Tindari, Sicily (Italy)

After I filled up the rental car (it cost almost $130 because it was a van) at 1010, I asked around to see if anyone wanted to go exploring.  There weren't any takers except for Chuck R.  That was enough for me - we set off for the Caleca factory in Patti.  In addition to the normal "seconds shopping", we got a personal tour from the American secretary who worked there.  It was very interesting!  We ended up driving up to Tindari for lunch. We had a nice tourist lunch overlooking the Mediterranean (including the Aolean Islands). I had heard stories about "the Black Madonna" but never knew what it was until we found it in the church in town - it was a statue of the Virgin Mary that washed ashore many years ago. An older church was preserved but almost overshadowed by an adjacent, spectacular modern one.  What a fun day on the island of Sicily!