Noto

Noto is a special little Sicilian town that was having a very busy, warm Sunday. We started the day with a glorious breakfast in our room as only the Italians can with a perfect dish for every item and the most glorious orange juice on the planet.

We headed out, duly fortified, and what did we find? A car show!

An almond granita, another cappuccino, and we were off to Palazzo Costaluccio for a private tour. Little did we know that the Palazzo had been given to the Order of Malta 40 years ago! Blessedly bought in 2011 by a French film maker, it has been brought to life. For your ogling pleasure

The church, a walk down Corso Vittorio Emanuele, a look at some ceramics, a light Sicilian lunch of orange salad, sardine beccafico, and tomato’s with ricotta salata, we headed back to OUR palazzo for a snooze. Brad is getting into this Mediterranean lifestyle.

Another walk, up hills, more churches, more baroque palazzos, a garden, some almonds…. Then another rest to dress for dinner.

Noto is an interesting town. It has these beautiful palazzos, excellent restaurants, gorgeous churches and municipal buildings, but it has a really large poor population. These jewel structures are in amongst some very run down buildings with old fashioned TV antennas and rusted satellite dishes. It reminds me very much of Romania. There are not many jobs for the people, the government handouts are an education in graft, and the poor get poorer. I hope the tourism business turns this all around. At any rate,we did our part and went out for a fancy dinner (again).

Ridiculously good food at Ristorante Crosificcio. At 8:00 we were the first guests by 30 minutes. We were also better dressed than every one of the patrons that filled the restaurant by 9:30 when we left! What has happened to all the fashionistas? Jeans and white sneakers rule the world. We Principessas are a dying breed.

Oh, and Viva la France! Macron won!!!