Monday, July 30th, 2007 Palermo

Monday, July 31, 2007

Ciao Familia (you know – when in Sicily – LOL) Palermo was BEAUTIFUL.! LOL I am sitting here again in the dark typing. Today is actually Tuesday about 6:30 am. We are on our way to Naples but that is for the next blog. Couldn’t sleep – woke up at about 6 am – you’ll be happy Pam! J I’m finally getting up with the chickens.
Here’s a shorter version of yesterday. Palermo was gorgeous. We did a private tour and it was worth the expense – for me. I am an avid history lover and the amount of history given to us by our tour guide, Davide – I got his name from a fellow blog traveler, Celeste of the traveling nurse saga. He was plenty knowledgeable and nice. Although he was a smoker he was plenty courteous and always walked away when he needed to smoke which was plenty so for that I thank him.
Places we visited: Cathedral in Monreale, Cathedral in Palermo and the patron saint of Palermo St Rosalia’s perpetuated last stand (OK so she was a hermit) and burial place. We saw the catacombs and the perfectly embalmed body of a 2 yr old who died back in 1920. It was eerie to walk the catacombs although we got there about 10 minutes to closing siesta time. The bambina was so lifelike and doll like that had not the guide forwarned me, I’d of thought it was a doll. No pictures were allowed down there and frankly after our guide got into it with a senile father in Brother John garb – I didn’t want to chance it.
The cathedral in Palermo – VERY beautiful, ceilings painted al fresco style, gorgeous fonts, opulent baroque style of marble and granite. So much opulence that it just drops your mouth open. You truly are left speechless and with limited time to type I must move on.
The cathedral in Monreale is more familiar to me as it most closely resembles the churches, basilicas and cathedrals I’m most familiar with in Mexico. We also got to visit the Church that was erected on the site of the finding of St. Rosalia’s bones cave church. This was by far my best impression. The church was man made and carved and carries a gold filigreed image of the saint by the side of the alter. This church is very Lourdes (of Fatima fame) like in that while a cave – it also has rain gutters that collect the water for the faithful who believe in miracles.
We saw loads of OLD, OLD building full of history ( I LOVE HISTORY) and dating back to the beginnings of the 11th and 12th centuries. I also saw and thoroughly loved the flag of Sicily which is a yellow flag with an image of Medusa – 3 legged on the front. She was placed there to ward off other invading enemies. Sicily has be thoroughly under someone’s control at one point or another since its founding.
We got to visit what is called the “Fountain of Shame”, the fountain is gorgeous but is so named because of the state of dress ( or shall we say the state of undress ) of many of its statutes. The history of the fountain which is very famous and in postcards says that it was bought for a private noble but his son got into trouble and squandered away his fortune. It was sold and shipped to it new owners in 648 pieces. I was able to get a few pictures but due to the nature of the context (LOL) I cannot post it here.
We visited and actually got into the Med Sea, ok most of us, I was able to coax Priscilla into dipping a toe in the Med Sea just so that she can say she went into the Med. LOL
Yesterday was a full day and we got to see many, many sights on our private tour but let me tell you guys, it is VERY EXPENSIVE here. I can’t believe it. Those of you that didn’t come here, congratulate yourselves as you saved yourself loads of $$. We managed to check our bills and although we placed a credit down, 2 days into the cruise, we have already spent over $3,000 and most of those are for DCL excursions and some pictures and internet usage.
My ipone, that’s another story. At first I thought I was having so much problems with it until I realized that it worked in Barcelona. The ship is having major trouble with the internet. Since our ship is full, I imagine that is part of the problem. The other day when I posted 2 days worth, it took over 15 minutes to post it and that was with it already being typed! If you want to come to Europe folks, come alone, or with your spouse – you may enjoy it more and save some $$ while you are at it.
Monday was hot – over 90 degrees and Naples on Tuesday is supposed to be hot also. Davide was a good guide, although he may of found us a bit boring. I had to tailor our guide to some wants of the girls as Davide tends to walk fast – as most Europeans do anyway. At the end, we were picked up right outside the terminal doors and maybe walked about 300 ft from the ship – LOL as the crow flies – of course we had to zig zag through the terminal. But it was most reassuring to find someone we know waiting for us with my name on it. OH yeah! At the end of the day – I was kissed on both cheeks by a handsome, Italian man! LOL – well, he either found us very attractive as he kissed all the girls LOL or he was extremely happy with our tip. Either way, I am an optimist on cruises, (only here though J ) and wish to look on this experience with rose colored glasses on.
Upon boarding the ship none other than the infamous Chicken Boy checked my photo id and KTWC (Key to the World Card) , I snapped a quick picture and while Brent is rather a handsome man, he definitely looks more tired since I last saw him in September. Don’t we all!
We all got a laugh when we saw all the tour stickers that were stuck alongside the gangway rails and box, guess they’ve accumulated over the summer. If I get a chance, I will post a picture – it is cute.
Dinner went ok – we were in Animator’s Palette and our severs, Vlado from Croatia and Collin our drink waiter from Trinidad had a laugh at how quiet we all were. The girls wanted to come back in time for the 6:30 show but I chose to stay and take a shower as I was stinky! LOL – I fell asleep and didn’t get up until 8:20. Oh yeah –I did take a shower.

OK folks – it is now 7:15 and I must get going as we are supposed to meet our next tour guide at the terminal as soon as we get off the ship or by/around 8 am.

Until later hopefully.