Day 2

The bunkers at Ponte Dirilo, the Scoglitti landing site and the trip to Syracuse.

From the bunker, a gunner's view of Highway 115 and the Ponte Dirilo Bridge.

The exterior of the bunker we just visited.

Mr Ventura leads the group down the hill from the bunker complex. He invited us to his home where we enjoyed a cold drink and his recounting of the area's history.

The beach at Scoglitti. Here the 45th Division landed on the eastern flank of the American zone. With them, a frightened radio man, Bill Harr was introduced to combat. Bill Harr, a close friend of my father, later became a combat correspondent for Stars and Stripes. In 1952, his dispatches from the front were compiled in his book "Combat Boots," a must-read for WWII historians.

Whizzing by the town of Ragusa on the way to Syracuse. We now began following the route of the British advance up the east coast road toward Messina.

Tony Cisneros has a knack for picking great restaurants for our ala-carte dinner days. I had a delicious tuna fillet prepared Sicilian style with peppers, onions and tomatoes and we discussed the day's visits over delightful Sicilian wine. A comfortable bed in the Mercure Siracusa Prometeo beckoned, sleep was not long in coming.

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	From the bunker, a gunner's view of Highway 115 and the Ponte Dirilo Bridge.
	The exterior of the bunker we just visited.
	Mr Ventura leads the group down the hill from the bunker complex. He invited us to his home where we enjoyed a cold drink and his recounting of the area's history.
	The beach at Scoglitti. Here the 45th Division landed on the eastern flank of the American zone. With them, a frightened radio man, Bill Harr was introduced to combat. Bill Harr, a close friend of my father, later became a combat correspondent for Stars and Stripes. In 1952, his dispatches from the front were compiled in his book "Combat Boots," a must-read for WWII historians.
	Whizzing by the town of Ragusa on the way to Syracuse. We now began following the route of the British advance up the east coast road toward Messina.
	Tony Cisneros has a knack for picking great restaurants for our ala-carte dinner days. I had a delicious tuna fillet prepared Sicilian style with peppers, onions and tomatoes and we discussed the day's visits over delightful Sicilian wine. A comfortable bed in the Mercure Siracusa Prometeo beckoned, sleep was not long in coming.