Marsala

Today it was sunny so we headed off to Marsala to see the city center.  On our way around, looking for a parking space on a busy Saturday when parts of the center were closed to traffic we ended up down by the bay and literally stumbled on the point where Garibaldi landed with his Mille, redshirts to start the fight for the liberation of Italy from the Spanish Bourbons.

The monument.  It also recognizes this point as the place were the 3rd Punic War invasion occured

Capa Lylibeo, the actual point of land Garibaldi's troops landed at.

The island of Favignana

Isola Grande from the Capa Lilybeo.  This forms the harbor for Marsala

We found a place to park near the gate by the Cheisa Madre, the main church in the old city.  As we approached the church we saw a crowd out front.  At first we thought that we had happened on a wedding.  We've seen a few that way.  One was at the cathedral in Siracusa's Ortega and it was a major affair.  They even had the city's band there to play after the wedding. 

We soon realized it was a funeral.  The church must have been full of mourners.  It was a funeral for a child.  So sad.  We spoke with the custodian after he let us take some photos before closing the church for the afternoon.  The child was only 6 years old and had died from a brain cancer.  We'd much rather have happened onto a wedding, but that's life.

The gate we entered by.

Municipal garden just inside the gate

Chiesa Madre interior.  We did not have much time since the custodian was waiting to close the church.

Square in front of Chiesa Madre

Site of 500 AD church, S. Gerliamo(?)

The Jesuit church and college.  They're everywhere.

This bridge joins two palazzo's that form the Best Western in Marsala.

After wandering for a couple hours we needed to have lunch.  So far on this trip we have eaten at a restaurant only twice, both times for lunch, since we are cooking breakfast and dinner at Verditecnica.  Today we stopped at il Girasole Rosticceria di La Vecchia.  A small place, family run with momma in the kitchen and babbo waiting tables.  We had the fish couscous, the house specialty.  Actually, we split it since couscous is nasty to bloodsugars.  This was the first time in eleven years that I've eaten fish couscous.  Our host Toto told us when we returned that the province of Trapani is famous for it's fish couscous.  A split bottle of Nero d'Avola, aqua frizzante, some wonderful marinated olives and the best fried ricotta ravioli for dolci.  The dolci had cannoli filling, with chocolate pieces.  Certainly a place to find if you ever visit.

La Vecchia's proprietor.

Tomorrow we are off to Bolognetta on our way to Marzi, Calabria.  We're staying at Home from Home to see Katherine and Toto, whom we haven't seen in about 5 years.  We didn't have time to get there when we were here after Rae's graduation in Malta.  On Monday we drive to Messina and catch a ferry to the mainland, then drive about 3 hours to get to Marzi, which is about 15 km south of Cosenza in the Silla, the largest forested mountains left in Italy.  Marzi's about 3000' in elevation so we're taking real winter clothes.  I should call Franco tomorrow and make sure he's turned on the heat in the room.  These brick and concrete houses take 3 days to warm up.

That's it for today.  If there's decent wireless I'll try to post some more over the next 4-5 days.  Otherwise, niente till we get back to Verditecnica.  

Ciao.