![\"\"](\"http:\/\/pisarro.org\/aboutnick\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DSG_4394.jpg\")
<\/a>Nick and I\u00a0decided to try to walk to the Archives to try to find someone who could help me with research.\u00a0Unfortunately, we couldn’t find\u00a0the address we had. Instead, we decided to see one of the highlighted sites of Palermo, the Cathedral, which was about half\u00a0a mile away. We found that\u00a0it has suffered from being built and rebuilt several times. We discovered that the Capella Palatina, also a recommended site, was nearby, although in reality,\u00a0it was not as near as we thought it would be. It was truly beautiful. Every inch is inlaid with precious stones. The mosaics were the work of highly skilled Greek artisans brought to Palermo\u00a0by Roger II in 1140. The building also has a gorgeous painted wooden ceiling. This was well worth a visit!<\/p>\nUnfortunately, by this time my back was talking to me. Nick decided to hire a vehicle to take us back to our hotel. The vehicle resembled a horse drawn carriage, except the it had a motor. \u00a0The driver discovered that the direct route \u00a0to our hotel was closed. He proceeded to enter into winding alleys up\u00a0hills. Did I mention that the vehicle had no springs? We went over the worst bumps making hairpin turns. \u00a0I shouted,\u00a0“Just kill me now!” Then I \u00a0screamed, “STOP!” Silently I prayed to St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers, who \u00a0rescued\u00a0me several years ago while we were traveling and I was experiencing severe back pain. I know you are probably skeptical, so I’ll share the story. \u00a0At that time, we were on a tube (subway) in London, and I prayed to St. Christopher for help. When we exited the tube, there was a plaque of St. Christopher in the sidewalk, and behind it was an Italian restaurant. We went right inside. Nick asked the waiter to bring risotto quickly. When I finished eating, my back pain was gone.<\/p>\n
Back to Palermo.\u00a0 Nick and the driver lifted me \u00a0from the vehicle to the ground. \u00a0What a relief! I took a slow, tentative step. Then another. I took two quicker steps. I was completely free of pain! Thank you again, Saint Christopher!<\/p>\n
Our group\u00a0had dinner together at a restaurant called Carlos V. We all enjoyed pasta, grilled veggies, salad, cassata, and a digestif.<\/p>\n This day, we walked 14,399 steps!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Our tour was to start at 3 PM that afternoon. At breakfast we met another couple who \u00a0had arrived early, Barbara and Bob from California. We \u00a0discovered that Bob is of Arberesh ancestry, as is\u00a0Nick. Although NIck’s father was from Calabria, there is a large Arberesh community in Sicily, where Bob’s ancestors originated. \u00a0We have … Continue reading Sicily, Day 6- November 22, 2016<\/span> <\/a>At 3 PM, our tour began. We met our tour guide, Susanna, and the other 23 members of our tour group, who were from all over the US,\u00a0with\u00a0two couples from Canada. Together\u00a0we walked to the Oratorio di San Lorenzo. We had no problem with seeing the oratorio again, \u00a0because we knew from past experience that we would discover different things at the second viewing. We learned that the \u00a0statues of\u00a0cherubs we had seen previously and assumed were marble, were actually stucco. \u00a0Unfortunately, no photos are allowed.<\/p>\n<\/a>Our next visit was to Palazzo Conte Federico. Federico was a direct descendent of Emperor Frederick II, who ruled Palermo in the 13th century. The Contessa Federico, herself,\u00a0guided us through\u00a0their magnificent home. <\/a>She didn’t merely show us around. In each room she shared\u00a0personal stories about herself, the history of the palazzo and the Federico family. This experience was one of the highlights of the Rick Steves tour. Obviously, it took a fortune to maintain such a dwelling, which is why the count and countess\u00a0open their home for tours. As a climax to our visit, she sang an Italian aria to us while we sipped\u00a0Prosecco.<\/a><\/p>\n