We stay at the house near the giant tree. ‘Perche Piangi Palermo’ as a theme song. Early morning trip to the clothes market. The group of older ladies wait around the bags of old clothes that are being opened. Like a bunch of hyenas. Preying on the worn carcasses of tossed textile. Eager anticipation. You gotta feed the beast. Like the geniuses of Palermo. These statues in Palermo predating Christianity. Where the serpent feeds of the breast of the genie. Representing the duality on this earth. Usually, when something in your life is very apparent, like a characteristic or a feeling, the opposite side is also there. Accept this side, don’t fight it. Feed it enough so stays calm.

The week before I arrived in Palermo I had a dream that I was bitten in the chest by a snake. Oysters at the Oyster Lady. Best set up: A section is taken out of a fence with a stainless steel table placed in front. New shoes broke, bought flip flops that go really slow. Some shoes go fast, some go slow. Each of them has their own pace. ‘Have to get some keys to go and feed some parrots’ Adri says. We spend the evening filming at the nose job fountain. Where every statue looks like it had plastic surgery.

We make ex votos and bring them to st. Rosalia. A saint that once resided in a cave up the mountain. The guy from the souvenir shop closes the above window with a broomstick. Holy water from the jerrycan. Infused with faith. As we walk back down the mountain. On the old pavement. We wonder what kind of pizza St. Rosalia would like. A guy kicks a plastic bottle away that doesn’t fit on his dustpan. The scooter drives by and slips on the bottle. The boy playing in front sings along to old songs. A serenade to his little girlfriend.

At the seaside house we celebrate the birthday of Miro, the dog. After we gave him his present. The popped cork of a champagne bottle. We go for a midnight swim. The sea is one big black mass. “The darkness is a more safe place”, someone says.

Next day swimming again. Nr 53 of best things in life: When you find a perfect spot for sitting, on the rocks, when the curves fit your body perfectly. Afterwards the Q8 bar, probably my favorite.

Me and Thomas are synchronising. Like we have our periods at the same time. We take the same pictures, same instagram films. Thinking of times when swords had names. Selling lighters. Drinking beers on the square that is named after a sex worker of ancient days. “Your hair looks extra Jesussy today”, Lizzy tells me.