Tomorrow is a sea day! Yeah

Busy day in Trapani Sicily

The sail in, again, was with little islands here and there. The harbor is a nice cozy little place and we were docked with little fan fare. Our tour left quickly to

A highlight tour of the city. Lots of statues of Garibaldi who saved the city in olden days. A tour of the Papi Museum with so many gorgeous and interesting things to see. Statues, miniatures, gorgeous oil paintings, church areas, vestments, church utensils made out of coral, and so much more too much to detail.

City walk

We winded our way through these ancient streets with their magnificent buildings. Eventually we encountered yet one more: ABC (another bloody church) and it was being decorated for Holy Week. So many people there working hard on these altars that men carry through the streets. Flowers everywhere. And again magnificent architecture, paintings, sculptures, and so much more.

Eventually we were let loose and we picked up some post cards so Lisa could catch up with friends and family. Ed bought a bottle of marsala wine and some other knick knacks and asked for a recommendation for a restaurant which was given.

Lunch search

So the restaurant was at the end farthest from where we were near the fish market. With Lisa in the lead (as Ed’s sense of direction abandons him more frequently these days and of course I don’t know directions.

We find this restaurant. It is too hot inside and outside has no covering from the blistering sun. So we sat in the shade and froze. The menu is all in Italian and the servers knew very little English. We reminded them that we should be speaking Italian. Lisa and I had Insalata Caprese which I loved with just ripe tomatoes, great fresh basil, olive oil and balsalmic vinegar and their version of mozzarella which was fine with me but not so much fun for Lisa (So I ate hers too). Ed had the catch of the day which he loved.

And we are off

In search of cannoli for which this area is known. So we saunter along the seaside where we find quasi sun bathers out on these craggy rocks but with pure clear water all around. Eventually we were back in the middle of the old part of the city and searching for cannaloni which no one had.

ABC

There was a church of San Lorenzo I wanted to see. All of these old churches seem to be so well kept up and since it is Holy Week, there are special preparations going on. Eventually we found a place with cannoli and Ed and I each ordered one. Lisa ordered de caf coffee.

Well this is not LA Cannoli! It was about 4 inches round, friend, and stuffed with a very rich, creamy ricotta cheese. We should have shared just one among the three of us. Lisa’s “decaf” (clearly a translation error here) was about 2 TBSP of something grainy that would grow hair on your chest accompanied by a small square of chocolate. Ed finished it for her.

Rumors

We had heard they were going to have a procession carrying an altar through the street. BUT no one really knew where this would start nor at precisely what time. So with Lisa leading the way to the church we thought was doing it, we encountered the musicians gathering and joined the other plastered up on the walls alongside the very narrow street.

Small children were dressed up in these cloaks with a design on them, rocking back and forth to the dirge coming from far away. When this procession moved, it crawled. Women were hanging out of windows watching this procession from on high.

It was great fun. Men dressed in black business suits followed the banners and the priest and two acolytes came by with the priest saying prayers in Latin (or Italian: same difference) through a bull horn. The length of the procession wasn’t very long but it was very slow.

The altar approached beautifully decorated with Easter lilies and carried by at least 12 (strong?) men. We are told this will go on all week. We felt very lucky to have encountered it.

Back to ship

Winding our way through the maritime building and the souvenir shops but we did pick up a few things from a nice lady who looked very Italian.

Sail away

Viewed from our dinner table. Lots of islands all around. Pilot boat made a clean sweep to take the pilot away and quickly we were in open seas again.

Entertainment

Lisa and I were tired but Ed went down to the singer who is today’s Judy Garland. Since I don’t especially like Judy Garland, I didn’t go but he came back with a glowing assessment and he’s also going to the second show. I’m still staying here…smile.

The men we see on these voyages

A side observation, especially in the Arabic and Mediterranean areas. You see the women carrying baskets with foodstuffs or those little rolling carts but otherwise they are not present on the street. Occasionally one with a child.

But the men: well what DO they do?? All we can recall is drinking coffee and talking with great gestures. Now and then you see a cop (male) and so forth but really: where are the working men?