Monreale

Sicily is having unprecedented rain. In the ten days that Yotam was here there was maybe one day without rain; most days had rainshowers off and on; a few days were nothing but rain. I learned that my new Clarke shoes from REI really are waterproof. I have the County Ladies to thank for these. I bought them with my retirement present.

After we dropped Yotam off at the airport, we had a few hours to kill before picking up the next rental car in Palermo. Tour books did not offer much in the Palermo area that was indoors. We decided to drive to Monreale, a few kilometers out of town, where I read that the cathedral interior was decorated with the largest example of mosaics by Greek and Bystanine craftsmen in the world.

The church was closed until 3:30. We took shelter in several doorways as we worked our way down the street fighting fierce wind and sheets  of rain. Our umbrellas were buckling. We saw a few broken ones abandoned along the cobblestone road. We watched tradesmen coming and going from a doorway with a sign that seemed to be about antiques. Nothing else was open so we headed for the door. It was a trattoria.  Sandwiches, aracini balls, fish and chips. We had our first roast chicken and potatoes for €3.5!