The China Berry tree, known here as Rosary Tree ( seeds are used to make rosaries) line, most of Palermo’s city streets and provide welcome shade on the hot summer days.
When the Arabs took control of Palermo in 832, they transformed the Byzantine basilica standing on this spot into a mosque and banished the Bishop of Palermo from town. Some 240 years later, in 1072, the Normans drove the Arabs from Sicily, establishing Palermo as their capital and re-consecrating the cathedral. Therefore, Palermo cathedral is the most arabesque looking cathedral I’ve ever seen. As an architectural complex, it is characterized by many different styles, due to a long history of additions, alterations and restorations, the last of which occurred in the 18th century.
Eating our way around Sicily.
Sardines Beccafico – a Sicilian specialty
The Palermo Opera House is the largest opera house in Italy, and third in size after the Paris Opera and Staatsoper in Vienna.
Mamma Mia! The produce and fish in the market were a sight to behold. Fennel, radicchio, and cauliflower bigger than I’ve ever seen. ….. and the delicious blood oranges! Which is squeezed into a deep red juice!
A huge array of fresh caught fish – from big tuna and swordfish to sardines, prawns, mussels, clams and, of course, octopus.
We arrived after 24 hours of traveling (without sleep for me!) and after checking in to our lodging at B&B Tancredi we set off to explore part of this lovely town which perches on cliffs above the Mediterranean and with Mount Etna hovering nearby.
Photos only – info later!
A fly by of Mount Etna as we approached CataniaTancredi B&BAlleys and vistasEver present Mount Etna (10,912 feet)Plazas and streetsDinner at Osteria Rita – fabulous
A long weekend full of good times spent at a lovely airbnb in Vieux-Limoilou district of Quebec City. Just a short five-hour drive and we are immersed in a quasi european environment.
We’ve been many times, but this time we focused on eating really good food in good restaurants – and they did not fail us!
First of all on the evening we arrived at BEClub Bistro where we had Lake Walleye, Bison ribs, pasta and delicious desserts.
Views from The Plains of Abraham on a very brisk morning.
The next day we took a tour of the Quebec Parliament, which was very interesting and housed in a beautiful late 19th century building.
We loved their very red restrooms!
We ate a delicious and very leisurely lunch in the Restaurant Le Parlementaire.
wild mushrooms on brioche bread with poached egg
cod with leeks and parsnips
venison with root vegetables
To walk off the lunch we headed to Old Quebec to visit the Christmas market. Lo and behold we saw that the toboggan run was open! After short deliberations, Sue, myself, Judy and Rick decided to give it a try. We were told the toboggans were for four people and so Rick hauled ours up the slope to the top of the run. Well – maybe four small people!!! I was on the back and thought I was going to slide off or throttle Sue as we sped at possibly 70kmh (43.5mph) for probably all of two minutes to the bottom! Sue and I are both too long-legged to fit with two others on one toboggan!!! Next time just two per toboggan!
others coming down
view from half way up
us!!!!!!
To calm our nerves we had a glass of gluhwein in the Christmas market and amused ourselves taking silly photos!
Back at the airbnb
Sights around Old Quebec with Chateau Frontenac almost always visible.
Creche in Anglican Cathedral
Notre Dame
Notre Dame
Our final dinner was at Rioux & Pettigrew and turned out to be an amazing experience. We had the option of choosing from the small select menu or having the pris fixe menu ($79CDN) with the caveat that we ALL had to go with it and that we would NOT know what was going to be served. The waitress asked about any allergies or major dislikes. What an unbelievably lovely and absolutely delicious four courses we had!
Sights around Old Quebec with Chateau Frontenac almost always visible.
