May 29th: Palermo awesomeness

Today was an interesting day to say the least. We had church out in the hotel's courtyard. It was good - people could hear us singing and came out to see what was going on. Then we went to the Benedictine Monastery and Cathedral to look at the cloister (the column tops). I found one that I'm pretty sure was Zaccheus climbing in a tree to see Jesus in the crowd! So, knowing me, I definitely broke out in the song in the middle of this courtyard monastery thing :D. Then we went into that cathedral and it was pretty as usual! Some guy was talking, but it wasn't mass so it was all good. Then we visited the Cappucin crypt and that was a very sobering, creepy experience. They had bodies hung up on the walls and in boxes, etc. of people from theo 1500s - 1920. All were in varying stages of decomp, but some were extremely well preserved. Then we saw another cathedral, but the tombs in it were closed :( then we rode the "crazy train" which was basically a tour of the city that consisted of them playing fun music and us all dancing and getting excited when people on the streets would dance too. It was a big soccer match there that day so there were people everywhere! Also there was a US navy boat in port there so there were our sailors everywhere, which is what made the day an interesting experience. At one point to get them to stop following us/approaching us, my friend Susan and I decided to hold hands as if we were lesbians. But it worked! They said, "Aw man forget it they're not like that..." ;). Then that night we were ON A BOAT! Basically a ghetto cruise. It was fine though.