November 22, 2017
Once we were up and showered and getting ready to head up to the Lido for breakfast, I asked my beloved if she knew what happened on this day in 1963. She said, “Yes, What’s His Name was shot.” They had ETV in Hagerstown schools. We had Principal Johns coming on the PA System to tell us. I was in typing class. I wonder what our world would be like if JFK had lived. I read once that he was on the verge of pulling out of Vietnam although he had been accelerating for a time.
Once again we hopped on, rode around the city of Palermo and then rode back around and hopped off at the Cathedral of Palermo. It was started in the 12th century when Normans from France invaded the island. It was an interesting time in Sicily’s history, but one which I had to bump from my talk because of time constraints. The island was invaded 13 times and I don’t think that counts the Allies on July 9, 1943. But having seen the Cathedral (and now you’ve seen some pictures) and read the story, detail of its building and rebuilding and reconstruction, if I do the talk again, I will make way for it. I bought two books for a total of 6 euros, one written by the parish priest (it is an active church). You may read them when we are back at 233.
When we started off on this cruise, She Who Must Be Obeyed said, “We are buying no souvenirs this time.” I agreed. Books aren’t souvenirs, right? And she bought the sweater I told you about in Rhodes, and a new spoon holder for the kitchen stove today. No souvenirs, right? Baloney! We are spending our children’s inheritance (sorry kids!). You can divy up the books and the spoon holder and share the sweater.
We were back in the dining room tonight feeling like normal people after three days of the yucks and general malaise. I dived into the lobster-asparagus quiche and the beef stroganoff. Bonnie had cheddar cheese soup and chou-chee, a pork with sauerkraut dish. Both meals were tasty. And strawberry Sundae’s for two.
A great show, “Heat,” by the singers and dancers tonight and now we are back in the room blogging with a game of rummy to follow. The score is tied at two games. Sardinia tomorrow and then a day at sea when I’ll do my Gibraltar talk before we land in Gibraltar (I thought that was good timing). St. Michael’s Caverns are on the Rock and we are going to see if we can find a taxi to take us there.
Well, Happy Thanksgiving to all! Sorry there will be no noodles tomorrow. Neither here nor there.
TTFN
Sorry I didn’t write last night. Just a few comments about yesterday. We walked 3.3 miles, got to see a real cannon fire and we had gelato. Great gelato store you got a cone in which they made the gelato in the shape of a flower with petals and all with what ever flavors you wanted. I had amarano and chocolate. Dad made a video of them making his. Expensive 7.20 euro for the two cones. And there was a bookstore and magazine shop and I got 3 new arrowwords puzzle books. One is pictures arrowwords, one is just arrowwords and one is a UK puzzle book that has some of them in it. Great find. Only 12 euros.
Well, on to today. We are both feeling better. Still am not quite up to eating regular. Saltine crackers have been my nighttime snack. Trying to drink a lot of water, eat light and wash our hands about 20 or more times a day!
We only walked 1.8 miles today. This town of Palermo is really not labeled well for tourists. We got on the hop on hop off bus which they had brought down to the port and had 25% off the tickets, 15 euros each. You could ride their 2 lines, the red and blue, for the one price. The bad thing was they didn’t bring you back to where they picked us up. They dropped us at the end up at their regular stop 1. Fortunately it was located so we could see our ship and where the port was. It was about a 15 minute walk to the port. The entrance into the port to get back in the ship wasn’t marked at all. But we managed to find it, kind of watching other people as they wandered around, too. Well, back to the bus ride. It was only a bout an hour long. We rode around the first time on the red line in the old part of town to decide what we wanted to hop off and see. We finally decided we would get off at stop 8. Well, when we got at the end of ride one back of their starting place we asked if we stayed on the bus we were on to ride the redline again. I told your Dad the lady said we were now on the blue bus, he said no red. Guess what I was right! So before the bus took off we got told the lady we wanted to do the red again, as did several other people on with us, so she took us across the street to another bus. So off we go. Got on the red busline and rode to stop 8 and hopped off. Great church. It cost 2 euros, for old people, to view the crypts, treasury and royal tombs. We didn’t go to the roof, it cost some more, because it was 100 steps up and then back down. It cost .50 euros each to use the W.C., that is potties for all you Americans. Yes we did. They were in the church behind an altar on the side. Very small.
After leaving the church we did some shopping, yes I bought a very expensive spoon rest made in Sicilia. He bought 2 books and we bought a few other things. Then, we had time and there was a shop selling sweet rolls, drinks and pizza. We each got a piece of cheese Sicilian pizza, thick crust, for 2 euros and a diet coke, for 1.50euros.
Pizza was okay. I like thin crust. Then, we had to wait for a bus back to the port area. It was about a 30 minute wait. It had started to get cooler and the ride back was cooler. We had a good time and enjoyed seeing everything.
I don’t think I will ever complain about GA drivers again. These people are crazy. There are no lanes marked on the streets. So sometimes they will drive 2 across or 3 or 4. The streets are almost all one way. They park of one side ,bumper to bumper, and double park everywhere. They just park the car and get out. Sometimes they will put the four ways on, sometimes they don’t. Then there are the scooters and motorcycles. They make their own lanes and weave in and out of the cars. Around the cars and buses everywhere. The cars, buses and scooters pretty much don’t stop for pedestrians and there are not many crossing lights. So be careful!! They really ignore stop signs and if the traffic is backed up at an intersection and it turns red they just keep going blocking the road so the other direction can’t go. Crazy.
We made it back to the ship safely and were on board by 2:30. Of course the dining room was closed so we just had some water and some ice cream. Rested some and then dressed and went to dinner.
Now my tale is done and we will play some cards. Love and miss you.
Mom, Granny and Bonnie
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