Well this is the second time I have written this, as the one I did last night disappeared and I was so miffed that I closed it up and went to sleep. We are now waiting at Naples airport, where some people are flying home, some swapping buses and some are transferred to Sorrento. We will be returning to Rome. It all looks very confusing but seems to be working as most things do, eventually, in Italy.

We began our day with a late breakfast and as we had a free morning, Edie wanted to show me the places she had discovered last night. So we just wandered around at our pace, bought a couple of things and eventually ended up at McDonalds for lunch. Some other people from our tour were also there enjoying a taste of home. We were back at the hotel by 1.00 for our 1.30 optional tour. Just as well as there was a long queue for the ladies toilet. It's the same the world over.

Our tour took us to the old part of town. Palermo is mainly a mix of Norman, Spanish and North African. The Greeks never ruled here. The Norman Palace was our first stop where we saw the amazing Palatine Chapel. It was simply stunning. Next we called at the Cathedral of Palermo where several kings and queens are buried, as well as Palermo's Patron Saint - Rosalie. Her story is too long to tell here, but briefly she is attributed with stopping The Plague in Palermo in the 1100's. She was a nun who lived and died in a grotto near the top of Mt Pelegrino. We did a quick whip around of a few other buildings and then headed out of town. September is the month of pilgrimage for Saint Rosalie and pilgrims walk up the hill to the church built over her grotto. The really devoted walk on their knees. The road is now paved with stones so this would be excruciating . It takes 2 hours to walk up and 1 1/2 to walk back down. We drove up but still had to climb the 49 steps leading to the church. The church is actually just a facade in front of the grotto (cave). Once inside, the whole back of the church is the grotto, which is now decorated with statues and alters. A spring of Holy Water is in the grotto and patrons fill bottles or simply sprinkle themselves with the water. Quite an experience, even for non Christians.

 Lastly, we were driven to a beach at Mondello, just 10 miles from the centre of Palermo. It's where the wealthy have their weekend villas, and some were really impressive. Summer finishes on 15th September, so the beach was being dismantled of its narrow wooden walkways, umbrellas, and any thing else associated with beach lounging. Unfortunately the bus could't stop, so we just had glimpses of the sandy beach.

We were back at the hotel by 6.00, where we had a farewell meeting with Loredana. Last minute instructions. Then it was off to the harbour to catch the overnight ferry to Naples which was leaving at 8.15. It was like a mini cruise ship. We had a cabin with twin beds, a large window, and a small bathroom with a shower. On the deck above there was a large lounge, a restaurant, a cafeteria, a shop, and a small cinema. We just had a snack from the cafeteria and then retired to our cabin. The ferry is due to dock in Naples at 6.30, so we need to be up at 5.30 in order to regroup in reception by 6.15.