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FAVIGANA WAS DESCRIBED TO ME AS “WHERE ITALIANS GO TO DRINK CHAMPAGNE AND LAY ON THE BEACH”. VIKRAM AND I WERE FINISHING UP A PROJECT IN PARIS AND FIGURED WE MIGHT AS WELL CHECK IT.
ME AND VIKRAM LEAVE PARIS AT 4:15AM.
A 90 MINUTE FLIGHT TO SWITZERLAND.
COFFEE BREAK.
ANOTHER 90 MINUTES TO PALERMO.
OCEAN VIEWS FROM THE TAXI LINE.
60 MINUTES IN A CAB SOUTH TO TRAPINI.
TAXI DRIVER ASKS FOR DIRECTIONS.
BEERS AT THE FERRY TERMINAL.
HOUR AND A HALF SAIL TO FAVIGNANA.
10 MINUTE WALK ON ANCIENT COBBLESTONE TO THE AIRBNB.
APERITIVO AND SPRITZ ON THE BEACH AT SUNSET WE MADE IT.
VIKRAM AND I MAKE OUR WAY TO THE CENTER OF TOWN AFTER A LIGHT BREAKFAST OF ESPRESSO AND FRESH BAKED PASTRY. OUR DAYS TASK IS TO RENT BIKES AND RIDE THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE ISLAND “ONLY A FEW HOURS OF RIDING AT A LEISURE PACE”. A QUICK EXCHANGE OF MONEY AND PHOTO COPIED PASSPORTS AND WE’RE SET. THE BASKETS RATTLE ON OUR 3 SPEED BEACH CRUISERS AS THE ROAD WINDS AND OPENS UP TO A ROCKY COASTLINE. THE SMELL OF FRIED FISH AND SUNSCREEN WAFTS US TOWARD ONE OF THE MANY LAX BEACH CLUBS DOTTED ALONG THE OUTSIDE OF THE ISLAND. FAMILIES AND YOUNG COUPLES FROM ELSEWHERE IN ITALY RECLINE IN ORANGE SUN CHAIRS OR SPLASH AROUND IN THE SHALLOW WATER. AN OLDER MAN SITS ON A CLUSTER OF WET BLACK ROCKS WITH HIS SNORKEL GEAR PULLED UP ONTO HIS HEAD.
WE LEAN OUR BIKES AGAINST A FENCE NEAR EVERYONE ELSE’S. NONE ARE LOCKED…THE THOUGHT OF SOMEONE STEALING A BIKE HERE FEELS IMPOSSIBLE IN A WAY THAT REASSURES MY BELIEF IN THE GOOD OF HUMANITY. HONESTY AND HAPPINESS IS JUST THE CULTURE HERE.
THE TONE FOR OUR TIME ON THIS ISLAND IS NOW SET AS THE REST OF THE DAY BECOMES A MONTAGE OF SWIMMING, PUTTING AROUND ON THE BIKE, MEETING LOCALS AND APERITIVO HOUR EVERY HOUR.