Day 9: Selinunte (1st night)

IF READING ON YOUR PHONE, TILT SIDEWAYS FOR THE BEST VIEW:)

September 26, 2023: We skipped breakfast at our lovely B&B and started out around 8:45am this morning. As we drove to the property gate, we found it to be closed which we hadn't experienced before. As we went about trying to figure the opening process, I noticed a car behind us and someone signaling to us... the owner! He came up to our window and, in his broken english, said, "Do you maybe want to pay now?" Oh man! Have to keep reminding ourselves we're not in Kansas anymore and they may not necessarily be leeching off of your credit card while on premises!

I actually felt bad after that because he gave us small bottle of olive oil as a parting gift and I suppose that staying with them for 3 nights might have warranted at least a goodbye...

On the road now and the 2 hour drive + a couple of stops flew by. We took the northern route past Palermo and cut down to the south, dropping into Selinunte and our resort by about 1pm. Selinunte is about an hour

Not a bad way to 'wait'

south of Marsala on the west coast and would be a good jumping off point for the wine tour we had planned the following day. As this would be our only free day at this resort with 2 beautiful pools, I wanted to jump right in on arrival! Which is, of course, why it started to POUR rain just as we made it down there. Ug! We grabbed a salami and arugula sandwich and made do with a yummy drink to wait it out. Mother nature prevailed, however, and the rain only stopped at evening was upon us:(

I should probably mention our fellow resort-mates. It's just us and a bus load of French tourists. In this whole, huge resort with pools, play areas, bocce ball, restaurants, just us! But the kicker is that this place fully caters to the French as I read (a little late) in a hotel review. The menus are in French, everyone assumed we were French and they seemed to get faster service. 

I suppose it's the hotels' money maker with it being the off-season and all, but Oh, the French...On a positive note, they're snappy dressers! They generally smiled and were polite enough, but boy when they drink -- get the party started! Loud, loud, loud! And this resort had personnel who were activity shepherds of sorts and stirred up events like drunken water aerobics (not a joke), poolside cha-cha lessons and my favorite, talent night. An outdoor event that went from 10pm-midnight right under our window. Just super.

Mix grilled fish plate

As the day was a 'bust' of sorts, we ventured into town for dinner, not expecting too much. Well, Selinunte was a happening spot with multiple restaurants and shops, all of which looks amazing. I had pre-chosen a spot at the far end of town, down along the beach so far that you assume you missed a turn on the map. We found it though and were happy we did! Yum, yum, yum! It was nothing fancy, but fresh-caught fish and a bottle of wine were all we needed. What a find!

Just amazing