A group of old fellows playing cards on the street just outside the gates of the Royal Palace.

CATANIA to PALERMO A 7.30am start on the train. As we meandered NW we caught our first glimpse of imposing Mt Etna with her snowy cap and the occasional little puff of smoke. The country side was fairly flat for the first hour or so with prickly pear plantations, canola and olive groves. There were cereal crops and it looked a bit like Tasmania with the odd flock of sheep and forests of eucalyptus trees. Many of the stone buildings appeared to be in ruin - w...

The inside of the Royal Palace Chapel.