Thunderstorms/ heavy rain= delayed

start     The skies clear   Destination Castellamare del Golfo-Roots made dormant by an  ” Americani” lifestyle rise to the surface as he visits the Cannone homeland. We park by the shore- a fisherman’s paradise.  On Italian soil one is welcomed like a prodigal son .  A feeling of Deja vu- encompasses him as-he strolls the same pathways as his relatives did.  A huge fort at the harbor‘s end is an historic landmark.  The Italians here resemble his family members - a sense of belonging encompasses him.  We linger and he embraces this special moment and place.

   We lunch seaside at Victus , trattoria is filled with locals. They speak to us in Italian.  We try our best to communicate. Pasta pomodoro/pasta trapanese. 

     Late afternoon we head upward to Erice via a long, steep funicular ride.  The town is shrouded by the clouds- a sea mist blankets the views.  We walk through the spider like alleys, winding our way through this walled medieval village.  Unusual courtyards, slim passageways, carved doors , churches and ancient steps slow our pace.   Pasticceria Maria Grammatico,  beckons us. The owner was sent to a convent in the 50’s, she learned to bake there and then opened this small store.  It is jammed, we select cannoli  and  “tette delle monache”  cookies (nuns breasts) . They wrap them for takeaway.   The cable car is bathed in moisture- no visibility- so we unwrap this sugary present and enjoy it on  the ride down.

  “ Pieno come un uovo” filled as an egg- the place is filled to the limit