Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Trip Report Sicily 2002

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Sicily 2002 - A Trip of Miracles

As more folks are planning trips to Sicily, I keep wishing I had been a participant with Fodor's at the time DH and I visited that amazing place. We traveled from Palermo to Siracusa by bus, then took the train to Sorrento. Although we missed the Villa del Casale because of bus/timing problems, I beseech you to google it.

I always made scrapbooks of our trips. At that time, my camera was a lumex whose film was little disks! I have scanned the pages and will experiment on the first day to see if you can read the jpgs and even think it's worth doing! I will scan the Monreale photos--another must see in the Palermo area

Here goes:

The uploads didn't go in exact order. We took a bus from the Palermo airport to a stop near our hotel. This was our room and when I realized I'd left my duffel on the bus!
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...12c900e37c.jpg

Our flights were from Dulles to Heathrow to Rome to Palermo. Boy we had to power walk to catch the Palermo plane but we made it:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...24df2d5d62.jpg

From the hotel:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6919eeaa6f.jpg

We unpacked and taxied to the massive Cathedral:
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5d943d0254.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...96ebf3fd5f.jpg

From the Cathedral, we walked through a lovely park on our way to Capella Palatino:
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...020b3b7405.jpg

It was very dark (and my camera sucked by today's digital standards) but this was another 'don't miss' IMO:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...848f51cae3.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ae21c80067.jpg

Back to the hotel:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...044e6e6cf2.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...665c32cce6.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b4aa968515.jpg

That was a real treat, TDudette. Thank you!

TDudette: You are a darling! I am one of those that had to cancel a trip to Sicily, so I will relish reading this tonight.

BTW, you were the one to convince me that travel through Umbria could be done by Public Transportation, and I planned my trip based on your Trip Report a few years earlier

Best regards … Ger :)

Merci, mes amies! I'll add some more and try to drop out the scrapbook backing! Sorry for the small type--I could read it in 2002. :B

This is delightful! I’m so many ways, I miss making these travel albums. This is so much fun to see! One of my favorite places was the Capella Palatina. The mosaics are breathtaking.

Thanks, Progol. Palatine was exquisite.

Will add Montreale tomorrow. The first miracle of the trip was making the connection in Rome with the Palermo plane; luggage following on the third leg even more amazing.

Thank you TDudette for this fun treat! Lovely memories for you and enjoyment for us.
Cappella Palatina was a real highlight for me. I liked it more than Monreale, maybe because of the smaller scale. I liked the cloisters at Monreale the best.

Thanks, Dayle. I don't remember why we didn't get inside the cloisters at Monreale but I agree about Palatina being more beautiful.

OK, here we are waiting for the plane--that file didn't get loaded. I tried clearing the background but often made typing unclear as well so just made a background to the small type:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...dbb6446686.jpg

Day 2 was our visit to Monreale and Mondello. Another miracle was that someone turned in my duffel bag. She calls a cab to take us to the bus garage. BTW, we ate breakfast at the hotel. Can someone say if the bus companies have streamlined things since 2002?!

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f55c60eb07.jpg

Stefano will take us to Monreale! Shots from the taxi:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...827e4d8308.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...07e904590d.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...630ac3c367.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d33b5eb3d8.jpg

TDudette, your lovely trip report is bringing back lots of good memories. Thank you for sharing it!

Thank you, bon-voyage! When did you go?

We went in May 2010, TDudette. It was a birthday celebration and our last family vacation abroad.

Loving your TR and photos! Isnt it wonderful to have these memories? I too !oved that lapis alter in Montorada!
And, you did make it to the cloisters at Monreale! Picture of Rhody in front of the highly decorated column is inthe cloisters. There is a lovely small fountain at one corner......Rhody was a handsome guy. 😉

Grazie mille for sharing this with us. I love the photo album style!

Ahh TDudette Sicily remains my favorite place. We visited first in 2010, then again in 2016. I would always welcome a chance to go back and explore more.

Thanks, Dayle. Yes, these great memories make me more grateful than sad. We didn't go inside the cloisters though.

natylou, we for sure missed a lot. We wanted to base in Catania but couldn't find a room.

OK, Day 3 is Agrigento:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...7f51895fef.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...210f770dff.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8bfb2bee97.jpg

After we looked at the ruins, we returned to the town and walked to the top. I remember thinking it must be a nice place to live. Please ignore the very faded ticket below. Getting on the bus back was a hoot! No one lined up--we all just pushed! After queueing up in London, I was appalled. Have things changed? https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...bf9bf1a490.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...543aab63e1.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...418b218685.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...37fd83d145.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...27ac9a563c.jpg
Siracusa tomorrow.