It rarely snows in Palermo but I was pleased to see the universal winter snowflakes on the windows of the elementary school.
Our apartment is near the Piazza Marina in the center of which is the Giardino Garibaldi where enormous fig trees create what must be welcome shade in the summer.
The largest tree in Europe was planted here in 1863.
There’s a statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi – best known to generations of British schoolchildren as the hero who unified Italy while feeding his soldiers squashed fly biscuits.
They usually come in strips of five and hold up very well when dunked in a nice cup of tea. 
The International Puppet Museum is close by. It’s an amazing collection of all kinds of puppets and marionettes from around the world.
There’s something unsettling about rows and rows of hanging marionettes all just waiting to participate in some bloodcurdling scene but for sure this is the place to go to see the international history of puppetry and the artistry of Italian puppeteers. There are examples from various African, Asian and European nations including Punch and Judy glove puppets from the UK.
Puppets sort of spooky. Garabaldi biscuits, aka flies cemeteries in our house, essential to any decent 1950’s childhood. Love all your posts from Sicily. Fab photography with stunning cultural reports nicely humbled by cats. Of course. I am now into pre Xmas 1916. Only just back in London and already decided reading your blog well high up on New Years agenda.