Homecoming

It's been two years since we last visited Australia, so with some trepidation, we packed up ship and headed for (?? home ??). Both Megan and I are no longer sure where home is. We've both moved on from Bexhill, our previous house, which is now rented to tenants. My mum offers us refuge, and we certainly feel wanted there, so Ballina may be a contender. As for Sydney, that's pretty much now in the 'too hard' category. Truth is, Pavlov is now home, so we'll have to re-invent something for when we want to define a new home off ship.

Main cathedral in Catania

Christmas fair in Catania

I love to see street music

Fountain flair in Catania

So, we hopped on the early morning bus from Licata to Catania, and spent a day hanging out in that city. Then we caught the train to Rome. Interestingly, the train is wheeled holus-bolus onto a ferry to cross the Straits of Messina. The ferry can swallow two 5-carriage trains whole. Quite a feat! The train travels up the western coast of Italy, so its a very scenic trip.

Messina from the train ferry

Port of Messina 

Trains inside the ferry

So, we're having to look closely at the idea of 'home' and what would help us establish a sense of belonging back in Australia. Megan's children live in Sydney, and we have always had the agreement that we would move back to the Sydney area when grandchildren enter the scene. However, Sydney has become unbelievably expensive and real-estate of any form would be impossible for us to buy. Also, Sophie has not been at all welcoming, and seems to be set on denying us any form of relationship. Ties with other family members in the Sydney area are tenuous at best. Anyway, back to Rome. We'd spent 10 days in Rome a year ago, so we just did a little shopping, and I went to see the Henry Moore exhibition in the Diocletian baths. We couldn't resist the odd church or two. Rome was, as usual, over the top.

Just another unbelievably gorgeous church

Ceiling detail

Roman ruins, in well, Rome.

Doors fit for an emperor 

Truely spectacular

Convenient mirror for ceiling viewing

Ceiling detail

Inside the cupola: are we in heaven yet?

Speechless beauty

That's an organ for you.

We're hoping to come up with a six month on, six month off solution to living on the boat. Next winter, we plan to put the boat on the hard for six months, perhaps in Port Napoleon in the south of France. But then the question is, how to spend time with our Sydney based family? Best solution to date is to stay up in Ballina, and buy a camper van to live in while we are down in Sydney. Who knows? Any other possibilities will be gladly entertained.

Diocletian Baths, which housed the Henry Moore exhibition

One of Moore's reclining figures

My guess is that this one is female.

Piece commissioned for a nuclear reactor

Studies for a reclining figure

Love the drawings for his works

Another reclining figure

Several Moore's

So in the end, we ceased our deliberations, hopped onto the horrendously long flight with Cathy Pacific via Hong Kong to Sydney. I hope that real life will sort it all out. We are staying with our great friends Carmel and Warrewrk in Oyster Bay for about a week, then we head up to Ballina for Christmas with my family. Merries to all!