We chose Palermo as our base for this trip to Sicily, because there are so many day trips possible by both train and bus, meaning we did not need a car. We took a bus to the hill city of Monreale, only 8 kilometers from Palermo, on Tuesday, to view the splendid mosaic-covered cathedral and enjoy the panoramic views from the town. When we arrived, the cathedral was of course closed for the mid-day break. Any of you who have traveled here know about the strange opening hours of churches, even those with bus loads of tourists and school children arriving all day, like this one! While waiting for the afternoon opening, we visited the Cathedral museum and then walked down a touristy street, looking for a cafe that was not crowded with school kids on
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