Exploring Palermo

We had the day to explore the sights of Palermo.  First up was the Catacomb of the Capuchins.  A couple of wrong turns made the short drive into a long one (distance-wise but not too bad time-wise as it was largely on highway).

Arriving at the Catacomb, we had someone ask for protection money for parking.  He wasn’t exactly looking like a homeless person but was just a little bit not quite with it.  I wasn’t sure if he would scratch the car if we didn’t give anything so gave him a Euro.

The catacomb was filled with mummies high and low, old and young.  They’re from the 1800s and early 1900s.  Some were in better shape than others but baby Rosalia (about 2 years old0 from the early 1900s looked pretty intact.  They had perfected the mummification process by then.

Inside the catacombs.

We continued to the city centre where we parked for tea then a walk.  The city has two grand theatres, the Garibaldi and the Massimo.  Kim was ready for lunch when we struck a EUR5 buffet of antipasti (largely beautifully roasted vegetables with a few non-veg).  I was on Day 5 of feeling bloated and must be starting to lose weight, so I had a light serving.

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We continued by car to Capella Palatini and the Royal Apartments from the Norman period of Sicily when King Roger ruled.  We encountered the parking mafia again here, this time of couple of African dudes.  The chapel was stunning in a largely golden Byzantine style with other influences thrown in.  The apartments were nice but I have become a bit numb to things like that.

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We returned to our B&B for a rest and ventured out in the evening to look for a Laundromat.  We encountered four which were all closed for about a month for their summer holidays.

I didn’t feel like dinner. (story of my whole time in Sicily so far)  But I found this restaurant/takeaway for Kim that had squid in a sambal-like sauce and fish folded over stuffed with breadcrumbs and herbs.  Both were just awesome and I picked at his dinner and had about a third.

After Day 5 of bloatedness, my tummy finally gave in.  I had a night of going to the loo with somewhat of the runs.