Sicilian Mafia and Palermo

 I am really trying to catch up as there is so much going on, I'm afraid I'll forget something.  

Around 8:30 on Monday we boarded the  30 passenger bus for an hour ride to Palermo.  Unfortunately, there was a very bad 4 car pile up which made us wait for 30 minutes for rescue.   Gabriella, the local guide, was joining us for the day. 

Here's why Bill wanted to go to Sicily.  On the left is Gino Felicetti who lived in Corleone.  His father was a crime boss.  A few doors down, Angelo Provenzano live.  Angelo's father, Bernardo Provenzano, was the head of the Cosa Nostra.  He took over when Salvatore Toto Riina was arrested in 1993.

They both told personal stories of their lives as the children of the Cosa Nostra.  Angelo's father was on the run for 43 years after he was responsible for the death of two magistrates.  He never went to school or had any friends.  He never knew what his father did as a child.

It was a wonderful and controversial topic and we were allowed some time to ask questions.  I don't want to get into too much details in case someone decides to take this trip.  Let me say, it was the highlight so far.

Gabriella then lead us down to the city gates.  I can't remember for sure but I think it was the 11 century.

 Here's a float for a festival

  

   The photo doesn't show all the detail and colors well.  

I'll just add a couple of photos of some of the architecture.

Of course, here's another cathedral, but you couldn't pass it up.

Nunzia is always afraid we might get hungry.  This was some kind of almond pastry she bought for everyone.

Here's a typical scene, the bride and groom walk down the street.

Nunzia wanted us to experience the local Arabic market.

Nunzia gave us olives, minced meat rice balls, and cheese rice balls to try.  Bill wasn't impressed but I really liked them.  This experience wouldn't have been possible with a big group.

We live in Arizona and I've never tasted prickly pear before.  The vendor showed us how to cut it, and Nunzia gave us each one to try.

After the market, we had some free time to get lunch, if we were hungry.  Nunzia took some of us who  wanted to see the opera house.  I think she just wanted Bill to see the steps where a scene from the Godfather was filmed.

The dome can be opened for air flow.

Do you remember the scene from the Godfather that was filmed here?

After the opera house tour we returned to the bus for our ride back to Cefalu.

You would think that we'd done enough for the day but we still had a dinner in old town.  The walk to old town was very pleasant and the waves were really coming strong.  

Here's a sample of what we had for dinner.  It was a beautiful night spent with a great group of people.  

Now I'm only behind by two days.  

Turtle Safely.......