Robyn's Travels - Where Am I Now?: Palermo, Sicilia

Today has had its disappointments and its benefits!

Disappointment because my plan was to get the bus to the Valley of the Temples and spend the day there. Fail.

I was going to walk to the train station to get the bus to the Valley but saw a bus stop so bought a ticket and got the bus to the train station. Then I wandered around for half an hour trying to find the freaking bus to the Valley. The chick at the info centre yesterday said the bus terminal is at the train station and it is easy to find the bus to the Valley. No it’s not.

I eventually saw a little office with a man sitting inside it so asked him where I caught the bus from, ‘it is right then it is left’. There was a line of about 8 buses, I eventually found the one I needed but the door was closed and there was no driver in sight BUT there were about 15 people waiting to get on the bus. 15 Italian men. Not one female. One was staring at me so I stood in a shop doorway just out of his sight. Then one started hissing – they actually hiss - like a snake - to get your attention! I’m starting to rethink my day. Then two of them start talking to each other and one starts murmuring and mumbling at me, so that was it. I turned around, went back to the train station and went in to the bar to have coffee, totally pissed and frustrated that these creeps are stopping me from doing what I want.

I walked in to the bar to see the guy behind the bar blowing his nose then wipe his hands on his pants and ‘prego’ me. I just groaned and walked out and thought, no, you can go ‘prego’ someone else because you are not making me coffee with those disgusting hands!

Off to McDonalds I go. I sit and drink my coffee, looking at my mappa to see what else I can do. Markets. But, before I left the station I checked the train time table to see if there are trains to the temples, yes there are but they take 3 hours there and 3 hours back (the bus was 1.5 hours) and I like to be back in my room by dark which would give me about half an hour at the temples. Frustrated as anything and really annoyed that I can’t do what I want to because of the creeps not making me feel safe, but accept that I need to be sensible and I just can’t go. Bastardi!!!!

So, off I went to the Ballaro Mercato, stopped at a café and had caffe there and watched the Palermo people going about their day – one guy was hawking his wares and was sing-songing what I thought was ‘bastardi, bastardi’ and I’m thinking you don’t know the half of it!! Then I looked at his stall, he was actually saying ‘Patate, Patate’!!

Ballaro Mercato

Patate!! Patate!! (Not Bastardi! Bastardi!)

Biscotti for sale - boxes and boxes of uncovered biscotti covered in flies for sale, I didn't buy any!

After the Ballaro Mercato, I found myself at the end of the Capo Mercato near my B & B, then turned and went to the Mercato Della Pulc which is lots of shops selling antiques. Considering my dramas with my case and sending things home and hauling bags across Italy, an antique is the last thing I need to buy right now!

After walking a bit further, I found a nice little pizzeria but it was too early for lunch and the staff were still having their lunch so I kept walking, found another place, they were open in 5 minuti – so I asked can I please just sit??? Certo signora, would you like a glass of aqua? ACQUA!!! Ha!!! bring me vino!! This was today's benefit - finding somewhere that has delicious food and they will bring me vino on demand!

I had a lovely lunch of prawn and buffalo mozzarella spaghetti con insalata mista and vino bianco. I am now back in my room, doing as the Italians do after lunch. I am resting.

A day in the life of a Palermoian