Welcome to Palermo - Sicily, Italy

October 4

The morning started off a bit cloudy and rainy but by the time we made it into town things had brightened up. We started our Palermo adventure by taking a local bus across the main waterfront boulevard. We drove through several small towns and to a local fishing village overshadowed by an enormous cliff above.

We eventually got off the bus at the smaller marina in town and were fortunate enough to be left out side the beautiful Santa Maria della Catena church where a group of people awaited the arrival of the bride. I love weddings even if you don’t know the person it is still such a happy event. We never got to see the bride as it was getting late.

We then walked over to the Villa Garibaldi Park which housed among the many plants and trees these spectacular, almost grotesque, Ficus Magnolioide from Australia.

After the park it was just a leisurely afternoon of walking through the streets.

We saw the Cathedral which unlike many of the ones we have visited in Europe was almost entirely gray flat paint inside with just the alter and some other areas adorned in gold. It was interesting to see the contrast.

We had a little snack in the Café Latino including the most delicious fresh bread. We walked on through the narrow cobble stone streets, followed some Police officers down a ways and even stumbled across the Piazza Pretoria where two very nice, attractive Italian men explained that the enormous and beautiful fountain before us was called the Fountain of Disgrace (Fontana Vergonia) as there were so many naked bodies displayed. He was kidding but it was a nice story. The fountain actually originally resided outside the city but was brought to Palermo center and reconstructed.

Across the way from the fountain was the church of Saint Cataldo build in the 11th century and absolutely breathtaking inside. It is small and in need of some repairs but there was a wedding just ending when we arrived.

Mom saw this spire on a side street that interested her so we ventured over and went into the church of Montevergini (interestingly Montevergini is a mountain near where my family comes from) and the church has now been turned into the Theater Nouvo Montevergini and we happed upon a rehearsal of a new children’s play going on with a small orchestra in front of the stage. It was fun to see the director and conductor trying so hard to get the little ones to do as they wanted. I loved seeing what was done to keep the essentials of the 17th Century church and add the necessary elements to make it a comfortable and functional theater space. Great job!!!

We then went to the Parliament building and saw the crest of Sicily I presume as well as their intricate mosaic spire.

Our last hour was spent walking a few residential neighborhoods and we stopped for a little pastry where a very sweet Sicilian woman, Patricia and her niece made us very comfortable.

It’s a great city and although I had been here when I was a child I remerged noting of that visit so I am so glad I was able to come again and enjoy the food, the people and the general atmosphere of such an old and important city.

It was rocky waters all the way to Rome but although a little sea sickness set in the remainder of the trip was good and it is time tomorrow to say goodbye to our lovely ship. We especially enjoyed our farewell dinner as the staff performed for us and we enjoyed seeing them having fun and enjoying the Italian music that was playing as much as we were. We even danced a little as dinner was about to come to a close.