#2 Palermo Sicily/Italy PROS and CONS

PALERMO SICILY

Two months ago we finally arrived to the stunning Italian island Sicily/Palermo.
If you are a fan of turquoise water, historic buildings, espresso and of course the best cuisine in the world... Follow me on my pros and cons travel blog. This time trough the pearl of Europe...Palermo.

Our airplane had just touched ground after a long and exhausting flight from Katmandu Nepal. Let me tell you we where trilled to finally arrive to this paradise like island. The weather was just perfect and after a couple of months in Nepal everything seemed so clean and organised.

Anyway the first thing we did while waiting for our new landlord to bring us the keys was to order some freaky looking pizza and a ice cold granada. Oboy!! is this heaven or what?!

It was some what a struggle to communicate with our new landlord, but after a few classic almost dramatic hand gestures he got his message trough, and just like that all the papers where signed.

We decided to go grab some red local wine to break in our new apartment.

FOOD and DRINKS
Obviously Italy is a cliché when it comes to food and wine.
With a rich and historic food culture that the Italian people are very passionated and proud to show off.
My favourite places to eat in Palermo is the hidden rustic Osterias, small local food joints with a small but perfected menu that will rock your socks off. Many of these type of restaurants has been owned by the same family for generations.

Our Mother came to visit. We decided to treat her like a queen with a nice steak dinner at one of the most recommended place, Carlo V to discover genuine high class local food. I would recommend this pace to any foodie! Great lively atmosphere on the outside seating with an italian acoustic band playing all the classic tunes. The food was outstanding, i got the biggest steak i ever got on a restaurant, it was cooked just the way i like it, pink in the center and crispy on the outside.
We drank a bottle of red wine called La Roncaia a very heavy wine that was excellent with the steak dinner.
For desert we ordered a small glass of a very potent drink called limoncello. This was the first time any one of us tried this drink..wow dont get fooled by the small size of the glass this stuff is 90% and will hit you like a train! a perfect way to start a good night out.

MAKE YOUR OWN LIMONCELLO http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-limoncello-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-197694

Ok its about time i stop ranting about Italian food and move on to the next topic but first my PROS and CONS

PROS
+You can find good organic food around any corner.
+I would recommend you to visit one of many food markets, you can get great antipasto and olives, sardines cheese.
+Vegetables and fruit taste so much better because everything is local here.
+Wine and food is really inexpensive 2 euro for a plate of antipasto 2-3 euro for a simple glass of wine
+Best coffee in the world :D

CONS
-90% of the food is wheat based here, hard for gluten allergic people like me.
-Allot of the restaurants are tourist traps = More expensive and not as fresh.
-Most places including food stores are closed on Sundays.

NIGHTLIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT

The nightlife in Palermo is not the best in the world, most places are holes in the wall, small bars and nothing more than a few simple plastic chairs on a open square with white light stinging in your eyes. But like any other place there is always exceptions, you just have to go out find the gems.
Most times we been out drinking we end up in strange and unexpected places.

One of the more exiting places we stumble up on is a aria called Kalsa.
Kalsa was bombed during the second world war and is till this day still in ruins. Today Kalsa is a street art heaven and famous steet artists has been putting there mark all over this place.
At night time, especially on Saturdays this aria is booming! locals and tourist meet up to get silly.

Kalsa street art and beer!!

For entertainment most people visit Mondelo beach AKA "the most beautiful beach in Europe"
Unreal water, pale sand and majestic mountains. This is the best place if you enjoy people watching and don't mind fat hairy man in far to reviling speedos this is the spot.

Here you can find the most grotesque museum in the world!!
Catacombe dei Cappuccini or Catacombs of the Capuchins.
You can look death in the eye!
In the 16th century 1599 munks where burried and hang to dry for your pleasure.

PROS and CONS

PROS
+Plenty of places to drink outside.
+Beautiful architecture.
+Visit Kalsa!

CONS
-Diversity is pretty slim!
-Not enough action for me.
-Palermo is pretty small and after a few days you notice you live on a island. Great for vacation tho!

SHOPPING

Mercato delle pulci is an amazing flea market where you can find just about anything!
I could spend hours just walking around looking at old shit and real treasures.
Old furnitures, 1970s vinyl players, religious artifacts that belong in museums, nazi memorabilia..YES!! Anything.

Palermo is not a fashion mecca like Milano or Roma! Mostly badly made tourist suits and The Godfader t-shirts :D
but if that is your style, knock your self out!!

PROS & CONS

PROS

• The only thing i could recommend here is to go antique shopping at one of many flea markets.

CONS

• Allot of the boutiques in this city is really random in a bad way, filled with strange stuff that make you wonder, who will ever buy this crap.

-If you need help, the language barrier will most likely be frustrating.
-Been trying to find a APPLE store or even a electronic store....Could not find :S

We are moving to Barcelona in a few weeks. Got great expectations and will of course blog my PROS and CONS for you guys!

UPVOTE::::RESTEEM::::FOLLOW

I give Palermo a weak 3 out of a strong 5
Until next time don't be safe, take a risk and enjoy the world!