Palermo, Sicily….. It may be unfair to think that this is the place reminds me of the Italian Mafia of “The Godfather” and at one point I crossed path eye to eye with what seemed to be a small private get together of older men reminescent of a scene from “The Godfather”. That didn’t last long.

The accommodations were provided by an airbnb.com landlord. A very nice place in an old world neighborhood with all the charm of a life well lived.

I was and still am, in awe of this place.

As I walked the streets at different hours, much like in the ruins of Pompeii, I sensed the spirit of those that walked, ran and played on these old cobble streets. Still traditions from the past loom large today.

One morning on a walk a very, very unique sight to me was happening but I’m sure an often repeated experience in this community. It was five floors up. There was an elderly woman with her scarf covered head pulling up a basket from the street below that had her days supply of grocery loaded by the owner of a local shop!! I did have my camera with me, but I was just so taken with the experience I was witnessing that it didn’t cross my mind to take that shot. I regret not getting a picture or video today.

Simply Palermo

There was a waterfront tourist district about 3 kilometers from my humble surroundings, which I visited once but much preferred Walking the streets and visiting the small businesses along with the sidewalk cafe’s for a relaxing sit with my cup of espresso and watch the world go bye. I don’t feel as if I lost out on not visiting any tourist sights, as I was experiencing the Italy that I wanted to experience.

Below the apartment I was in was a bustling marketplace…..both sides of the cobbled alley. That is where I had my pseudo Godfather moment. I was just minding my business looking in at the stores and the displays outside when I came upon the doorway….cloaked. A breeze of some sort moved the curtain revealing a green clothed table, surrounded by heavy elderly men playing cards and drinking wine. Now, I had my camera with me (I don’t leave home without it!). At the moment I put my hand on my camera to lift, the elderly gentleman (who seemed to be the head honcho of the group) made eye contact with me with a not so inviting look! I don’t have to tell you how swiftly I moved on and never looked that way again in the days to come. The chilling memory is enough!

There was a magic related to the area. I was floored to find out that the market was on a tour’s list of places to experience. But, this was these peoples everyday lives!!

Imagine if you will in the above picture, motor scooters weaving their way thru the crowd. That was an often repeated event. No cars. From ‘dawn’ to ‘dusk’. It’s an experience that I found priceless.

Once while walking the alley on the opposite side of the apartment I met an elderly woman who lives on the right side of the alley at the end….she was just sitting in a chair at the end of the alley and motioned for me to come to her.

Which I did. From there she took me to this small cubicle about 20 feet away. She knocked on the door and this young guy peeked out, they spoke in Italian back and forth. Turns out she wanted to talk to me and this young man spoke English, she was curious because she had seen me walking around so much….the young man became our interpreter.

That’s just Cool!!!

Up close and Personal in Palermo

I didn’t do something I wanted to do though…..her home (don’t think of a detached building for a home, she live on the bottom floor of a large apartment building where the upper floors are accessed by stairs on the inside of the building), I wanted to go inside and take pictures. I had a few peeks inside while walking by….it looked like something from back in the early 1900’s except for her TV that would’ve been from the 1950’s. That, would’ve been an exceptional experience.

I don’t leave much uncovered when it comes to getting to see a place up close. I want it to be personal to me, so much so that it’ll never escape my memory!

I ate too….. Pizza yep….Arancini di Riso, I became addicted!!! And this little bite, shown below.

Birra Epica Tifeo….I believe with a glass of red. Love it! To the right is Birra San Biagio….I believe. I had that one on the return visit, with a glass of red.

Needless to say, beer was involved. I like to try different things. I’ve not enough room to visit with you all the different beers, wines and foods that I experiemented with. Here’s Bruno Ribadi. Extremely heavy flavor to the last drop.

I think I found my future at the front door of a simple apartment in Palermo

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