Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the 3rd Rotaract district meeting of the year which was held in Palermo Sicily. It was my first time to Sicily and my first district event - I can't wait for the next one! We left Valletta on the catamaran at 5am. It was the first time I have travelled by catamaran and the journey felt much smoother than the ferries I have been on. I tried to sleep during the trip but the excitement of a new form of travel and a desperate attempt to learn some basic Italian from a Lonely planet phrasebook kept me awake.
We arrived in Pozzallo at around 7.30am (the crossing takes a little longer in winter due to the sea being a bit choppier) and were met by a Rotarian from Modica called Filippo who kindly took us for breakfast (a deliciously frothy cappucino and a sweet ricotta-filled croissant - a 'cornetto') and then drove us the length of Sicily to Palermo (see map above).
On arrival in Palermo we went to the city's beach resort called Mondello for a delicious lunch in a seafront restaurant: fresh fruita di mare antipasta, a first plate of pasta with sea urchins followed by a second plate of pasta and part of a lobster who we had seen swimming around a tank an hour or so before!
After eating significantly more than my stomach is used to, I crawled back to the car. We were then taken to our hotel in central Palermo where the district assembly was being held.
In the evening everyone got 'suited and booted' for a delicious Gala Dinner in the city hall across the road from the hotel. It is customary for diners to wander around between courses and toast at each table.
On arrival in Palermo we went to the city's beach resort called Mondello for a delicious lunch in a seafront restaurant: fresh fruita di mare antipasta, a first plate of pasta with sea urchins followed by a second plate of pasta and part of a lobster who we had seen swimming around a tank an hour or so before!
After eating significantly more than my stomach is used to, I crawled back to the car. We were then taken to our hotel in central Palermo where the district assembly was being held.
In the evening everyone got 'suited and booted' for a delicious Gala Dinner in the city hall across the road from the hotel. It is customary for diners to wander around between courses and toast at each table.
'Cin cin!'
After the dinner there was a disco after which a group of us went for a walk around the city to see 'Palermo by Night' before heading to a bar.
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