By Day 3ish Gregor was driving like a local. Lanes? Traffic lights? Stop signs? Non ti preoccupare, as the Italians would say.

Just as well because we had planned to meet my sister and her family in Palermo and then head off on a road trip around the island. Driving in Sicily is not for the faint hearted!

Palermo is another interesting city, and the capital of Sicily. Apple Maps doesn’t work there. As we discovered when it told us to turn right into a pedestrian street. I felt vindicated though. I’ve always felt Apple Maps are crap. (There were several more times on our trip this happened because ‘someone’ insisted on using them 🙄). #googlemapsworkeverytime

Anyways, I digress. Palermo. Rich in history, an eye watering number of statues – almost literally on every street!

One day I took my niece and nephew on a quest through the city, just for fun. We discovered a secret bakery where you can get cannoli and other delicious pastries.

Called I Segreti del Chiostro, the bakery was originally staffed by the nuns of the Santa Caterina monastery. Legend has it that Sister Rosalia invented the desserts to cheer up the other nuns. Each recipe was a coded emotion. I think we overwhelmingly felt joy when we ate them!

We passed these signs as we wandered the streets, and I wondered what the universe was trying to tell me!

I think this one was a prophecy…

We visited the market, stocked up on sundried tomatoes (that tasted just like the ones my Nonna used to make) and olives, and fruit from this lovely fellow who insisted I try everything. I walked away with 2kg of the most delicious things!

A few days later we were off again. We admired the breathtaking views at Castellmare del Golfo…

And stood on the western most point of Sicily at Marsala…

We finally arrived at Agrigento, home to the ancient Greek temples, which we visited the following day. It was so hot walking around there but worth to visit.

Next stop Palazzolo Acreide for the Festa de San Paolo and a revisit of my family heritage.