Law School Study Abroad 2009: Sicily (aka: Our New Found Love of Malta)

So now that we're all back in Malta, everyone seems to appreciate it here a little bit more. There isn't graffiti everywhere like in Sicily. I can wear my jcrew chino shorts without having an Italian man think I'm a "loose woman." There isn't blaring techno music until 1am or a messed up sounding church bell that rings every 15 minutes...literally. It should also be kept in mind that I am writing all of this even after falling down the stairs at the apartment and hurting my foot AND after getting yelled at by someone at the school while trying to elevate the aforementioned foot on a chair. This morning, I got on a bus that came within 5 minutes of my arrival to the bus stop, the ride cost only 47¢, I wasn't leered at by men (there was a bit of leering however, but that is to be expected), and everyone spoke at least some form of English. Malta is wonderful. My thoughts on Sicily - it would be wonderful without the Sicilians.

The harbor on Favignana, part of the Egadi Islands

Last day in Sicily

The end of our all day hike through the island

Susan and Beau double checking that we're going the right way

It took us an insanely long time to find this beach. It was very welcome

Restaurant on the beach

Beautiful...we were dying from the walk by this point

Did I say that we had to walk a lot? No? Well, we did.

Our drinking games in Paceco. Just imagine blaring techno music in the background.

Matt and Gary

That Italian beer was pretty good

President, Vice President, Secretary of State...and Ginny, who was not on a position of power

After our exhausting day in Erice

Vespa

Exhausting day

Just one letter off...

View of the cow from the cable car ride up to Erice from Trapani

The duomo in Erice

This is where I lit the candle in memory of my cousin Christopher. One of those candles is mine.

Inside Royal Cathedral in Erice

It was first constructed during the time of Constantine

The girls had to wear these festive wraps to get in the church in Erice

Real Duomo in Erice

Birds on the steps of Real Duomo

View from King Frederick's Tower in Erice

Another view

One of the bells

Bells in the bell tower

View of the Real Cathedral from the bell tower

The stairs to the bell tower

Sicilian kitten

The ruins of the Holy Saviour Monastery

Originally the palace of Count Henry Chiaramonte in 1292. He donated the palace to the Benedictine brothers after he was pardoned by Frederick II of Aragon.