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 - we're thinking that they may have been bombed in WWII.
At one point there were about 20 small stone cottages that had a smaller outbuilding, about 200mts apart and all over the side of the hill - Ii wonder what their story is?!!!
We kept company with the autostrada for much of the way.
The last half hour of the journey followed the coast and we reached Palermo after almost 3 hours.
Our plan was to catch the 5.30 train back to Catania, giving us 7 hours. Fortunately we checked - no 5.30 train today!!! only 3.30.
We managed to visit the 12th century Royal Palace Palatine Chapel with its Byzantine, Islamic and Latin influences. It was interesting to see these elements coexisting. The mosaics, some quite tiny tiles on the walls and much larger ones on the walls, were quite beautiful.
Our visit to the royal apartments with its many halls once again showed the opulence of the ages through its portraits, frescos and chandeliers. Pretty stunning overall.
We had passed the Palermo Cathedral on the edge of the impressive Piazza della Cattedrale on our way to the palace but didn't stop - the palace closed at 1pm.
After the Palace visit we wandered around the streets heading back to the Cathedral (quite list if I'm honest!). We had a great lunch in a big square and listened to the street music. On to the Cathedral. Alas!! It was closed. We were so disappointed.
Our time was tuning out. We managed to take pics of the outside of some other imposing religious looking buildings. Must check them out in a book we bought today. Only one church was open, Santa Caterina. We checked that out and had another 'wow' moment. I've said before how amazingly different these churches are. It's Palm Sunday so folk are dressed in the best carrying olive branches - palm fri did decorate the front of all the churches.
That was all we had time for. Back on the train.