Sicily

Well Sicily is part of Italy and it didn't disappoint.  We were touring Toarmino where the tour guide said there was nothing to see, Ted couldn't get change at a bank and there are no bathrooms so use one in a restaurant.  Great!  We got change despite her prediction, walked from one city gate to the other (she was right, nothing to see but shops and restaurants), then found a cute outdoor restaurant up some stone stairs.  There we availed ourselves of E3,50 (about $4.25 USD each) Cokes, used their free wifi and bathrooms then joined our group when one hour was up.  And it started sprinkling.

We were supposed to take an hour boat ride to an island.  I asked six times if the boat was covered.  She just kept repeating what is in the tour description.  I don't think she understood English and just had pat responses when she heard key words.  We were about 20 minutes late because one man was in the wrong meeting place and the boat was full when we arrived.

So off she went negotiating with other boat owners until she found one to take us.  The only cover was over the driver.  Most seats were wet, wooden benches along the front sides.  The thought of riding one hour to an island where we would not get off because there was nothing there, in the rain, did not sound like fun to me!  My out was they could only take 10 and we were 12.  I told her we were not going.  And she argued with me!  Another man with bad knees said he would not be able to make the big step down into the boat and she argued with him!  The four of us went off to a restaurant to buy expensive Cokes, use the bathroom but couldn't get the wifi to work.  The other couple ordered lunch and they were told all they could order was lasagna!  

When the next tour group, containing four of our group, arrived, Connie and Mike chose not to go because it was lightning.  They joined us in the restaurant.  

The boat tour was over so we joined our group on the bus and were told we were returning up the hill to the town for a walking tour ... In the rain.  When we stopped no one would get off the bus.  

I am happy to report no one was injured in this fiasco and it was our only bad tour.  It was not made through the ship but rather the travel agent so we didn't let it deter us.  

I find the take it or leave it attitude I have encountered in Italy maddening.  Customer service is an oxymoron.  We encountered it at the front desk of our very nice hotel too.  Once while sitting in the lobby some people who were obviously meeting up were greeting each other.  The clerk banged his bell about 20 times demanding passports.  Ted asked for change when we took a taxi and he said it is the taxi driver's responsibility to make change, not his.  I wanted to know if I could get milk before the 7:00 breakfast time because we had to leave shortly before then.  He said no, the girl doesn't come in until 7:00.  Ted went down anyway, found the girl who was very helpful and pleasant the whole time we were there, and filled my mixing glass up.  

I was ready to move on to Malta and Greece!