Day 102 - Transport day. Goodbye Austria. Hello Sicily.

The alarms went off at 4am and both Kia and I were deep asleep when they started ringing. That disoriented kind of sleep where you wake up not quite sure what country you’re in. Austria. For a few more hours.

The morning moved slower than we’d planned. A few last things still needed to be packed, bags reshuffled to fit weight limits, kids gently dragged out of warm beds. Coffee was essential. We didn’t actually roll out until about 5:10am once everything was loaded into the hire car. Not disastrous, just slower than expected.

First stop was the unmanned fuel station we’d used before. No attendant. No building. Just a machine you slide your card into, select your bowser, and it holds up to €125 before you fill up. The first time we used it weeks ago it felt confusing. This time it was simple. Small win before a long day.

It was about a two-and-a-half-hour drive into Vienna. Mostly dark the whole way, with the sun starting to rise as we got closer. The highways were easy driving and traffic was light. A few nervous moments when reception dropped and navigation froze, but eventually the signal came back and we sorted ourselves out.

Returning the car wasn’t quite as smooth. We had to drop it back at the main train station where we’d picked it up, but couldn’t remember which entrance we’d used weeks earlier. Two laps around before we found the right ramp down. Everyone was busting for the toilet, so we parked, ran inside (€0.50 each), unloaded the bags, and I dropped the keys back to the hire company. No issues there, thankfully.

From there it was a taxi to the airport. Twenty minutes. €75. Painful for such a short distance, but the train would have been €15 each and involved a lot more stuffing around. On a day like that, we paid for ease.

We got dropped at the wrong terminal, which felt very on-brand for a transport day. Luckily the correct one was right next door. Tickets printed quickly, but then we had the suitcase shuffle. All of our bags were either slightly under or slightly over the 20kg limit. Because of course they were. We were told to head to the service desk. The line looked long but moved fast and we were cleared without too much drama.

Meanwhile, the security line was the biggest we’ve ever seen. It stretched through the zigzag ropes and halfway through the terminal. Somehow it still moved quickly. Maddie got a full pat down. Emmett was asked to step aside for no obvious reason. One of our bags was pulled and rescanned. Our most eventful security check yet, but still relatively smooth.

The flight from Austria to Sicily was only two hours. It was overcast on descent, so we didn’t get that dramatic coastline arrival. But walking from the terminal to the hire car office, about 200 metres away, we saw it. The snow-covered peak of Mount Etna poking through the clouds. It looked unreal. Almost fake. Like someone had painted it into the sky. Europe’s highest active volcano, sitting there quietly watching us arrive.

The hire car process in Sicily brought its own lesson. The insurance we’d booked through Booking.com technically covered us, but only in a reimbursement sense. If something happened, we’d have to pay the car company first and then claim it back. That meant they wanted to place a huge hold on our card. Our credit card was hacked back in Vietnam and we never replaced the physical card. We’ve been relying on a Wise card in Kia’s name, but I had booked the car in my name. I had a St George card, but the limit wasn’t high enough for the hold they wanted.

After going back and forth, we realised it was actually cheaper to buy their full insurance than let them hold the deposit. So we effectively paid twice for coverage, although because we’d received such a good discount through Booking.com, it kind of evened out in a roundabout way. Still frustrating. Lesson learned. Next time, we’ll buy insurance directly from the provider.

Then came the drive.

Manual car. Narrow roads. One-way streets everywhere. People reversing down the wrong streets. Speed limits that feel more like suggestions. Sicily driving is not Austrian highway driving.

Eventually, we arrived in Giardini Naxos. A seaside town just south of Taormina, originally founded as the first Greek colony in Sicily in 734 BC. It has a long curved beach, views of Etna, and a more local feel compared to the hilltop glamour of Taormina. Even in the cloudy light, it felt different. Sea instead of snow. Volcano instead of alpine peaks.

We got to the accommodation slightly early, so we grabbed lunch at a little pizza place down the road. Then check-in.

Third floor. No elevator. Four big suitcases.

Workout done.

But once inside, the space felt incredible. Separate lounge room. Dining room. Proper kitchen. Kids have their own bedroom with their own beds. We have ours. After the tighter Austrian setup, this feels expansive.

There are a few quirks. The WiFi is flashing but not actually working. Both shower heads won’t stay upright and just hang down. The tiled floors make the whole place feel colder than outside, so we’ve got the heaters running. All small things we’ll sort tomorrow.

Tonight was simple. Leftover pizza for dinner. Early showers. Everyone tired. Kia had managed a nap earlier in the day. Emmett too. I’m exhausted.

Austria was mountains, snow, routine and friendships. Sicily feels raw, loud, unpredictable and full of energy.

Day 102 complete. A new chapter begins.