No snow today!

Bon Giorno! The sun is shining this morning! Still chilly but who cares. Yesterday we took a drive to Corleone to see the Mafia but they must have been hiding. It's more towards the middle of the country so very different terrain.Quite mountainous and green. It was nice to see something different from coastline. Also saw Monreale. It's built  on the side of a mountain. Very busy and crowded. They say not to take your car there because you can't get parked but we thought they meant in the tourist season. Nope. Anyway yesterday was a much better day. Went for dinner at the Faro Blu and took some Spanish lessons from the owner's daughter. She thinks we are pretty funny. This place is the only place in Sicily that will feed us before 8:00. I told them that my bed time is 9:00. They thought that was funny too. Today I think we will attempt a train trip to Palermo. It will be nice (especially for Ian) to get out of the car. We have been strongly advised to keep all money, passports etc. in our front pockets as the pickpockets are pretty good at their craft. Also have been warned to get our train tickets stamped immediately on the train or the staff could fine us 50.00 euro each. (I think this is just a little income supplement) Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day and we will travel down to Catania and Taormina.Once that is done we will have seen everything that we really wanted to see here. Our little Pharmacist friend has told us that the weather is supposed to improve after today. Oh yes. Yesterday our little heater stopped working and we can't get hold of Pietro so it's a little chilly inside too. By the way Judy, Pam's computer can only get a signal outside so we bundle up and sit out on the patio to blog. We are now 9 hours ahead of you so we will try to see you on the cam around then. Pam just told me that Pietro is on his way to fix the heat. YEAH!! So we will keep in touch as best we can. Ruth, do you remember if there were internet places and cheap phone shops in Paris? They have internet here but it always seems to be closed. Like everything else. Nobody seems to work very much here. And there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to when they close. We are really looking forward to Paris and then being with Leslie. Tell Mom I will call from Leslie's. It will be good to here her voice again. as well as the rest of you. Arrivederci for now!!