Sicily, Italy

[AppleJax's Mom]

Hello, just wanted to share the good news about Alyssa - she received her first duty station assignment and is very excited!!! There was only one opening for Sicily and her commanders awarded it to her. Not sure yet when she will be shipping out as she graduates from Ma A school on 02/15/06 and then will be coming home for a week.

Any one have a sailor startioned over there or has been stationed there? Would love to hear from you with any suggestions for Alyssa as well as any for me being the mom and here in the states while she is over there for two years.

Very proud of all our sailors!!!! I am very glad to be apart of the great family.

Feel free to email me at ccrivera@hgvc.com

Carrie
Alyssa's Mom
Kissimmee, FL

[glennsmom]

One of the MAs in my son's class was sent to Italy and the brother of a good friend of mine is the top MA in charge of security at a base in Italy but I am not sure where. Good luck to your daughter. Sorry I don't have any helpful hints.

[hercman]

Ahhh good ole Sigonella. I've spent many a weeks there. The base there is pretty decent. It's come along ways in the last 14 years. They have a great single sailor program (not a dating service :) ) It's for sailors who are not married and need to get out take tours and excursions. Sicily is steaped in history every thing from 3,000 year old greek ampitheaters to modern. Winters don't get too bad but summers can get very warm. One of the cool things is having Mt. Etna visible from the barracks and looks cool at night when the lava is flowing. Check out my website for some good photos.
www.robandcatsworld.com
they'll be in the exotic and not so exotic locals pages.

The base is split into two parts and are serviced by a bus. NAS I has the exchange and commisary. Very top notch shopping. State of the art fitness center, great theater, huge pool bowling alley and a small club to hang out at.

NAS II is where the airfield is (where I spend most of my time) Has a good gym, a rec center with computers with internet access and free movies and lots of fun events. It also has a club to hang out as well.

Driving in Sicily is scary. There are rules but no one follows them. You think gas is expensive here? Over there it's about $8 a gallon. But you do get gas coupons that keep it reasonable (but limited to how many you get a month) liquer is also rationed. Helps to keep it out of the black market because Italy taxes the bejesus out of it out in town. Same with cigarettes.

Sigonella is concidered the gateway to the med. It's very easy to hop on a flight and visit just about any country in Europe. Rome is very doable on a three day weekend.

I hope this helps out if you have any other questions fire away.

[AppleJax's Mom]

Hercman,
Thanks for the info - I will pass this on to my daughter. She was suppose to get the actual orders yesterday as to when she ships put - so I am sure she will call today with that news. I have gone on to the Sicily.navy.mil site to see some pictures - Her dad and I hope to plan a trip over there next year since she will be there for two years.

Have a great one -thanks for the info

Carrie
Alyssa's Mom

[DDNavyWifeMD]

Hey, Carrie, it's Mary! (sorry for the rhyme...lol) How's AJ's knee?