Checking out some free sights with the locals!!

Normally on Sundays I would get up around 7AM and walk down to church, but since we were in Palermo, we just walked the streets (2.72 miles today). We couldn't believe the street vendors out so early, selling things from fresh seafood, pastries, fruit, and of course the Palermo Soccer items. We were only about 2 blocks from the house when we notice the sky getting dark and then the lightening and thunder started, we headed for the nearest cover. Luckily for us there was a outdoor cafe near by, stood there for awhile, once the rain let up we started walking back to the house. By this time we were wet and hungry and couldn't wait to get in, but we didn't bring the keys and there was no answer at the door. Bart remember from our last trip that there was a pastry shop near by, we headed over for a cheese pastry and a hot dog pastry, only 1.50 Euro. We decided to try getting into the house again and this time we were lucky a neighbor let us in and then all we had to do was knock on Stefano's door. Luckily for us he was up, but no one else.

Bart and Stefano in the hut

We decided to do some laundry to pass the time before lunch which was your traditional pasta and oh so tasty. After lunch, we went to the Botanical Garden with Nelli and Stefano. The gardens were beautiful, different from our flowers back home, they had big lily ponds, little huts, parrots flying between the trees and even some tree we have never seem before call Bombacaceae. The bombacaceae tree had pickers all over it and grow very tall, it was very interesting to see something so different, just watch out you might lose some blood on them. After our day around Palermo, we headed back to then house for dinner.

Broccoli

We wanted to thank them for having us by preparing dinner for them. Bart cooked a great steak, a little spicy to all of our taste buds. That is what happens when you are not cooking with your normal spices. Bart also made corn, they have never heated the corn before and added butter. So that was a real treat to them and they really enjoyed it especially Irene. I made a salad and my traditional Broccoli and Cheese dish. Thanks Aunt Alice for giving me your recipe, everyone loves it. It was a little difficult to make in Sicily, no Ritz Cracker, no cheddar cheese, what was I supposed to do. I eventually found some Fontana cheese which tastes a little like cheddar and worked just as well, they loved it. Soon it was time for the Sunday night program, Ceasaroni. It was in Italian, but easy for us to follow and very funny, just like any other comedy show in the states like Friends or Will and Grace. Soon we were getting sleepy and off to bed after a long day.

Cactus

Grapefruit

Jasmine

Lily

Lily pad

Lyn touching the tree, be careful

More flowers

Steak

Steak dinner with the Micciche Family