.  A huge piece that was perfectly cooked with whole black peppercorns.  Having a peppercorn with each bite was divine!  Then we went to bed and a good night’s sleep.  Today is a down day.  The girls are sunbathing and going to swim and I’m planning to read, sew bunnies and play with the computer.  Tomorrow we are taking a boat to Isola Eiola and sightseeing.  There must be tennis courts here;  just saw two walking by with their rackets and balls.  

That’s it for today.