There was a fair amount of activity, however. It being New Year's Eve, a huge stage has been erected in the central square, opposite one of their three opera houses, and sound technicians were busy setting up equipment and running sound checks for what promises to be a big night for the locals. In much the same way as people flock to Trafalgar Square in London to add a new digit to their calendars, so too do the Italians. The guide on this morning's tour assured us that by 9 o'clock this evening, you wouldn't be able to move for people.

Palermo is a beautiful city, and I actually saw much of it this morning during the first part of the coach ride. When push comes to shove, though, and I think I've said this before about other connurbations - a city is a city. Notes on the city guide we're provided with warn passengers to take extra care with their belongings whilst on shore, as pickpocketting and handbag snatching is a serious problem here (good job I didn't have my handbag with me then huh?).

So, after perhaps three quarters of an hours mozying, I felt I'd pretty much seen everything I wanted to see of Palermo. Tell you the truth, I was, and am, still feeling a bit rough, and felt in need of a bit of a siesta of my own. I'm hoping I get a second wind sometime soon, or I'm probably not going to see out the night. It is, of course, a 'formal' night, so the old dinner jacket and dickie bow get to see yet another airing. This is, I think, the fourth formal night of the cruise so far, with probably one more to go somewhere in the middle of the week. Other categories are 'Informal'; when gentlemen are expected to wear a jacket, or if not a jacket, then a shirt with tie (I've been wearing my white sports jacket for that) and 'Casual', when shirts, or polo shirts, can be worn without any jacket at all. During the day, of course, you can pretty much wear anything within reason (combats and boots are not acceptable, unfortunately - they're waiting for me when we get back into Southampton next weekend).

So - the evening beckons - mustn't forget to slip my camera in my pocket and capture the festivities!

Happy New Year to all you good folks out there!!