Itinerary for homeward journey

My plan is to take the overnight train from Milazzo to Modena, then a local train to Mantova, where I'll spend two nights.

Then on to Turin for another two nights.

From there, I can get a train from Turin to Paris at just after 8am, then cross over from Gare de Lyon to Gare du Nord for the Eurostar to London, then back to Manchester, arriving about 9.30 at night.

Wow, all the way from Turin to Manchester by train in one day!

Itinerary for outward journey (Part 2: Florence to Salina)

My plan is to have breakfast and a couple of hours in Florence, before getting a train to Lucca, where I've booked into a B&B for the night (Thursday 15th April)

Last time I went, I didn't break my journey like this and it was a bit much - getting two overnight trains in a row is very tiring, so this time I'm doing it differently!

Next day, after a day in Lucca, back to Florence for the overnight train from Campo di Marte station to Milazzo in Sicily. This is due to arrive at 11.44 on Saturday morning, 16th April.

Then a bus down to the hydrofoil terminal and a Siremar hydrofoil to Santa Marina on Salina.

Itinerary for outward journey (Part 1: Manchester to Florence)

This is how I'm planning to travel:

Departure date is Wednesday 14th April. First stage is Manchester to London. I decided to travel first class with East Midlands Trains to St Pancras, firstly because it was slightly cheaper than second class on Virgin Trains, and secondly because EM goes into St Pancras, saving me a walk down Euston Road from Euston Station in London. I should arrive at just after 12.30.

Next is the Eurostar from London to Paris. I'm booked on the 14.04 departure, due into the Gare du Nord in Paris at 17.26. Then a quick trip on the RER across Paris to the Gare de Bercy (not far from the Gare de Lyon).

The overnight train to Florence (called the Palatino) leaves the Gare de Bercy at 18.52. I have a place in a 4-couchette compartment. I used this train the last time I was in the Aeolians in 2007 and it was an uneventful journey. It arrives in Florence on Thursday morning at 07.23.

My plan is then to leave my rucksack at the left luggage in the main station, and have a few hours in Florence.

This is where I'm going - the island of Salina. One of the Aeolian islands, off the north coast of Sicily.

I took this photo in May 2007, from the neighbouring island of Lipari. I stayed there for 3 months, renting an apartment in the village of Pirrera, in the hills above the main town. While I was there, I said to myself that next time I take a long break in Italy, I would go to Salina.

So, I will be departing in six weeks time. I will be staying in the town of Malfa, renting a small house down by the fishing harbour. And I will be travelling the whole way by train from Manchester to the port of Milazzo, taking 3 days to make the trip.

I'm getting very excited about it!