Blue sea, good wine, and insanely delicious cuisine are Sicily’s calling card. Holidays on this island do not leave you indifferent. True, not everything in this European corner of paradise is covered in roses. Sicily does have drawbacks. We invite you to get acquainted with seven of the biggest challenges facing you during your Sicilian vacation.
Public transport
Mass transit is one of the biggest pains in Sicily. This lack of convenience pushes travelers to rent a vehicle. It is not unusual for trains to be an hour or more late. The situation is even more difficult with bus operations. Bus schedules are usually not available at stops. Moreover, mobile apps show the estimated time of arrival, regardless of current traffic levels. Additionally, there are often driver strikes, and the government does not hire additional drivers. To make matters worse, you won’t know if your driver is on strike until the bus does not arrive. So, if you stand and wait for the bus, you may have to wait half an hour or even longer.
Traffic
Continuing the topic of transport, it is necessary to review traffic conditions in Sicily in general. The roads are far from good condition. However, the tolls here are incomparably lower than in northern Italy. Since many people choose to travel by car, this has a tremendous impact on the amount of traffic. During peak hours, you will have to spend a lot of time in traffic jams.
But congestion would still be half the trouble if it weren’t for the stubborn driving culture. You have to hear it joking that once you learn to drive in Sicily, you can drive anywhere in Europe – there will definitely be no worse. The traffic rules are only formally valid here. If the red traffic light comes on, but there are no pedestrians at the crossing, do not stop and continue driving. There is a long history of disregarding road markings, accidental ‘parking’ on the street, an aggressive driving style, and constant honking. The worst part is that people really feel unpunished. Speed traps can be met rarely, and speed cameras here are also mostly a sham. Worst of all, such driving conditions, and the high number of minor accidents have a major impact on insurance prices. Rental car insurance is expensive but highly recommended.
Posteggiatori
It’s no secret that when parking in the city, we first look for a free spot. When you find such a place in Sicily, do not rush to rejoice. A guy will likely approach you, who will be the so-called posteggiatore. Since we do not have representatives of such a “profession” in Lithuania, it would simply be to call them “parkers”. This person charges money for “helping” to park a car or “protecting” the car.
These actors often emphasize that this is a sacrifice to help them feed their families. Understand, give as much as you can. This is usually a 1-2 euro “fee”. However, sometimes this “fee” can be fixed at up to € 3. The natural question is, why is it mandatory to pay them if it is a manifestly illegal toll? The answer is very simple – without paying and later returning to the car, you can find a “gift” – a broken wiper or a scratched door. This phenomenon is so widespread that no one seems to even try to fight it anymore, and there is no one to take your complaints.
Business hours
You will be lucky if you live in a larger tourist town and do not have to face the inconvenience of finding a working shop or an open restaurant. Large supermarkets are open without a lunch break. Smaller shops are usually open from 08:30 to 13:30 and from 17:00 to 21:00, so if you plan to buy something at lunch, you will have to wait.
Restaurant opening hours can also cause some of these inconveniences, especially for us accustomed to the pace of Nordic life. Let’s just take one typical Sicilian restaurant Borgo di Federico in Catania. This restaurant is open for lunch from noon until 15:00, and for dinner will be open from 19:30 until midnight. And this is just one example. The major part of restaurants operate in this way. True, you won’t see Italian restaurants around 7 pm yet, as the locals start dining much later. You will be served faster if you arrive earlier.
Trash
Be in the mood for a slight shock. Yes, there is a lot of rubbish here and it is impossible not to see it. It is difficult naming one specific reason for all this – poor organization of garbage collection or simply irresponsible local culture. After living here for a long time, the rubbish bins are no longer such a surprise and, it can be said that you are used to it. When walking down the street, pay attention to where you put your feet, because you may accidentally step in a “gift” left by a puppy, that his owner didn’t bother to collect.
Locals
Yes, Sicilians are people with extremely hot temperament. Most of them are friendly and willing to help. However, as in every nation, non-admirable examples of local communication with foreigners can be found here. First of all, ask for prices, especially when they are not clearly written. This is true for shopping in markets that are extremely popular here. After hearing you speak English, you are likely to be asked to pay more for the goods. Also, don’t forget to check the conversion. There are legends that even the prices in restaurants here are twofold – higher for foreigners and lower for locals.
The inability to communicate in English, with the locals, can also cause a lot of stress. Of course, this is unlikely in the area of service, but if you get lost and want to ask for directions, it is better to contact the young person as he is more likely to speak English. And don’t be surprised if you have to be reminded once again that Lithuania is not Russia, our state language is not Russian, and the capital of Lithuania is not Riga.
Despite all the above shortcomings, a visit to Sicily is a must. This island has a lot to offer – from the fabulous beauty of nature to the extremely rich local culture. Just plan your vacation very responsibly and down to the last detail.
Sicilian vacation in a nutshell
Keep in mind that Sicilian vacation might turn out to be not so perfect. Expect unexpected. Carefully plan your transitions from location A to location B. Be alert and try to accept everything as a part of Sicilian culture. Besides that, enjoy your vacation!
