Goodbye Sicily……..and a day at sea

Note: This one is posting late due to painfully slow wireless connection on our ship. Charlie and I were able to find an Apple Store upon arrival in Nice this afternoon. His computer is being repaired as I type this.  I’m taking full advantage of there awesome wireless:-) We have four  more days until we arrive in Florence.  I will try to post again, but don’t be surprised if we’re quiet for a while.

Thursday morning, we were once again blessed with a late morning departure from the Royal Clipper which came alongside the pier in Palermo around 10 am . Palermo is known for beautiful, sunny skies. To quote our local guide, Pinot, “Apollo did not disappoint us today.” Despite the bright sunshine, the gentle breeze from the ocean kept the temperature moderate. After a drive through the Old City–including a visit to the bustling market, we traveled into the mountains to the little town of Monreale. There we visited the Monreale Cathedral where we were dazzled by the beautiful gold mosaics that lined the interior. We returned to Palermo this afternoon and spent the remainder of the day just walking the streets and taking in the sights.  We took a break at a sidewalk cafe and enjoyed some of the local cuisine and wine before eventually making our way back to the ship around 5pm.  We sailed from Palermo late Thursday night, and we are now sailing  northeast toward Sardinia and Corsica.

Yesterday was our second, and last, sea day for this cruise. I believe we made the most of it….sleeping late, enjoying a leisurely breakfast, and just enjoying the the relaxed pace of a day at sea. I actually read an entire book, and Charlie had a ball taking photos of the boat under full sail. Today we are anchored off the coast of Sardinia and preparing to catch the tender boat later this morning. We are looking forward to a driving tour of Costa Smeralda, a popular resort area for the rich and famous.   As usual, we are also looking forward to the opportunity to sample more local cuisine and “beverages.”   More to follow. Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with a few highlights from Palermo and our day at sea.

Capers grow wild here.

The morning market in Palermo…..our favorite foods…octopus and calamari!