The last day

In the morning of our last day in Palermo we had free time. So everyone decided with their hosts what to do. Me, Maarja, Laura and Hanna, with our hosts, decided to go shopping. We had to meet 11 o´clock near the school, but unfortunately, waiting for Maarja and Manuel, who had some problems with tranportation, we went shopping a little past 12 o´clock. First we went to a mask shop nearby, as we needed something for the evening. The time went really fast and after visiting the food shop and eating we hadn´t time to go anywhere else. So we went to school and waited for others to come.


The portuguese arrived later, as they went shopping and they got lost in Palermo. First Italian teacher and some students sang some traditional Italian songs. After that we sang some well-known English songs together, for example, "When you are happy" and "Yesterday". Then it was our turn to perform as we were the first ones and we sang two songs (Mardilaul and Kungla rahvas). Also we danced Kaerajaan and taught it to others too. Everybody seemed to like it.

Kaera Jaan in Palermo from Merike Sikk on Vimeo.

Then portuguese and polish students performed. Polish sang some songs and portuguese also sang some songs and played some games with teachers and some students.



When singing and dancing was over, students from different bands from Italian school sang some rock songs, it was quite different from the performances before. After that a little disco started, everybody danced and some students were coustumed, for example Italian boys were dressed as girls.



After that the official part had ended, everyone could do what they wanted. We went to eat at Maarja´s host home, Manuel, and then headed for a good-bye party at Ivan´s place. Everyone of the project were there and we had a lot of fun. Soon it was time to say good-bye and go home, as tomorrow we had to leave really early.

Taormina and Acireale

Seventh day, Sunday.

This day started very early, we had to be at school by 7 o`clock. It was extremely rainy and also bit chilly. We had to drive about 3 hours and more before we got to Taormina. It was dry and warm in the bus and no-one was too eager to go outside, when we had short break from the driving. Finally we arrived to Taormina, we went to see (the Greek theatre) The Teatro Greco. It was quite difficult to get there. We walked upwards which was quite difficult because of the rain. It was the lucky day for the umbrella-sellers. After the struggle, we finally reached our destination. It was a magical view, it was easy to imagine thousands and thousands of people sitting all together. We made a round around the theatre and saw many captivating sights.

Fortunately for us we were in the right place just for the time when the sun came out. We saw the most beautiful rainbow. It was very clear and very close to us. I`m really sorry that it is not as amazing on the picture. After this we had to get back on the bus and drive a little further to Acireale. This was the place where the carneval was held. We got there just in time, it had just started. There was lots of people in the streets, some of them wearing funny hats or wigs and few of them wearing costumes. Most of the people were just like us, with nothing, but it wasn`t a problem. We saw, how big statues made from flowers were slowly driven in the street. The music was quite loud and played in every corner of the street.

I`m sure that almost everybody agrees with me if I say, that this was the place where your worst enemy is your best friend. Little pieces of paper were thrown everywhere- in people`s hair and face mostly. And also some kind of canned ribbons were sprayed, it was quite difficult to get those semi-wet things out of your hair. Most of us had a good time.

And then it was time to turn back to Palermo. We got on the bus and drive another 3 hours and after that we all were extremely tired and relived when we got back to Palermo, which was about 8 pm.

Palermo 4

The fifth day was the first excursion day. Italian teachers had made the plans for the school trip and had chosen for this day to visit Selinunte, Cave di Cusa, Marsala and Segesta. Teachers also reminded us to be punctual, that we could see all the sites, but still we leaved from Palermo a bit later than 7.30.

The first site, Selinunte was 123 km far from Palermo. During this long drive, students sang together and used this time to get to know each other. Selinunte temple was founded around 650 B.C , so there was a very ancjent and mysterious atmosphere.
The next place which we visited was Cave di Cusa. It is the place, were Selinuntinians took the stones for the constructing their temples.

47 km from Cave di Cusa is Marsala, which is by inhabitants one of the biggest city in Sicily. In Marsala we saw salt deposits and Marsala wine shop. We also had our lunch in Marsala, in " Trattoria Garibaldi".

After the lunch we continued our excursion to Segesta. Unfortunately it was rainig heavily, so we didn`t walk close to the temple and we admired it from the bus. Because of the rain, we didn`t see the Greek Theatre either. Despite of rain, everybody enjoyed the trip and didn´t let their mood going down.

Palermo 3

The first part of the day was dedicated to presentation about the Mafia . First presentation was perfomed by the Italian teacher whose presentation started with the sentence :

"Until less than forty years ago , many people in Sicily still used to say about Mafia:"Mafia? Have you ever seen the Mafia with your eyes? No , believe me: Mafia doesn´t exist"

Then he talked about the history of the Mafia . The most important men to sicily were Falcone and Borsellino they were the national heroes to Sicily because they fought against the Mafia, both were killed by the mafia in a car bomb .Falcone and Borsellino were particulary respected and even loved by common people ,who had learned to appreciate their intelligence ,their rectitude and their courage .The common people had powerful reaction:thousands of citizens participated in Falcone´s and Borsellino´s funerals and many voluntary organizations arase in those days by citizens who wanted to contrast the mafia system and feel free :one of such voluntary organizations is "ADIO PIZZO"

PIZZO - a payment imposed by Mafiosi to the traders - and if you don´t pay the pizzo we will destroy your shop....ADDIO= bye bye .Italian teacher ended his presentation with the sentence

...but in Palermo there are no more shots in the streets and above all nobody says any more "Mafia? What is Mafia? Oh....Mafia doesn´t exist".

And then the students made a presentation about mafia. Mafia is not a funny joke in Italy some of my friends are still afraid of the Mafia its not a joke Mafia is real.

After the presentations we went on a trip to Mondello .There we had a lunch and a lot of free time .The carnival was about to start at Mondello but we went away before the start .Mondello was a amazing place with a amazing view to the mountains .The water was a little bit cold and many of estonians were sick thats why we didn´t go swimming . It was a niice day after Mondello we went home .