01.20.07

Palermo, Sicily

If you haven't read the lengthy Siracusa blog be sure and check it out and get a few laughs. Also since I had no wifi the pictures backed up so check out the 18th, 19th and 20th pictures...the 20 are really good of the little paradise

What an incredible day yesterday.I left Marsala where I had spent the night after covering the southern coast of the island which really was not that interesting and decided to hit the very next hostel that I could find. The last two nights where spent in very expensive hotels that offered little comfort for the money spent.It is a good thing I had decided to head to the next hostel because I found paradise in Sicily for only 18 euros a night! But let me tell you first about this incredible day that was topped off with some amazing accommodations.

The next youth hostel run by Hostelling International, which is basically like a chain of hostels, on my map was located just west of Palermo which I first though as a good thing because Palermo was supposed to be just another Naples and we know how I enjoyed that experience.Before I left Marsala I had already decided to stay two nights in the next place I came to get some rest and not travel on Sunday when everything shuts down even the gas stations.

Oh that reminds me about last Sunday.A quick aside that is sure to make you laugh.As explained above everything is closed on Sundays.The fuel stations which are technically usable 24hrs by automation revert to their automated state on Sunday.That means if you want fuel you have to go to this little box, put your money in and then select the pump and presto fuel.The only hitch to this seemingly simple operation is the automated machine does not give change and unless you know exactly how much you need you are screwed either by paying for more fuel than you can take on or you are left with only half a tank because you under estimate.As I have no fuel gauge it is important for me to fill up at each station and calculate the miles.So now the second issue, if you only have a 20 euro bill and your bike has never taken more than 13 euros what do you do, and keep in mind EVERYTHING is closed so there is no getting change anywhere!Well you guessed it, you take on 13 euros of fuel and pay 20 euros for it!Ouch that hurt, but what can you do.What a scam!Couldn't they figure out how to give you change or something?So I was definitely not going to pay 20 euros for another tank of fuel so decided I definitely needed to take the day of rest seriously and just rest.Well, as you know the title of this section of my journey is "called by God and led by the Spirit".Well you never know what the old man upstairs has up his sleeve when he puts thoughts into your head.

So a short 2 hour bike ride from Marsala to the hostel where I found it closed until 3:30.No big deal I would just hang out and check out Palermo a little maybe or the little town the hostel was located in.In my usual manner I followed the water line turning at every street that took me closer to the coast and made my way around this huge rock.Pretty amazing what you find at the end of some of these roads.I found this amazing park called Cape Gallo.I just so happened to be lunch time so I packed my back pack and headed out for a hike around the cliffs of Cape Gallo with a high perch picnic site in mind.

WOW I have never been so SCARED in my life.In my quest to get beyond where humans are allowed to go I found myself clinging to the side of the cliffs like a mountain goat only I am not nearly as sure footed.I wanted to make it all the way around and decided to take the path less traveled or rather I should say there was no path.Well I came to some pretty crazy cliff sides that looked impossible, but I did it.Well at a point I could go no further I turned around and realized I had to get back!This was a little more challenging than I though and I literally came to a section that I though was impossible and was pondering what I would do if I could not make it.Could I signal a boat, could I swim around?All these thoughts were going through my mind and then I started to climb.I was shivering and almost gave in to my fear several times, but I made it.I did it.I had accomplished what I thought was impossible.I had not fallen off the side of the cliff to certain death.Mind you my hands were a little cut and arms a little scratched from the rocky crags and sharp undergrowth, but I was alive.Now you might thing oh this is silly, alive, yes alive.Looking back I should not have done what I did alone with no one knowing where I was except maybe that my bike was parked at the gate and hopefully someone would have come sometime.I should never have pushed myself to make it around and should not have put myself in that sort of danger at this juncture.So having said that and realized that, there is something incredible about the human spirit when push comes to shove.I don't think I have ever tested myself like this before.I don't think I have ever been put in such a fearful position where I truly wanted just to make it out alive.I overcame a fear of heights, a fear of dying, of not being able to do it and just did.I made it.I know I did not make it alone though because as I prayed I felt a hand watching over me and giving me the peace and ability to suppress those fears and just get on with it.So what looked like and maybe what was the stupidest thing I have done, as if riding a motorcycle around Europe wasn't crazy enough, was really an incredible awakening within me.An awakening of an awareness of fear and overcoming it and knowing that there is a hand watching over you even if the end is to come.Guess God just wasn't ready for me yet.So be sure to check out the pictures of the crazy cliff sides I was climbing on.I think the most difficult parts I was not thinking about a camera.

As if this exhilarating experience wasn't enough for one day, I ended up finding an incredible perch high above with a panoramic view that was not as tricky to get to and had an incredible lunch.Of course my usual peanut butter and honey sandwich with accoutrements.It was nice to sit and relax and finally stop quivering.

And as if that was not enough, I arrived back at the hostel to check in and see where I would be spending the next two nights.Well, simply put, paradise in Sicily.The pictures are the only thing that will do my description justice.Amazing views, simple comfort and the town a beach walk away for dinner and church.

After settling in I headed to town to figure out the church service schedule and bring dinner back to my porch and amazing view.When I arrived back I found a roommate had moved in and was sitting on the porch playing the guitar.What a crazy day and it just keeps getting better. So a dinner time conversation and a little guitar with my German roommate, Rolf.After dinner I settled in to a movie that I had downloaded several days before and thought about the next day and what I would do.

Well today was pure relaxation in my little Sicily paradise.I woke up to the sun rising over the mountain, lazily got up and made my way into town for an incredible morning church service and then back to a rocky crag off the beach where I spent the majority of today reading and picnicing.I actually waded across to find my little perch and just lay in the sun enjoying the sound of the water lapping against the rocks.After a little reading, I took an afternoon nap and now I am sitting on the porch as the sun goes down and the stars try and peak through the clouds, recounting the incredible past two days and past 4 months.

What an amazing day yesterday and what an even more amazing day today. I had no idea what I was in for when I decided back in Marsala to stay two nights here.I have actually decided to stay 3 and just hang out.Tomorrow, I will wash the bike and get her all tuned up and ready for the next leg of the journey back up the Italian peninsula.I have a mountain road to head up to get my ever famous view from above pictures.Then it is back on the road to see what next is in store for me.