Camping Sanfelippo – just outside Cefalu

Set off for Monreale this morning after saying goodbye to Catherine and Steve, who very kindly stocked us up with wine as thanks for Guy’s endeavours yesterday! This couple have been through Albania and all the way to Istanbul…cannot begin to imagine the roads or the traffic there! We had decided to give Palermo a miss as it’s described in the Rough Guide as ‘chaotic, filthy and with the some of the most anarchic driving in Europe – not for the faint hearted’. The driving bit was in evidence even on the ring road. We took a wrong turn and ended up at Brands Hatch – no white lines, just a crazy mad free for all with the obligatory double parking and cutting in thrown into the mix. Somehow, we got out alive and managed to park by the road on the way in to Monreale, which stands on a hillside high above Palermo. Amazing views over the city. We tried to get into the impressive Norman cathedral but it was closed for lunch. Had a walk around the cloisters instead which was well worth doing. All the columns were decorated differently – some very clever stuff. We had noticed that the grass in the middle was a bit overgrown, but as we walked out I heard a very well spoken Englishman ask at the desk “Can you tell me who is responsible for the upkeep of the ‘grarse’?” Think he was about to put them on a PDP! 😂 Outside, we saw another wedding – always good for 10 minutes looking at all the stylishly dressed guests. On the way back to the van, we passed a fish shop where a man was carving up a huge tuna, then two doors down, another chap sat quietly making a piece of art out of a watermelon! It was one of those days when we couldn’t find anywhere to stop for lunch and it was already 3:30! Pulled in at a campsite that was full so ended up at the side of the road for a much needed coffee. Finally got to this site, which is lovely -apart from 3 minute showers. Two minutes to sort the temperature out, one minute covered in shower gel…oh!