Travels with Monica

Santorini Photograph Sold!

2012-01-19T10:48:00.005-05:00

1/19/2012: I received an email notification from the web site that I use for my photographs stating this photo was purchased (8x12 lusture print).

Thank you Linda!

New Underwater Camera...Testing

2012-01-16T17:00:00.006-05:00

1/2/12: I'm heading to the Caribbean in the spring and plan to do some snorkeling. I purchased a really cheap underwater camera when I was in Hawaii last year. It was only $12 and the casing enclosed a point/shoot reusable 35mm camera. I really enjoyed swimming with the turtles and had hoped to take better pictures.

For Christmas I received tha Panasonic Lumix TS3 - a bright aqua blue color. Having read lots of reviews of underwater cameras, I felt this one had the best features for my needs.

I was out shopping at a mall today and I took some photos of the carouselle.

Cropped 100%. Pretty sharp!

And, here's one of Lucy. You can add a picture frame. There were only 3 options.

There are lots of other neat features, a bunch of scene modes, and even GPS capability.

Keep your fingers crossed that I get some good shots while in the Caribbean waters.

Korean Lunch

2012-01-16T16:31:00.005-05:00

1/16/2012: I was out shopping around and heading home via Rte 40 when I noticed the small sign of Kim Bob Na Ra in a strip plaza. I made a u-turn and headed inside. It was in the late afternoon and only two tables with Koreans eating their lunch.

I ordered the Bi Bimbap for my meal. While waiting, I was served green tea and four types of vegetables in individual small plates: Kim chee (not hot enough for me), diakon (love the crunch), one that I could not identify but was delicious, and an odd one: potato salad with peanuts (delicious).

My Bi bimbab was somewhat different than what I'm used to. It had most of the same ingredients (rice, beef, assorted vegetables, shitaki mushrooms, and a fried egg on top), however, this one was served cold. At other Korean restaurants (such as Hana's in Frederick, which unfortunately is no longer in business) the food is served in a piping hot stone bowl and the egg is still runny so that you can stir it in to the rice mixture to finish cooking. The egg that was on my dish was overcooked (topped with shredded seaweed). Still, it was a good meal and very filling. I'm sure this is just one version of many. Personally, I perfer the hot version.

The restaurant is quite small, sitting about 40 people. The place is very basic, almost a hole-in-the-wall, but that's the kind I like.

The woman that served me was very quiet but pleasant. As I left, I told her I would bring my husband here. We miss the Korean restaurant where we live. She gave me a happy smile and was thankful.

Kim Bob Na Ra
9339 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410-465-9166
Open 10am to 10pm

Lunch at Jalapenos

2012-01-14T19:28:00.011-05:00

14 January 2012: Today Tony and I had lunch with my dad and brother, a belated Christmas get together. We went to Jalapenos, a Mexican-Spanish restaurant, located in a strip mall in Annapolis, MD. While the area doesn't seem inviting, the interior of the restaurant welcomes us along with the owner who greets us at the door. There are murals on the walls along with colorful ceramic plates. Near the entrance is a glass waterfall. The place is cozy and warm.

Our waitress was quick to serve us fresh-made salsa and chips. A variety of music is played in the background, although dad thought it was a litte too loud.

Tony ordered the Ropa Vieja, which is actually a Cuban dish of shredded beef sauteed with onions, tomatoes, pimentos, garlic, and wine, along with fried plantains. Spanish rice and black beans were also included. He enjoyed his dish very much.Dad and I each ordered the Tacos de Carnitas, three corn tortillas filled with tender shredded pork, guacamole, cilantro and onions, which is served with a spicy and tangy sauce. Spanish rice and black beans are included in the $10 entree. This is one of my favorite dishes. The pork was very tender and flavorful.
Charlie had a chicken burrito, which was pretty big in size. Another good dish.

Spanish hats, castanets and a fan hang on the wall near the entrance.

All in all, it was a very good lunch. The food was good and service was prompt.

Jalapenos
Forest Plaza Shopping Center, 85 Forest Drive,Annapolis, Maryland 21401
http://www.jalapenosonline.com/

London 4 nights and a wonderful transatlantic cruise!

2012-01-02T17:05:00.012-05:00

Wednesday 26 October 2011, London

I arrived in London on an overcast day from Dulles international airport. On board my Virgin Atlantic flight were Marjorie and Leo, friends I cruised with in 2010. We met up with Lee and Mike (fellow cruisers), who flew in from Ottawa Canada. I hired a car service (Woodford Chauffeurs) that took us to our respective hotels. It was a long drive in to London, as it was rush hour.

I must mention that Virgin Atlantic has a 13-pound carry on weight limit! My camera equipment alone weighs around 10 pounds, so I left one lens at home and had Tony pack my netbook in his suitcase – he would be flying in the next day with our friends. The flight was great, as was the service. My economy seat was quite comfortable and I didn’t feel cramped at all.

My home for the next four nights was at the George Hotel
http://www.georgehotel.com/english/index.html located near Bloomsbury and just north of the Russell Square tube station. The buildings were originally townhouses but most converted to B&Bs. There is no elevator but two sets of stairs. My room (#11) was located on the ground floor with a window facing a plain interior courtyard. The room consisted of two beds, an armoire in the corner, a small table, tv on the wall and a very tiny bathroom! The room was cramped and there was really no room for my large suitcase. I kept it near the door, the only large floor space area. It’s a very basic place to say but fine for me. I would probably pick another hotel for a larger bathroom.

For the rest of the day, I explored the area, had lunch at Pret a Manger (a chain restaurant that serves fresh-made sandwiches, soups, etc), and spent some time at the British museum. It rained on and off throughout the day and it was cold. It was interesting to see lots of young people walking in the rain without umbrellas. When the sun was out, the sky was bright blue.

I headed to Soho where I had early dinner plans with Lee and Mike. I walked past the theatre district, Chinatown, the gay quarter, and Piccadilly Circus. I watched street performers for a bit. One street I thought was interesting had shops filled with musical instruments.

I found a wine bar (Shampers on 4 Kingly street) and a couple glasses of wine. My first order took quite a while to get. In fact the bartender that took my order disappeared. A second bartender took care of me. When I received the bill, there was only one glass of wine listed. The bartender told me since I waited so long for my first drink she didn’t want to charge me for the wine.

I met Lee and Mike at Masala Zone (9 Marshall Street), an Indian chain restaurant. We had a great evening and enjoyed our meal and company. We all ordered the Thali, which is a medley of foods served in bowls on a large platter. I had the butter chicken, which came with curry vegetables, raita, lentils, chapatis (whole wheat bread), and rice. Everything was scrumptious!

After dinner, the guys walked me back to my hotel, about a 1.7-mile walk. It was a pleasant but cool evening. I slept well that night.

Thursday 27 October 2011, London

Tony and friends (Glenn, Carol, Louisa, Robin, and Carolyn, Mark) arrived at the hotel. They took the same Virgin Atlantic flight but decided to upgrade to economy plus for $50 each. Tony freshened up and we headed out the door with Glenn and Carol. We took the tube from Russell Square station (purchased the Oyster card) to the science museum to meet up with an older gentleman (also named Tony) who took the train in to meet us for the day. The guys met Tony (a retired Royal Air Force officer) back in 2009 on our transatlantic cruise.

While the guys hung out, Carol and I visited the Victoria and Albert museum, which we both thoroughly enjoyed.

While Glenn and Carol headed back to the hotel to check in to their room, the three of us took the tube to Westminster Abbey. I wanted to go inside but changed my mind when I saw the hefty entry price, 18£! That’s about $28USD. I didn’t want to pay that price, especially since I had visited there in 2005. We walked across Westminster Bridge and had some tea and coffee at the café at the London Eye. Glenn and Carol later showed up. We bought tickets for the Eye and it was only a 5-minute wait in line. Of course we weren’t in London at the height of tourist season. We enjoyed the views, although we were disappointed in the overcast day. The city looked gloomy.

We had dinner at the Sherlock Holmes Pub located near Charing Cross (10 Northumberland Street). I had been here for a pint in 2005 and liked the atmosphere. It was packed and the tables were filled, but we only had to wait a few minutes for a group to clear out. Tony had the fish/chips and I had a meat pie.

Tony took the train home and we walked a bit before taking the tube back to the hotel.

Friday 28 October 2011, Day trip to Greenwich

After eating a full English breakfast (eggs, sausage, baked beans, tomato slice, as well as coffee, tea, fruit juice, and toast) in the small dining room Tony, Glenn, Carol, Carolyn, Mark, and I went to Greenwich via the tube and DLR.

The Cutty Sark was under repairs, so we couldn’t see much of it. We walked around the royal naval college and its chapel; and spent some time at the national maritime museum.

For lunch, we sat outside in the gardens at the King’s Arms Pub (King William Walk). This time I had the fish/chips with mushy peas while Tony had a lamb potpie (lunch with a beer and wine 24.80£). It was chilly outside but there were heat lamps to keep us somewhat warm. Service was extremely slow but the food was good.

The last stop of the day was to see the observatory and the meridian line. Tony and I kissed across the line. The views from above were fine and we could see central London in the distance.

We decided on a boat ride back to London. Tony, Glenn, Carol and I got off at Tower Bridge and walked over to the Borough market, while the other two headed to the London Eye. The market was closing down but we still got to see lots of great foods – we even sampled some cheese and liquors. I’m sure it’s quite bustling during the day.

For dinner the six of us dined at Balfour Italian restaurant (75-77 Marchmont St), located two blocks from our hotel. The restaurant was full and we had no reservations, but the manager said a table would be opening up in 5 minutes. Tony and I bought a bottle of wine. I had the goat cheese crostini and the ricotta-stuffed ravioli and butter sage sauce. Tony had the spaghetti Bolognese. Everything was very good and the portions pretty large (47£).

Back at the hotel we all met in the dining/sitting area and had some drinks. Everyone had purchased bottles of wine or vodka, plus we purchased bottles to bring on the ship (2 bottle maximum).

Saturday 29 October 2011, Day trip from London

I booked a private tour for 14 of us to visit Stonehenge, Bath and a couple of villages. I used International Friends (http://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/) after much research. David was our driver and he was a chatty fellow. Non-stop encyclopedia, history buff. He was knowledgeable in a wide variety of interesting things, including British and American law. What I thought was most interesting were the explanation of how some phrases came about. One is, “Kick the bucket” whereby the person standing on the bucket with a slip noose kicks his/her own bucket. If he/she failed to die, the family would yank down on the body to finish him/her off. I always knew it as someone who died.

It took about 1 hour 45 minutes to get to Stonehenge. It was an overcast morning but I was thrilled to see Stonehenge. Yes, it’s a love it or hate kind of thing. I’ve always been interested in the history and mystery of the stones. We had an hour there with the use of audio guides.

The next stop was to Bath, a beautiful city that sits on several hills. The sun came out so Carol and I got some great shots. I’m so glad we took our photos when we first arrived, as it clouded up and began to rain just after entering the Roman baths. Our visit lasted about an hour. I wanted some time to walk around town and have a light lunch. We ended up doing a take out of some hefty pasty’s from Gourmet Scoffs, which was recommended to me by the tour manager. Mine had braised beef, onions, and potatoes. I couldn’t finish it all.

My favorite stop of the day (because I love photography) was Castle Combe, a charming and beautiful village. We only had 15 minutes there and I wished for more time. The village was quite with just two main streets. Some of the homes had their fireplaces going so I could see the smoke coming out of the chimneys. Some of the bushes and ivy on the walls had turned to their autumn colors. Hanging planters were everywhere including window planters. It was just lovely.

Lacock

The countryside was beautiful with its rolling, green hills and specks of villages here and there. Lacock was another pretty village that we visited. I saw a lovely bridal couple walk out of the local church so I snapped a few shots. Lacock is a village used by many moviemakers. Movies such as Pride and Prejudice, the Other Boleyn Girl, Harry Potter have been filmed there.

The last stop of the day before our 2-hour drive to London was to Avebury, another famous Stonehenge-type place with large stones in circles. It wasn’t as impressive as Stonehenge, probably because the circles are quite large and one cannot see all of it from one spot.

By the time we got back to the hotel, it was dark. It was a full day of touring and most enjoyable. I would love to return to England for a couple of weeks renting a car and driving to the villages in the countryside. Of course I would have to get up the nerve to drive on the left side of the road.

For our Cruise Critic (CC) pre-cruise get together, my friend Mike contacted a pub (Marquis of Cornwallis, 31 Marchmont St.) near our hotel and had an area reserved for us. About 30 people showed up. It was fun meeting fellow cruises. We had been chatting on line for over a year.

After a couple of drinks, we were ready for dinner and I didn’t want another pub meal. Nearby in the Brunswick shopping center is the Hare and Tortoise (11-13 The Brunswick), a Japanese Ramen noodle shop. I cannot find any Ramen noodle shops where I live. Tony and I started with the unagi and avocado maki. Six big portions. I had the Seafood Ramen as my entrée (with grilled salmon, shrimp, scallops, mussels) and Tony had the Miso Ramen (with char-sui pork, boiled egg, bean sprouts, etc). We also shared some sake, which warmed us up along with the soups. The others (Carolyn, Mark, Glenn and Carol) also enjoyed their appetizers and soups. It’s interesting that this Japanese place has a typical British pub name.

More drinks back at the hotel, some packing and then to bed. We’re off to Southampton tomorrow for the start of our cruise.

Sunday 30 October 2011, Off to Southampton via Winchester

After our full English breakfast and packing up our suitcases, our coach service arrived (same company I used to get to the hotel). There were 22 of us heading to Southampton with a two-hour stop in Winchester. It was a cold and rainy day. The group split up. Some headed directly to the Eclipse Pub. How apropos – it’s the same name as our cruise ship. Another find by my friend Mike. Six of us (Carolyn, Mark, Glenn, Carol, Tony and I) walked along the river, took pictures of the swans and ducks in the water, and saw the old Wolvesey castle, which sits in ruins. We stepped inside the Cathedral and kept to the back, as there was a service. I picked up a Christmas ornament at a nearby shop.

Tony found an ATM, as we were just shy a few pounds to pay for our service to the port (23£ per person, including tip). We walked around town, which was quite busy with tourists and then headed up hill to see the round table in the Great Hall. This is a 13th century hall from medieval times. The place is empty with the exception of the large round table on the wall at one end of the building. It bears the names of King Arthur’s knights. There is no historic evidence that the legend of King Arthur and his knights ever existed but it is certainly a romantic tale.

It was a 45-minute drive to the port of Southampton. It continued to rain but everyone was excited to see the beautiful Eclipse. Check in was a nightmare! Those of us that were Captain’s Club elite members went in (supposedly) the faster line. We were in line for an hour while the other line moved faster. It turned out that the staff moved some in the other line into ours, thereby clogging up the x-ray machines. So many people were furious. So much for priority check-in. Once at the counter, things picked up, or so I thought. Tony and I were asked to sit in the lounge area. We sat there for 10 minutes until Rui, the concierge on board, came and personally escorted us to our cabin. This was a surprise to us, although I knew why.

Happy to be on the ship with a glass of champagne, we checked out our balcony (cabin 9207, 1A category), which was larger than the standard balconies. Louisa and Robin’s balcony (next to us) was even larger. We were five cabins in a row (Mike/Maureen, Glenn/Carol, and Shaun/Melonee). I had Janet, our room attendant, open the partitions between our cabins and we enjoyed our long balcony the entire cruise.

The Oceanview Café was buzzing with cruisers digging into their first meal of the cruise. This is always a busy place for breakfast and lunch. After we had our lunch, we headed to our muster station. Ours was in the dining room. Once done, I was first in line to meet the dining room manager. Our group of 10 had been split into three tables, but he quickly corrected the situation.

The CC group members met up for the sail-away get together. We started at the Oceanview bar but it was very cold and windy, so we went to the Sky lounge. It was a lot of fun meeting other CCr’s.

My group of friends and I had the late seating (8:30pm) and we had table 240 with waiter Dwayne and assistant waiter Serkan. The table was located in the center of the dining room and only two tables way from the captain’s table. Dinner the first night was very good. I had the goat cheese tart, mushroom cappuccino soup, and the lamb shank.

Back in the cabin, there was a bottle of champagne and plate of chocolate covered strawberries on the table. What a nice treat to end our first day on the ship.

We had to change our clocks one hour forward. Last night we had to change our clocks back an hour.

Photo Links:

London:
http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/England/London-England-2011/20083200_C42cnt#1584387978_jb7tBRP

Stonehenge, Bath, and Villages:
http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/England/Stonehenge-Bath-Villages-2011/20611557_BcnPZD#1633880687_tcPTs45

Winchester:
http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/England/Winchester-England/20099191_Kf3WLD#1585987256_BFSghMm

Monday 31 October 2011, Le Havre France

Tony and I had breakfast delivered to our room since we had an early start to the day. I rented a 9-seater van for eight of us (Norm, Carol, Glenn, Carol, Carolyn, Mark, Tony and me). There is a rental office right at the port, which was very convenient. It took a while to get the van but once we got it we were on our way.

All of the guys read up on the history of Normandy and the D-Day beaches. Each of the guys picked an area to lecture on as we toured around. I drove to Pont du Hoc, located near Omaha beach, the furthest point in our trip. I decide it would be best to work our way back to Le Havre as we went along the beaches. It was a cloudy morning but the sun eventually came out. Temps were in the high 50s.

I had been to Normandy before with my mother but it was a first for most in the group. I felt Pont du Hoc was the most interesting to me because of the many craters, fortifications, and the difficulty the Army Ranger assault group had while climbing the cliffs under enemy fire from above. There is a memorial dedicated to the battle. To really get a feel of the place, go to Google maps and search Pont du Hoc. Click on the satellite where you get a better view of the pockmarked land.

We went to the American cemetery. There is a visitor center and small museum, well worth spending time there. Walking among the over nine thousand graves, the cemetery can be a quite moving and emotional place to visit. The white gravestones are in perfect alignment and the grounds are immaculate. I saw several gravestones for unknown soldiers: 'Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God'.

At Omaha beach nearby, we walked along the beach. There is an interesting sculpture by Anilor Banon right on the beach called Les Braves. It looks like huge silver metal swords jutting out from the sand. The sculpture is for the Americans who liberated France. The beach is peaceful today with small children playing in the sand, too young to know the past history of the beaches.

In the small town of Arromanches-les-Bains, the location of the mulberry harbours and the main area of the D-Day landings, we had lunch. Some of us enjoyed fresh steamed mussels, so fresh there were tiny, tiny crabs among the mussels.

We could see some of the remaining mulberries and even a few people swimming in the cold water. There is a museum but the line was long and we didn’t have the time to go in.

On the way back to Le Havre, I pulled over next to a small restaurant. In the parking lot was a tank, so we took some pictures. We were back at the port by 6:30pm after filling the car with gas. It was a really great day of sightseeing.

Tony and I went to the sky lounge for the elite member’s happy hour (5-7pm nightly, except when there is a Captain’s club event). I recognized a British couple I met the previous year but couldn’t remember their names. When I walked up to them the woman said, “Hello Monica.” I was surprised that Audrey (and Jeff) remembered my name. We talked for a bit before they headed to dinner.

Dinner: Caprese salad, leek soup, pork medallions (very tender), and kiwi sorbet for dessert.

Southside, a party band, one of the best groups I’ve seen on any cruise, performed during the Masque Theme party. They perform most nights at 8pm in the atrium. Celebrity dancers and passengers danced the night away in the grand foyer including Tony and me. The dancers wore costumes and masks, as it was Halloween. It was tons of fun! The party continued in the Quasar bar but we didn’t go. We had an early wake up call for the next day.

Photo Links:

http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/France/D-Day-Beaches/20610272_HMFfg2#1633745320_54v4HQT

Tuesday 1 November 2011, Cherbourg France

I hired a company to take the same group of eight to Bayeux and more of the D-Day beaches. The price for the day was 320€, which I thought was a very good price. Rene was our driver and guide. His father, Claude Huard, was a “Maquis”, an underground resistant fighter and was liberated from Dachau by the 45th Infantry Division of the 7th US Army. He was the MC for the Memorial Day service held at Omaha beach for 30 years. Rene took over after his father passed away in 2001. Rene is passionate about the history of D-Day and WWII overall.

Rene drove us to Bayeux where we beat the tour buses. It was a beautiful sunny day and in the low 60’s. We spent about 40 minutes at the tapestry museum listening to the audio guide while viewing the famous tapestry. It’s actually an embroidery and is over 200 feet long. It tells the story of the Norman conquest of England (1064-1066).

November 1st is All Saints Day so the streets were quiet as we walked around town. Some of us stepped inside the Cathedral for a few minutes.

Sainte-Marie-du-Mont is a small town close to Utah beach. This was the first town to be liberated during the D-Day invasion. Being close to Utah beach where the Germans had gun batteries, it was a prime drop location for the airborne divisions.

Utah beach has one of the best war museums in Normandy. There are all sorts of artifacts, vehicles, weapons, pictures, and videos in the museum. The guys received a reduced entry fee because of their military status (retired).

Across from the museum was Restaurant le Roosevelt. Attached to the building is an old bunker with old communication equipment inside. For lunch, I had the croque monsieur (a grilled ham/cheese sandwich), which was good but I’ve had better (in Lourmarin). Tony had the plat du jour. (http://www.le-roosevelt.com/restaurant_anglais.htm). The owner gave me a postcard, which was a photograph of the bunker back in 1944.

Our last stop was at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, where there were heavy casualties for the paratroopers. One paratrooper got snagged on the town’s church steeple. He hung there for about two hours playing dead until the Germans cut him down and took him as prisoner. He later escaped and made his way back to his division. Red Buttons plays this character in The Longest Day, a movie Tony and I watched before the trip.

We were back in Cherbourg around 4:30pm. The ship sailed at 6pm. It was a really great tour with Rene.

In our cabin was a letter from the captain (Dimitrios Manetas) explaining some changes to the itinerary. The crew was closely watching the progress of a weather system in the Atlantic that was producing high winds and heavy seas. In order to play it safe, he canceled our last two ports, Vigo and the Azores, and added Gijon and La Coruña Spain, thereby staying somewhat inland from the Atlantic. Our sea day in the middle of the two original ports was moved to the day after La Coruña. Now we would have seven days at sea before docking in Miami. Many people were disappointed in the itinerary change but better to be safe and comfortable than sorry. Many people scrambled to book tours for the new ports. I emailed my tour guide in the Azores to cancel the tour I booked.

Because of the upcoming bad weather, the first formal night was changed to this evening. After some time in the cabin and getting ready for the evening, we headed to the sky lounge for the 7:45pm Celebrity Officer’s cocktail party. The waiters had an assortment of drinks, as well as hors d'oeuvres. Steve and Jeannette were at the party as well and I invited them to join us for dinner since Mike and Maureen were dining with Shaun and Melonee.

Dinner: Beef carpaccio, fish bisque, rack lamb (always a favorite), a bottle red wine, and chocolate raspberry mousse for dessert.

The ship left Cherbourg late due to having to take a person off the ship. Apparently he or she was deathly ill. I never heard what happened.

In the Sky lounge, Southside performed for the “Total Eclipse” formal dance party, which we enjoyed and danced a few times. Later Glenn, Carol, Steve, Jeanette, Tony and I hit the martini bar till about 1am.

Photo Links:

http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/France/Normancy-France-2011/20167851_PQmxD7#1592586311_ZtLhqC5

Wednesday 2 November 2011, Day at Sea

This was our first day at sea and I woke up to a rocking ship, more so than on my past cruises. I felt fine for the first 30 minutes but then I started to feel seasick. I took a Dramamine hoping it would kick in quickly. The waves were about 15-18 feet high, which doesn’t seem like much but enough to get people seasick.

I had breakfast in the Tuscan Grill, the location for the elite members. Bagel, cream cheese, and lox – just delish! I sat with Terry and Evan and when he heard I wasn’t feeling great from the motion of the ship he told me he would give me a pair of sea bands. He had extras.

The Captain made his usual morning announcement and gave an updated weather report stating he was expecting gale force 9 winds (47-54 mph with wave heights up to 32 ft) for the next 48 hours. I had heard later that lots of people were seasick and there were even a few broken bones. I saw an older man loose his balance and fall hard on his back and head. I felt so bad for him.

Tony and I attended the morning lecture with Professor Alan Dowty. One of Celebrity’s best features is the “Beyond the Podium Series”. Dowty’s lectures dealt with maritime. This one was entitled, “Trans-Atlantic Contact before Columbus” in which he discussed who might have found the new world before Columbus. This included the Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Irish, etc. All of his lectures were wonderful and informative. I thought he was a very good speaker, although his puns were really bad.

Lunch service was very slow in the dining room. Tony left for the 1pm lecture before he got his meal, so I had it delivered to the cabin. I had the duck salad with lentils, which was very good. I ate quickly and went to the theatre to catch the rest of the lecture. Lunch in the dining room is nice but you have to remember it’s full service.

The lecture was called, “Secrets of Ship Navigation’ that the 1st officer gave. At one point he showed us on the screen the current weather where we were heading. It was a huge mass of a storm in the Atlantic that the Captain was avoiding. In seeing this I knew he made a wise decision.

This afternoon was the CC slot pull. Fifty-three of us each paid $15 and had 5 pulls on a machine that Mike asked me to select. Mike collected all of the money and Glenn and Carol assisted him. In the end we walked away with $13 but with a card for a complimentary drink at the casino bar, a gift from the casino hostess.

Tony and I went to Michael’s for the elite happy hour. We had received in our cabin at the start of the cruise a special invitation. Due to so many elites on board, the captain’s club hostess invited a select number of elites to go to Michael’s for happy hour to reduce the number of people in the sky lounge. It was a treat! No smell of smoke like the sky lounge, a lot more intimate, and it was easier to get a glass of wine or martini.

Dinner: Escargot, pumpkin soup (not so good), filet mignon (excellent).

Thursday 3 November 2011, Gijon Spain

Tony spent the day on the ship while I went out with a group of friends (Glenn, Carol, Carolyn, Mark, Louisa, Robin, Terry, Evan, Penny and Herb). His knees were bothering him after all the walking we’ve done so far on this trip. There was complimentary shuttle service to the city center, about a 10-minute shuttle ride. We were dropped off next to the marina with its many sailboats. It was very picturesque; and a large red Gijon sign welcomed us.

Gijon is a charming Spanish city with wrought iron balconies and lamps, whitewashed and colorful buildings, and small plazas such as the Plaza de La Corrada. We saw two interesting sculptures, one made from corten steel and the other concrete:

"Northeast" by sculptor Joaquin vaquero Turcios, 1994.
"Eulogy of the Horizon" by Basque artist Eduardo Chillida, 1990.

At the peninsula, there is a park with old exercise equipment and an off-leash area for dogs. This is where the concrete sculpture is located.

We walked all around town, went inside the San Pedro Church, and visited the Roman baths (very small compared to those in Bath) next to Campo Valdes.

For lunch we found a nice local restaurant called El Paseo Restaurante located on Paseo de Begoña 8. http://www.engijon.com/restauranteelpaseo/index.htm. The young woman didn’t speak English so when I made my attempt to speak Spanish, she was so happy and would only talk to me! We were looking for a menu del dia – a typical Spanish menu that includes a starter, entrée, dessert and wine, which is always a good deal. From what she motioned and said, the kitchen was not quite ready to serve people. As we were about to leave when she motioned us to sit and proceeded to write down a menu for us. Now that’s service! The starter was a rich fish soup; the entrée was a choice of baked fish or breaded chicken breast stuffed with cheese and deep-fried, each with potatoes, flan or another type of dessert, wine and water. All for 11.50€ each. We even asked for another bottle of wine, which we were willing to pay but she did not charge. She really took good care of us and we all appreciated her efforts despite the language barrier.

More walking after lunch along with some window-shopping and gift shopping. Gijon is a very clean city and I liked walking along the pedestrian streets.

Back on the ship by 3pm, Tony and I sat on the balcony with some of the gang. Later we went to happy hour and then to the 7pm show – an excellent and quite funny ventriloquist (Gareth Oliver, semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent), although he was crude on occasion. He sang as well. It’s difficult enough to “talk” via the puppet but I was amazed at his singing.

Dinner: Pheasant terrine with cherries, Caesar salad, veal medallions with wide ribbon pasta.

Friday 4 November 2011, La Coruña Spain

It was a cold morning but warmed up the high 50s. The port was next to the main town area, so no need for any shuttle service. The same group as yesterday (except Carolyn and Mark who had a ships tour to Santiago Compostela) headed out together to tour the city. We walked along the water and beach and up to the tower of Hercules, a lighthouse built by the Romans around the 2nd century. Inside there is an archaeological excavation. Everyone except Tony climbed the stairs to the top for great city and coastline views. Down below is a compass rose along the oceans edge.

We headed towards the city center passing parks and churches. I loved seeing the jamon shops with the many cured Serrano hams hanging from the ceilings. Tony and I bought a chorizo y queso sandwich to eat while walking.

Iglesia de San Jorge is a beautiful baroque-style Church with two towers. Just around the corner is the large Plaza de Maria Pita with the city hall. There are a lot of pedestrian streets with shops and restaurants, including those that advertise pulpo, octopus! Tony, Glenn, Carol and I stopped for a mouth-watering snack of grilled pulpo with paprika, fried calamari, Spanish cheese, and beer and wine at Taberna do Pulpo (calle Franja 11.). It wasn’t cheap (11€ per person) but was excellent and I love pulpo!

Some of the stores were closed (siesta) but we were able to shop in others. One shop was about to close when the gang walked in. It was a costume jewelry shop and everyone bought a little something.

We slowly headed back to the ship. It was our last touch of land before our seven days at sea as we set sail for Miami. We left the port at 2pm. As we sailed from the port, passing the tower of Hercules, dark clouds moved in and it rained in the distance.

After a short nap Tony and I headed to Michael’s club for happy hour. We met Kimberly and Bill. I finally ran into Lee and Mike, the first time since I saw them in London! Yes, it’s a big ship but I still expected to run in to friends sooner than later.

Before dinner, we went to the martini bar. I saw my friend Nastja, the onboard coordinator, who I met last year when I coordinated some events for fellow CCr’s. We chatted for about 15 minutes.

Dinner: Oysters Rockefeller, liver paté, rib eye steak; bottle of Malbec wine.

The evening performer was Amanda Russell, a vocalist. She was fine but not great. Back in our cabin, Louisa, Robin, Glenn, and Carol joined us for drinks.

Saturday 5 November 2011, the First of Seven Sea Days

The café was crowded at breakfast time. I wore the sea bands that Evan had given me a few days earlier and took a Dramamine 1-2 times a day. After this day I didn’t need to wear the sea bands. Thank goodness because they were really tight on my wrist.

The morning lecture was, “Columbus Goes West” and about his first voyage in 1492. Again, a very interesting lecture. The next lecture was with Nigel West, who talked about espionage. He didn’t hold my interest so I left and never went back to his other lectures.

Gareth Oliver performed at 3pm. He was supposed to perform on the ship until we docked in either Vigo or the Azores and move on to perform on another ship. He was ‘stuck’ on board all the way to Miami.

I met Lee and Mike for tea at Café Baccio. Glenn joined us too. Carol was probably at the casino and Tony was reading his book someplace on the ship.

Tony and I met a nice couple in Michaels who were from Chicago.

Dinner: I had the seafood linguini, the only entree on the cruise I didn’t like.

Clocks turned back one hour.

Photo Links:

Gijon: http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/Spain/Gijon-Spain/20295630_hQctZm#1604761769_Lr8Gsn5

La Coruña: http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/Spain/La-Coruna-Spain-2011/20536786_TTbbrm#1626744121_kSRFJFV

Sunday 6 November 2011

My day consisted of exercising on deck for about 45 minutes, followed by breakfast at the Tuscan Grill with friends; the morning lecture on “Magellan: First Time Around;” and doing some journaling on my computer. I also tried to access the internet but the ship’s satellite kept going off line. In fact, I lost lots of minutes and asked the woman in the computer room to credit my account but she never did. At least the minutes were complimentary (elite perk).

The waves weren’t as bad as yesterday but I still took my Dramamine every day.

Carol, Glenn, Marjorie and I participated in the daily 4:30pm trivia game, which was held on deck 3 at the Passport bar. There were so many people, that a lot of us sat on the grand foyer stairs. It was a lot of fun and we did very well.

The entertainer for the evening was Jack Walker, who is from Scotland, and sung beautifully.

Dinner (escargot, caprese salad, shrimp scampi; crème brulee) followed by lots of dancing in the sky lounge and then Quasar till 1am.

Clocks turned back one hour.

Monday 7 November 2011

The rest of the cruise I did a lot of the same things (exercised, breakfast, trivia with Carol, Glenn, and Marjorie; happy hour; daily lectures; reading my book, etc.).

Podium lectures for the rest of the cruise were:

The Legendary Captain Cook
Mutiny on the Bounty
The Mystery of John Franklin’s Lost Expedition
Shackleton: Against all Odds

The seas were rough so the afternoon captain’s club celebration and kitchen galley tour were canceled.

Formal night.

Tony and Glenn enjoyed the whiskey tasting in Michaels. They sampled five or six types of whiskey.

Dinner: Carol and I split an order of sweetbreads. I had the lobster bisque and then the duck l’orange.

Clocks back one hour.

Tuesday 8 November 2011

Carol and I sat poolside in the shade reading our books and shared a plate of food for lunch that Glenn got for us from the Aqua spa café. It was a nice healthy lunch of salmon, sushi, and vegetables.

Approximately 60 CCr’s participated in the afternoon cabin crawl where you get to see select cabins. I like checking out the suites and larger balconies. The couple in the penthouse offered their cabin for viewing. Wow!! What an incredible cabin! It was huge. There were flat screen tvs in almost every room, including the bathroom. A baby grand piano sat in the living room. The balcony was also big and included a jacuzzi. Sweet!

Immediately after the crawl, I hosted a wine tasting party with the assistance of Nastja. Lots of fun! Those that participated brought a bottle of wine from their hometown or bought a bottle in one of the ports. It was held in the sky lounge and Nastja made sure there were plenty of glasses and bottle openers for us. She also had a bartender to assist.

The ship has a few specialty restaurants. My new favorite is Qsine, a funky and fun place for dinner. You order your food on an ipad. We were a party of eight: Carol, Glenn, Carolyn, Mark, Steve, Jeanette, Tony and I. Our waitress told us to pick what we wanted as Steve selected them on the ipad. The waitress looked over the list and said we ordered too much but would help us choose so we had an interesting variety. Some of the things we ate were: Mediterranean lamb chops (excellent!), seviche (a favorite), spring rolls served in ... yes… large metal springs; lava crab; disco shrimp (served in a glass bowl that lit up like a disco light); kobe burgers, sushi lollipops; cupcakes that you decorate with sprinkles and frosting. It’s best to go to Qsine with a minimum of six people but no more than eight. Go hungry and go early. Dinner lasted about 2.5 hours. It was so much fun, and the food was so delicious that we booked it for our next cruise.

My Qsine food photos: http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Cruises/Eclipse-2011-Cruise-Food/20065557_C7NbV8#1582277684_XQWdHXp

Clocks turned back one hour.

Wednesday 9 November 2011

Today was brunch at sea. The entire service in the dining room was chaotic and unorganized. Food items that should have been close together were not and you had to zigzag all over the place. People cut in line – so rude. It was almost not worth doing, although the food was good.

I went to the afternoon Captains club celebration with my friends while Tony relaxed on the balcony with his book.

Happy hour in Michael’s with Carolyn and Mark. Alana (I met her back in 2009) and Anastasia joined us.

Tony and I dined with my friends Deb and Robert and others to celebrate their anniversary in the Tuscan Grill. The food was exceptional, especially the filet mignon. The seafood salad was also very good. The only disappointment was the fried calamari appetizer. Tony and I shared it. It was a small portion, but with the rest of the meal, I was quite full. Deb and Robert were served a chocolate cake.

Thursday 10 November 2011

Tony and I had a very nice surprise – an invitation to dine with Bernhard Stacher who was the hotel director, so we would be dining at the Director’s table, rather than the Captain’s table. Tonight was the last formal night, so we looked forward to a delightful evening.

I liked the afternoon international crew show (one woman had an incredible singing voice, one person break-danced, and another couldn’t sing at all but was so enthusiastic we all loved him). I watched some of the glass blowing show, and later watched the pool volleyball tournament. It was a beautiful day and about 75 degrees.

The second CC party was held in the sky lounge. Mike hosted a gift exchange, which Mike hosted where those that participated brought a $10 gift from their hometown. I brought a book about Maryland ghost stories. Last year it was a Maryland seafood cookbook.

Those that received invitations to dine with Bernhard met at the Cellar Masters at 8:10am. Jonette (captain’s club hostess) offered us a drink before dinner. Bernhard arrived and introduced himself to everyone. At 8:30pm we went to the dining room. There were eight guests plus Bernhard and another officer. We talked to the two couples closest to us throughout the evening. Sitting at a long table makes it difficult to talk to everyone. The photographer took a group photo, which we received two copies at the end of the evening.

Dinner was delicious. I had the steak tartar, filet mignon with a truffle sauce, and an Austria apple strudel type dessert, which was excellent. Red and white wine was served throughout the dinner. The waiters were very professional in their service. At the end of the evening, all of the women received a beautiful red rose, which was a nice touch to the ending of an excellent evening.

After dinner, we went to the theatre to watch the European-style Cirque du Soleil show. I started to doze off. It must have been the wine from dinner.

Clocks turned back one hour.

Friday 11 November 2011

Veterans/Remembrance Day. I was in the theatre just before the lecture started. I could barely hear Dru’s (cruise director) announcement about Veterans day. Standing near me was a staff member so I asked her why announcements were never made in the theatre. She wasn’t sure and walked away. A few minutes later a staff member walked on stage and repeated Dru’s announcement to the audience.

Last day on the ship, so I started my packing.

Several of us attended the Riedel wine workshop, which was held in the afternoon. This was workshop to learn how the shape of a glass affects the taste and experience of wine. We had four types of wine that were served in the Austrian crystal Riedel glasses. There was also a “dummy” glass. As we moved from one to the next, we would sip the wine in the proper glass, then pour it into the ‘dummy’ glass and would taste again. We would even move a red wine to a glass that should be used for a white. It was fascinating and I was clearly convinced that having the right shaped glasses makes for a more enjoyable wine. The workshop was about $15 per person but you could do the more expensive option, which included a set of wine glasses.

Dinner: Escargot, a nice salad with avocado, prime rib, crème brulee.

Glenn, Carol, and I danced in the Quasar club till midnight.

Saturday 12 November 2011

It was time to leave the ship and fly home. I woke up at 4:30pm and couldn’t get back to sleep. I finally got up at 6am and after getting dressed I stood out on the balcony and talked to a few balcony ‘mates’. Two more ships docked so I knew the airport would be very busy.

We went to the main dining room to wait for our grouping to be called, although we should have gone to the elite lounge. Alana came by to say goodbye to us and I wish I had said goodbye to Nastja. We were called about 7:40am and were off the ship 10 minutes later. We found our luggage quickly and went outside.

My friend Judy, who lives in Ft. Lauderdale, picked us up and we spent the morning with her in South Beach having an early lunch. She later took us for a drive before dropping us at the airport.

We had a good flight home and picked up Lucy the next day – she’s always happy to see us.

It was a great cruise with good company, delicious foods, and wonderful ports. I’m looking forward to my next two cruises!

Photo Links:

Food photos

http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Cruises/Eclipse-Food/20100498_CHhNKH#1586351069_CJ7tXsZ

Onboard the ship

http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Cruises/On-Board-the-Eclipse-with/20105260_hbCz7d#1586582442_Jx5jPPt

New Years Eve at Olive's Restaurant

2012-01-01T11:48:00.010-05:00

NEW YEARS EVE, 31 DECEMBER 2011

Last night Tony and I spent new years eve at Olive's in downtown Frederick. Olive's has been open since the summer of 2010 and is one of our favorites in Frederick. Jay, the owner, recently purchased the building and had part of it converted to a banquet hall.

Dinner with a premium bar was $100 per person (plus tax and gratuity). There were 49 guests. Davide, the chef, put on a huge spread of foods.

Appetizers included raw oysters, smoked salmon canapes, various bruschetta:

A variety of salads:

Main entrees:

Roasted ham; Baked salmon; Penne pasta.

Spaghetti di Mare; Ravioli di zucca (pumpkin filled) - my absolute favorite of the night!

Chicken Marsala; Steak Florentine

Mashed potatoes and polenta; Cotechino Stew (sliced sausage and lentils).

Delicious desserts: Tiramisu, chocolate cake, limoncello cheese cake, fresh fruit, and chocolate-filled canapes.

Everything was delicious, but as I previously stated, the ravioli was the best!

Fun times!
with Keva & Liz
Tony & Jay (owner of Olives)
The band

with Lianne
with Davide, the chef

Olives
http://www.olivesfrederick.com/
301-378-2045
info@olivesfrederick.com
137 N Market St.
Frederick, Maryland 21701

2011-10-10T21:58:00.002-04:00

Finally! I spent the day putting my photo book together on my Hawaii trip, as well as uploading my photos to my web site:

http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/Hawaii/Hawaii-2011/17177712_K8RFvF#1522705740_BrvBHJ8

Hope you get the chance to look at it.

Monica

Teres Latin Market

2011-07-30T17:07:00.009-04:00

Today I met up with a new friend, Lee, who will be on my cruise next year along with her significant other and some of my other cruise friends. We decided to meet for lunch at the half way point in Ellicot City, about a 45-minute drive for each of us.

Teres Latin Market sits in a small strip plaza on Rte 40, near Rte 29. It's a small grocery store filled with typical Latino foods with a dining area in the back. With only two tables and a long counter with stools, Teres serves authentic Mexican/Latin American dishes.

Lee ordered the chicken mole, which is a spicy red, thick sauce and served on top of the chicken. I ordered the carne asada. Our meals came with small tortillas, salad, seasoned rice, and re-fried type beans. We shared a cheese filled pupusa, which came with shredded lettuce and sauce. Everything was very good, although my meat was a little tough to cut.

Our meals with two bottles of water for me and a bottle of water and soda for Lee came to $24.

Other dishes served included tamales, tacos, and even fried whole fish that looked delicious.

Tortillas

My carne asada
Chicken mole (yes, there's chicken under the sauce!)

We had a most enjoyable afternoon talking about our past cruises, our future cruise on the Celebrity Silhouette, and just getting to know each other. We have a long wait till our cruise, but I know we'll meet up many times before then.

As for the restaurant, I think it's a great place for an inexpensive and authentic Latino meal.

Address:
8525 Baltimore Natl Pike # 1, Ellicott City, MD 21043-4290
(410) 313-8555

Sumittra Thai Cuisine and Jazz for Dessert

2011-06-13T12:24:00.005-04:00

11 June 2011

Tony and I dined at Sumittra, a new Thai restaurant in downtown Frederick Maryland. The place has tables for about 60-65 people and is set with a contemporary design with melon colored walls and pillars and exposed brick.

We started our meal with Tod Mun Pla - spicy fish cakes (four of them) that has a red curry paste and is served with a sweet chili sauce and chopped peanuts ($8).

For our second appetizer, I selected one of their Sumittra specials, the Peking Duck Roll - crispy duck wrapped in an Asian pancake (also with cucumber and scallions) and is served with a hoisin sauce. The sauce was the perfect sweet balance against the rich duck flavor. ($9)

One of our favorite Thai dishes is Prik Glua. We used to order it all the time at Benjarong Thai Restaurant in Rockville. We've never seen it on any menu at the other Thai places in Frederick so we were pleasantly surprised. We selected the shrimp, although you can order pork, chicken, steak, seafood, or tofu & Vegetable.

This dish is an explosion of flavors. The shrimp (eight large) are lightly battered and then sauteed with a chili and garlic sauce. Not has hot/spicy as the ones we get at Benjarong, the flavors are great. Rice is served with this dish. ($18).

Fresh fruit - water mellon - is provided after dinner, which is a nice touch.

The restaurant was pretty full. Service was fine and quick. The place doesn't have their liquor license yet but should have it in a week or two. This saved on our dining bill. Prices are reasonable, although I found the seafood and shrimp selections to be a little pricey.

I saw lots of other tasty looking dishes, so I look forward to returning here soon.

Sumittra
12 East Patrick Street
Frederick MD 21701
301-668-2303
Open daily except Tuesdays

After dinner, we headed to our 'usual' spot in town, Olives, for drinks and entertainment. Heading up for the evening was Iva Ambush and Trio. It was their first time performing at Olives and they were great!

Hawaii Trip Report - May 2011

2011-05-27T16:12:00.032-04:00

8 May 2011, Sunday

Tony and I are sitting in first class seats on USAirways somewhere over the Pacific Ocean! We are heading to Hawaii for 11 nights. Wish it were longer but still happy. Well be splitting our time between Oahu and Maui. Having grown up on Oahu, I always want to go home. This will be my first time to Maui.

We started our travels yesterday, 7 May 2011, out of DCA flying stand-by to Phoenix. Our original plans were to spend the night near the airport and fly to Phoenix this morning and change planes to Hawaii, but Tony decided we should go the night before. This was a great idea, as it breaks up the two flights. Tony purchased upgraded tickets for first class: $10 per person for continental flights and $100 per person for international flights. A flight to Hawaii is considered international by USAirways due to the distance over water.

We are able to check the flights to see how many seats are empty and how many non-revenue passengers are listed and their priority. Tony gets “SA1” priority each year, which bumps him up to the top of the list. If another employee uses his or her SA1, then it’s based on date of hire. In our case, Tony was still above everyone else. In checking the flights we knew we would not get first class seats from DCA but for the Phoenix to Honolulu flight, there were 129 seats available in coach (47 passengers) and 12 available in first class!! There are 10 of us in first class, so I guess they upgraded some frequent flier passengers.

The flight yesterday was pretty smooth. The flight was pretty full and we couldn’t get seats together. That was fine. We were just happy to be on board. I enjoyed the views from above and saw some mountains with snow still on top. I also saw lots of circular fields. I wonder what’s the purpose of them being round instead of rectangular.

We arrived to a hot and dry 90-degree Phoenix. Got our bags and caught the courtesy van to the Sheraton hotel, which was just 8 minutes away. Our room, 350 was nice and faced the inner courtyard with the pool area. We went directly to the bar and had dinner: Steak salad for me and a burger and fries for Tony.

I wasn’t thinking about the time difference, looked at my clock – 8:20pm – and called Mom. Woke her up. I felt so bad! It’s a 3-hour time difference and she goes to bed pretty early.

Once we landed in Honolulu, we picked up our Enterprise rental car and I drove us to the Hale Koa in Waikiki. This was our third time at the Hale Koa, which is a military resort in the heart of Waikiki. It has prime beach front, a fun Barefoot tiki bar, beautiful pools and grounds, and best of all the room prices are great. I booked a garden room for $136/night and that's inclusive of all taxes since this is a government resort.

We had to wait a couple of hours for our room, so we dropped off the luggage at the storage area and had brunch at the Koko Cafe. We tried to get in the main restaurant, as they serve a fabulous champagne brunch, but the wait was too long for our hungry stomachs.

After lunch, we walked around the area and ended up at the Barefoot bar. We enjoyed our first mai tai's of the trip.

At 3pm our room was ready so we headed to #639, which is a corner room and has a nice wrap around balcony, so we could peek at the ocean in addition to enjoying the city/mountain views.

For the afternoon, we walked around Waikiki taking in all of the activity. Waikiki looks like it's about to burst at the seams with all of the buildings. I saw new stores and a new Trump tower, which looked beautiful. We walked around the International market place but I didn't buy anything knowing I could buy souvenirs at the Aloha stadium at a cheaper price later in the week.

We ate at the Hula Grill for dinner. It was a light dinner of a few appetizers at the bar. Just outside was a beach concert, which is held at Duke's.

9 May 2011, Monday

I wanted to see some of the downtown sights and decided to drive and finding a parking garage, rather than taking The Bus. I actually called the Iolani Palace to see about guided tours (not on Mondays) and was given the address for a parking garage near by.

We walked around Chinatown, checked out the various markets with the wonderful selection of fruits, vegetables, fish, etc., some of which we couldn’t idenfity.

We had lunch at Nayong Filipino Fast Food restaurant, a tiny hole-in-the-wall place. Tony ordered a lunch plate of adobo pork, chorizo, rice, and noodles to share, as well as vegetable and pork lumpias. Yum! I think the adobo pork was the best of the meal. The area has lots of restaurants to choose from. A longer vacation is needed.

At the Iolani Palace, we donned the shoe covers, which protect the flooring in the palace. With our audio guides, we visited the various rooms. I remember when we were there in 1988 (on our honeymoon) we were able to walk up/down the beautiful Koa stair case and walk right up to the royal chairs. Now they’re roped off. I’m always saddened when I re-read the history of Hawaii, the last of the Hawaiian royalty, the overthrow, and Queen Lili`uokalani’s imprisonment. On a positive note, I’m proud of the Hawaiians today for keeping their ancient history alive, their song, their dance, and their traditions.

The basement of the palace has about 50 rooms, many of which are filled with artifacts, as well as the kitchen area. There is an organization, Friends of the Iolani Palace, that is trying to locate the missing pieces of furniture and artifacts that were taken from the palace. It would be wonderful to have the palace fully restored.

After relaxing on our balcony, we headed to Tiki’s in Waikiki to meet up with fellow Fodorites (Melissa, Lucy, Paula, David, Hank, and Janice). Tony and I met Melissa and Lucy back in 2003 with other Fodories. I told Melissa I would like to meet at Tiki’s. Love the place and the food. She made the arrangements with the marketing manager, got us a nice table, complimentary parking for 3 hours (which was the right amount of time) and we had a great time. We received complimentary pupu’s: Kalbi beef gyoza, ahi-tuna spread with toast, and edamame that was coated in a decadent white truffle oil. The edamame was so good that some of us used the empty edamame shells and toast to sop up the oil. The gyoza and tuna tartar was also delicious.

While enjoying our pupu’s and tropical drinks (love the Mai Tai’s), Ronnie Nasuti, executive chef, came out to say hello. He previously worked at Roy’s in Hawaii Kai and is now at Tiki’s. Handsome man and very friendly.

Everyone selected different dishes for dinner. Tony had the all-you-can eat ribs (with a guava glaze), but could barely finish the first rack. The waitress recommended additions to the prime rib poke: noodles, avocado and mushrooms. What a flavorful combination and the avocado (one of my favorite foods) was creamy and perfectly ripe. It was a heavy dish, but after the pupu’s and a taste of Tony’s ribs, I was stuffed.

Lucy brought fragrant leis for Paula, Janice, and me. I kept it as long as possible; Melissa passed out local grocery bags. Hawaii is very “geen” and many stores ask people to bring their own. Tony and I selected one with local foods and sayings on them. Thanks ladies!

The food:

Melissa has a nice write up of our evening : http://www.nonstophonolulu.com/blogs/urbanmixplate/before-there-was-twitter/

After we left, we went to the Barefoot bar and talked with some friends we met the other night.

10 May 2011 Tuesday

Tony and I woke up very early. I can’t seem to get in 8 hours of sleep.

The Hale Koa has a continental breakfast/orientation that we went to. They start with a short show with performers from the Polynesian Cultural Center, and then a talk on the various tour options. We won tickets to Pearl Harbor, but we didn’t use them. We preferred to be flexible in our days.

We drove to Ford Island and visited the Pacific Air Museum. Next to the large hanger is the still-standing air traffic control tower that survived the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Scaffolding is all around the tower with workers restoring this historical building. Admission was $12 with a military discount. Two hangers contained aircraft such as the P40, Japanese Zero, B25, SBD, F4F, and N3N (yes, I had Tony give me the info, as I recognized just a few of them). There’s a small cafeteria where we had lunch. I had the mahi mahi sand which and decided this fish is not one of my favorites. Should have gotten a cheeseburger like Tony did. When we first arrived to the place we could smell something delicious. Well, it wasn’t this place but at a building across the street. We didn’t discover this until we were leaving. So, for those of you out there, go across the street to eat!

Before leaving Ford Island, we drove to the housing area and I took some photos of the Arizona Memorial, which I had shots from the backside. We could see people standing on the memorial looking down to the water.

While winding our way back to Waikiki, we stopped at a Foodland and picked up some snacks, including ahi poke and tako poke (tuna and octopus, each marinated in soy sauce and other ingredients).

Being a sunny afternoon, we enjoyed some beach time right outside our hotel for about an hour. I think this beach area is some of the nicest in Waikiki.

After showering and some of our snacks and drink, we headed to the Shore Bird for dinner. One of the flight attendants recommended this cook-your-own-steak place, which sits beachside. It wasn’t on my list of dining options but Tony wanted to go there. We were seated in a very dark area, so I asked to be moved. There was no way either of us could read the menu so I knew we wouldn’t be able to see what we were eating. We had a drink at the bar while waiting for a better table. Our table had plenty of light but was close to the grill area, although it wasn’t too hot.

We grilled our meats and enjoyed it with the salad bar fixings. Our evening ended at the Barefoot bar with Mai Tai’s in hand (are you surprised?).

11 May 2011, Wednesday

Finally, some sunshine! It was beautiful out with clear skies towards the ocean and some clouds toward the mountains (typical).

We went to the Aloha stadium for the weekday swap meet. We got there early and found a parking spot in the shade. I left all my camera gear at the hotel just in case…. We walked around the area and bought a few items. Should have bought more, as the prices are really cheap compared to the shops in Waikiki.

Back at the hotel, we dropped off our shopping goodies and headed out to the north shore. A friend we met at the Barefoot bar the other night said the waves were pretty high. Not for us! Flat, flat, flat. We stopped for a bit but continued to Waimea arboretum and gardens, but Tony was wearing flip flops and he was not about to walk the long distance, so we decided to do this another day or visit the Lyon arboretum.

Lunch at the L&L drive inn in Laie. We shared the Hawaii BBQ mixed plate (Hawaiian Barbecue beef, chicken, & short ribs with two scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad), which was filling and tasty.

We stopped at the park near Chinaman’s hat island. I wish we had better weather!

We drove back to our hotel via the Pali highway but didn’t stop at the lookout – really clouded over. It would be better in the morning for photo taking.

For dinner, we dined at Dukes, one of our favorite places. Tony and I love how they service their Opah (moon fish) with the macadamia nut, parmesan cheese, and herb crust. It’s topped with a lemon sauce and capers and served with creamy garlic mashed potatoes and string beans. I wish we could get this type of fish in Maryland. The salad bar was nice too with a good selection to choose from. I was hoping for a table close to the beach but the place was packed – as usual. Service was fast and we were in/out in an hour!

12 May 2011, Thursday

We took a drive around the eastern part of Oahu. We started with a drive around Diamond Head and I took some photos of the surfers in the water. There were a couple dozen riding the small waves. It was an overcast morning. We drove through Kahala and to Hawaii Kai. Oh my goodness! Hawaii Kai has certainly grown. More homes further back on the ridges and at least 3 new high rises. Kaiser High school – attended a long time ago - looks the same.

Hanauma Bay was beautiful with blue, blue waters. I got some very nice shots. We were there for just 30 minutes (cheap parking at $1). The sun was out on this side of the island. We stopped at Sandy Beach where I used to body surf and watched the people in the water. Also stopped at Makapu’u point. Fabulous scenery!

Lunch in Kailua at the Ohana BBQ, a Korean hole-in-the-wall place. Delicious plate lunches. I had the Kalbi ribs and chicken katsu and four types of vegetables: Pickled cucumber and bean sprouts, kimchee, and cabbage. Tony had the same ribs and a beef Jun, which was thinly sliced beef that was egg-battered and pan-fried. Oh so ono!

Heading back to towards Honolulu we stopped at the Pali Lookout ($3 to park). The clouds clung to the peaks of the mountains but the views were great. The temperature was cool. I remember when I was little and barely 40 pounds I could lean into the high winds and not fall over.

We drove to Manoa valley and visited the Lyon Arboretum. It was lightly raining but the forest treetops kept us mostly dry. We hiked for about 2 hours and got lost at one point. I should say we got off one of the main paths and created our own to cross over one area. We were waiting for a dinosaur to jump out, as it felt like Jurasic Park. There weren’t as many flowers as I hoped to see but still lush and beautiful with many types of plants, shrubs, and trees. I also saw a small taro garden. I bought a small spray tube of mosquito spray but it didn’t work at all. I had about 30 bites.

Back at the hotel, we had some mai tai’s and talked to Geri, one of the waitresses at the barefoot bar. We met her back in 2005 and we remembered each other. The last time she gave us a bunch of cocktail stirrers. This time she gave us some plastic cups so we could use them in our room – as long as they don’t get smashed in my suitcase.

In the room I showered while Tony started a load of a laundry. The laundry room was close to our room and only cost $4.75.

We walked around the grounds of the Hilton Hawaiian Village (saw some pink flamingos) and then a light dinner at Bibi’s café (burger for Tony and chicken quesadillas for me). More drinks at the Barefoot bar in the Hawaiian night air and then to bed.

13 May 2011, Friday – Off to Maui

We’re sitting at the airport waiting to fly to Maui. We’ve been getting up early every day so we were out of the hotel by 9am. We packed pretty quickly. Our flight #328 has been delayed and the plane should arrive at 12:15pm. Our original take off time was 12:02pm.

I had asked to sit on the right side of the plane, as I read that most times it’s be best side for viewing the islands below. Well, not this time. I did see Maui, but was really hoping to see Waikiki, Diamond Head, etc.
Haleakala in the distance

We picked up our Dollar rental car and headed to our hotel – Ka’ anapali Beach Hotel. It took close to an hour, as traffic was pretty bad in Kahalui. One of the staff at the hotel said there was an accident and we must have gone through the tail end of it.

We had to wait an hour for our room, so we sat at the Tiki bar and had some snacks (calamari and pork dumplings) and shared a mai tai. It wasn’t that great compared to all of the mai tai’s we had on Oahu.

I didn’t like our room at all! I booked a garden view room with an airline discount with “complimentary upgrade based on our availability at time of check-in”. During check-in the young woman said the place was “pretty full” when I asked about the complimentary upgrade. I called the front desk from the room and asked for another garden view room. The one we got (#169) faced the exterior of the complex and a building. The short bushes make the lanai feel very small and almost claustrophobic. I was told there were no other garden view rooms but that we could upgrade to a pool view room for an additional cost. I said, “If you have available rooms then shouldn’t we get the complimentary upgrade?”. She stated, “That’s not always the case.” I explained to her I had my letter from Ms. Kristelle (assistant reservations manager), which stated if there were available rooms we would get the upgrade. We were immediately moved to 160. Thank goodness we only had to move our luggage down the hallway.

This room (in the Kauai building) faced the interior gardens. We couldn’t see the pool at all, but it was a much, much better location with view of the gardens. We were on the first floor with two taro ponds in front of us. Lovely and tropical. In reviewing their hotel web site (back home), room 169 was actually an Aloha Value room (lowest category), which faces “exterior lawns or surrounding hotels.” We should have received the garden view room (160 is not a pool view room) in the first place, which is what I booked. A letter to Ms. Kristelle and Ms. Dora (reservations manager) will be sent to them.

View from our room

We relaxed at the hotel before meeting Paula at Star Noodle. She had been on Maui a few days and was heading home in the evening, so we met her for an early dinner. Reservations are not accepted, so it was good we arrived early (5:45pm). The place was full within the hour. Located in an industrial park, I guess only those “in the know” know about this place. I wouldn’t have found it unless told or read about it. The room is large with a communal table in the center and smaller tables for 2 to 6 people. From the windows you could look out towards the sunset.

Star Noodle is a place where you share dishes with your dinner mates. We shared the steamed pork buns (actually complimentary from our waitress who said they were extras) with a hoisin sauce, cucumber and shiitake mushrooms (excellent, flavorful, and I could have had a couple more!), a Vietnamese Crepe that is filled with shrimp, pork, bean sprouts and Nouc Cham sweet sauce (this was the most meaty Vietnamese crepe I’ve ever had and was delicious), Karaage chicken – deep fried and served with a miso mustard sauce (very good), and fried Saimin with kamaboko, spam, egg, bean sprouts, and scallions (delicious). For dessert, we ordered the malasadas (donuts), which came with three sauces for dipping: caramel, chocolate, butterscotch, and chopped peanuts - a nice ending to the dinner. I found the food to be reasonably priced but a glass of wine for $12 out of my pocket range.

At Walgreen’s nearby we picked up some vodka and wine for the room, sodas, and other times, headed back to the hotel to watch the live performance on stage (nightly), and then drinks on our lanai.

14 May 2011, Saturday

Tony had not been feeling well these last few days, so we both slept in. It seemed like he had a nasal infection and was coughing all night. I didn’t get much sleep and in fact I was beginning to get a sore throat. We missed the welcome breakfast at the hotel but would do it the next day.

For a late breakfast, early lunch we ate at Mama's Rib's & Rotisserie in the Napili shopping plaza. I had a delicious bowl of Portuguese bean soup – like I remembered in my younger days. Tony had a chicken sandwich. It’s a local fast-food joint and I saw a lot of take-out orders. We sat outside, as it was an absolutely beautiful day (84 degrees and dry).

We spent the part of the day driving up north stopping along the way. There’s a small parking lot in front of the Ritz hotel next to a golf course. We walked along side the golf course and right by an ancient Hawaiian burial site. Apparently Ritz had planned to build their hotel right on top of the burial sight, as they wanted an ocean front property. While digging, they discovered the graves. The Hawaiians put a stop to it after close to 900 remains were dug up. Most of the burial area is covered with plants with signs to stay out. The ocean scenery was beautiful. There’s also an area right next to the water with interesting lava formation. It’s called the Dragon’s Teeth for their shape.
Honolua Bay

Next we drove to Honolua Bay where we saw three catamarans in the water and many snorkelers enjoying the incredible blue water. We made other stops and walked along a couple of trails towards the ocean. I wanted to see the Olivine Pools, but it was too difficult a hike down and we had flip-flops on. Note to self: Keep walking shoes in the trunk of the car. From above we could see the pools but they weren’t very pretty. The water in the pools was murky. I was tempted to drive all the way around the north side but decided against it due to the 1.5 miles of single lane road. Someone would have to back up if it wasn’t near one of the turnouts.

We had some beach time at hour hotel. It was a hot afternoon, so I took a dip in the ocean. It felt refreshing.

Later we walked to Whaler’s Village, which just down the beach. There were lots of people on the beach and walkway waiting for the sunset. We went to the Hula Grill and had mai tai’s at the bar and then dinner. I had the fish of the day: Swordfish in a lemon butter sauce with rice and Chinese cabbage salad. Tony had …. a burger.

After dinner, we walked around the village and checked out a few of the stores. There’s a map store that sells originals, some up to $20,000.

In bed early, as I was feeling crappy.

15 May 2011, Sunday

This morning we got up early to attend the hotels welcome buffet breakfast and presentation. I didn’t read the card correctly – they don’t do it on Sundays. Oops!

It was a beautiful day so we spent the morning in Lahaina. We began with breakfast at Cheeseburger in Paradise. We sat upstairs next to a window with its great views of Lanai in the distance. I had the eggs benedict with hash browns and Tony had a burger with hash browns and a fried egg on top. Everything was tasty and service was good.

I had a self-guided walking tour map, which we followed. I had my map out and a man at a time-share shop offered to give me a better one, although I was using a guide from Frommer’s. We ended up booking a time-share lecture for Tuesday, as we were offered $125 in dining options. I thought it would be nice to have for a splurge dinner.

We walked by the Master Reading Room, Baldwin home, taro patch, Hauola stone (sitting at the ocean’s edge), brick palace, Pioneer Inn, the huge and ever-growing banyan tree, the courthouse (now a free museum including interesting artifacts on whaling), remnants of the fort, Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, Maluuluolele Park, and Waihee cemetery. There were other places to see, but it was getting hot.

Not feeling great, we went back to the room to nap. Later we walked to black rock and along the beach.

In the evening we sat at the bar at Lelani’s on the Beach where Johnny and Josh served us delicious mai tai’s. They were much better than at the hotel. For dinner I had the Kalua pig Cuban sandwich and a salad; Tony had the Kobe burger with a salad. Everything was excellent. One person at the table next to us was eating fish tacos, one item I was considering. He said they were delicious.

I was in bed early again hoping I would feel better. My sore throat was getting worse and Tony didn’t feel great either. Did we catch something on the flight over? I was beginning to be disappointed that we were not putting in full days of sightseeing. I've never been sick on a trip before.

16 May 2011, Monday

The welcome breakfast buffet was simple: scrambled eggs, Portuguese sausage, fruits, toast, and pastries. There was a short performance by the hotel staff and then a talk on the various tour opportunities on the island. I really wanted to snorkel at Molokini Island, but I wasn’t going to spend a lot of money getting there if I was feeling sick. Tickets were drawn, which we won complimentary drinks at the Tiki bar.

Today we drove around the area of the lower sloped of Haleakala called Up Country. Up Country consists of rolling hills, cattle farms, lavender gardens, and botanical gardens. I didn’t want to drive up all of the switch-backs to the top, so we visited the Kula botanical gardens (a family-run operation). We were there during peak flower blooming and we saw many exotic flowers and unique plants. There were also waterfall, a koi pond, and an aviary with lovebirds. These gardens were more beautiful garden than the arboretum on Oahu and we didn't get lost!

We stopped in Makawao, a small rustic town with art galleries and eclectic boutiques. For a light snack we ate spam musubi (fried spam on top of formed rice, wrapped with nori – seaweed – and pressed together) that we brought from the local grocery store. Spam is a staple in Hawaii from WWII. We visited some of the stores and Tony picked up some local hot sauces.

I considered stopping in Paia, located along the northern coast, but wanted to see Iao Valley State Park. Driving through Paia, We stopped at the beach to watch the wind surfers.

I was glad we didn't stop in Paia. It was packed with people and the traffic was bad. Located west of Wailuku on route 32, there is a natural rock pinnacle surrounded by sharp high mountain walls. The valley area is lush and thick with tropical plants and trees. This area is where King Kamehameha I defeated the Maui army in order to unite the Hawaiian Islands in 1790. Called the Battle of Kepaniwai, this battle changed the course of Hawaiian history.

Back at the hotel, we had our complimentary drinks at Tiki’s before heading to the bar at Lelani’s for dinner. We just ordered a couple of appetizers to share: Fried calamari and the nachos with Kalua pig. Oh wow, they were the best nacho’s I’ve ever had! Of course, the tender pork made the dish. Johnny asked if we had our receipt from the previous night. We did, so we were given a complimentary hula pie for dessert. He later gave us an extra receipt for this evening to use another night. The hula pie was rich and very filling with its oreo-like cookie crust, ice cream, whipped cream, and topped with chopped macadamia nuts.

17 May 2011, Tuesday

I didn’t sleep well at all, and in fact was probably up from 1am to 6am where I finally dozed off for a couple of hours.

Why did I decide to go to a time-share lecture? Yes, for the dinner coupon, which we would use to go to Roy's for dinner. We were told it would last only 90-minutes, but it ended up being close to 3 hours. Time-share seems to be a good concept and I was very tempted to buy in but Tony crunched the numbers and we decided there were too many expenses, too many risks, and felt they didn't have the right locations for the places we like to travel to, especially in Europe. It’s much cheaper to just rent a place or book a hotel on your own than taking the risk of a time-share. It may be great for people who would like to return to the same location every year.

For the rest of the afternoon, we swam at Black Rock. I snorkeled with four turtles! I just floated around them while they munched on algae on the coral.

I made reservations a few weeks in advance for the Old Lahaina Luau (OLL). There are a few different companies but based on my research, OLL has the most authentic Hawaiian show. Having grown up in Hawaii, I've had all of the foods typically served at a luau, but never attended one. Tony had never been to one either. The ticket prices were high but I was able to get a military discount. Seat choices (closest to stage and back) are by first booked, first served. When I called I just asked the woman to pick any day that we were in Maui that had the best available seats.

We arrived too early to get inside, so we walked across the street to the Cannery shopping center. We window-shopped and I picked up a few items. In a t-shirt store, I saw one with a triggerfish, called "humuhumunukunukuapua'a" in Hawaiian. I taught Tony to say this long word several years ago! Just below the triggerfish, it read, "Humuhumunukunuku, yada yada, yeah whatever."

At the check in counter, we paid for our tickets. The woman looked up my name and said, "Kamaaina rate" and charged us less than the military rate - by about $30! We were handed over to a handsome Hawaiian (Randy), scantly dressed with some beautiful tattoos. We walked right past the long line of people waiting to get in and went to our table. Randy got us some mai tai's and explained how the evening would proceed. Tony and I looked at each other wondering why we seemed to be elevated to a higher status. Well, I think Melissa had a hand in this. We later saw our receipts, which on them were written, "Have fun! Aloha from Melissa". I later found out from her that yes, she had a hand in this. Mahalo Melissa!

In the center of the grounds was a round stage with the beach behind it. There were seating areas around 2/3rds of the stage where people could sit on mats. Tony saw them and said, “I'm glad we're not sitting there”. I told him I requested conventional seating (chair/table) rather than traditional mat seating. His knees thanked me. The regular tables fanned out from the stage and ours was on the first row closest to the mat seats. Nothing obstructed our view of the evening’s performance.

Before dinner, you can wander the grounds. There were some Hawaiians making various crafts, as well as photographers taking photos that you can purchase as a souvenir, although we received a coupon for a complimentary photograph. When the time came, many gathered around the "Imu" (underground oven) to watch the unearthing of the kalua pig. With it, one of the men explained the preparation of the pig and the luau.

The buffet was great! It's an all you can eat, but I couldn't finish my plate. The buffet included foods such as the kalua pig, lau lau, lomi lomi salmon, crab salad, ahi poke, grilled tenderloin steak, chicken long rice, island style chicken, poi, fruit, rolls, etc. Various breads and rolls were brought to the table and later dessert.

Included in the price is a premium open bar. So, I had to have a few of their mai tai’s. They were very good. Randy took care of our table and made sure everyone had plenty of drinks.

Once the sun goes down, the evening entertainment begins. The performers tell the story of the history the Polynesian migration, the Hula, and the modern hula. Their web site reads:

“~ Oteÿa- Our program begins with the early migration of the Polynesians across the Pacific to the “new islands” of Hawaii.
~ Kahiko- The ancient Hula was a way of communicating with the Gods. It is accompanied by chanting, and traditional implements and is performed with respect for our ancestors.
~ Missionaries and the Merrie Monarch- The missionaries brought many changes. We present Hula depicting this era as well as celebrating King Kalakaua.
~ÿAuana- The modern Hula was influenced by immigrants and tourism. Hula dancers tell their stories through their graceful moves, subtle eyes and lovely hula hands.”

The entire evening was wonderful and we were so glad we did this luau. I was always hesitant, as I read that many can be overpriced and tacky. This is truly a traditional luau with wonderful song, dance, and delicious Hawaiian foods. We even sat for a while after the show with a couple at our table and had a fun time talking to them.

18 May 2011, Wednesday

Today we drove to Hana, or I should say we headed towards Hana. We first stopped at Costco to get gas but realized they don't have a gas station. Inside, Tony needed to buy a pair of sunglasses. I headed to the jewelry section and lo and behold, they sell Hawaiian heirloom jewelry! Early birthday present! I ordered an 8mm bangle with an engraving on the inside. I should get it in two weeks. Prices were so much better than the retail stores. Go Costco!

Driving the Hana road can be very tiring for the driver - me. We stopped in many places so I could take pictures. The waterfalls were at a trickle, so we didn't bother to go all the way to Hana. At one point we took a hike in the jungle. It was an easy trail. After mile marker 22 or so, we headed back. Tony fell asleep quite easily with the curves of the road. So much for having a co-pilot in the car. The next time we’ll go all the way to Hana and around the south side.

Back in Kahalui, I picked up a few items at Target, including a reusable underwater camera. It was only $12. Now I have something for my snorkeling trips...as long as I can find film.

At Black Rock, I swam around five turtles that were munching on coral. It's a wonderful experience swimming with these endangered species. When one would start to swim towards me I would just float and let him or her decide which way to turn...sometimes right underneath me! I was always careful never to touch them and even reprimanded a young guy who was petting one. That's kapu! (forbidden). I shot off the roll of film in minutes of the turtles and fish in the area.

For dinner, we drove to Kahana and ate at Roy's, a popular place located in a shopping plaza. Roy's serves Hawaiian fusion cuisine. We started with drinks and then appetizers of crispy port and shrimp Lumpia and the flying dragon roll (with unagi, butterfish, avocado, macadamia nuts). We were given a bowl of seasoned edamame too. Tony had the seafood collection (Molokai shrimp, scallops, fresh fish, clams, and crab) and I had a white fish with a crab imperial type topping and shiitaki mushrooms, with mashed potatoes and green beans. We ended with their apple tart topped with macadamia nut ice cream and thin dolphin-shaped cookies. This was the best meal of our entire trip! The ingredients were fresh, everything was beautiful prepared, and everything tasted great.
Flying Dragon Roll
My fish
Tony's seafood

19 May 2011, Thursday

I was sad to leave Maui. Having been sick for a few days, we didn't get to see everything that I wanted to see. We didn't even hit south Maui! I got up early to buy a roll of film for my underwater camera. I wanted to take more photos of the turtles at Black Rock. Walgreen’s was just a 10-minute drive away.

Back at the hotel, we quickly changed into our bath suits and walked to the beach. The day was beautiful, sunny, and again, with dry weather. Out in the water I didn't see a single turtle! I was so disappointed. I suppose they were off someplace sleeping or eating. It was too bad because the lighting was much better in the morning and the water clearer. I did get some shots of Moorish Idols, trigger fisher, and other colorful fish.

We had the room until 1pm, but checked out around noon. In Lahaina, we had lunch at the Aloha Mixed Plate. We sat at one of the tables closest to the beach in the shade. I had the beef teriyaki with rice and macaroni salad; Tony had one of their burgers. The menu has a nice mix of local dishes and always with large portions.

After lunch, I re-parked the car closer to the center of town in a public parking lot. Our luggage was in the trunk but I had my valuables with me in my bag. We figured no one would break into a car that was in sight of everyone. Up near the banyan tree, I found a tattoo shop and yes, I decided to get a tattoo! I decided to get a permanent one instead of a 3-week temporary henna tattoo. I had been thinking about it for a week. I made my appointment for 4pm and then we went to a bar to hang out for a couple of hours (yes, I later read that drinking before getting a tattoo can thin out the blood and it’s a no-no - and yes, after close to 2 weeks now, it's pretty much healed).

Justin, the artist, helped me with the final design of a Hawaiian turtle, which I felt was very appropriate. I had it added to my right ankle. Yes, it hurt, stinging, as the needles plunged into my leg. But, it wasn't too uncomfortable. Being a small design, about 2" in length, it took only 40 minutes.

Done with the tattoo and bandaged up, we headed to the airport, dropped off the car and took the shuttle to the terminal. It was a long wait for our flight so we shared a small pizza from California Pizza Kitchen. Pretty good pizza but I wouldn't go out of my way to go there again.

Got seats one row back from the front exit door and we had the middle seat to our selves. I hate red-eye flights, as I can never sleep so I just tried to relax. It would be a long day getting home.

In Phoenix, Tony and I tried to get on two different flights in the morning but ended up on the 3pm flight. After trying for the second flight, I wanted to just get a hotel and fly home the next day but Tony wanted to try one more. Anne, the gate agent, was great. She got us listed for each flight and felt so bad for us that she asked her boss to work the 3pm flight just to see if we got on board. One stand-by passenger was trying for the same flights as us and gave us two complimentary USAirways Club Lounge cards. We enjoyed drinks, snacks, and comfortable chairs while passing the time. The internet connection was much faster in the room too.

There were only a few empty seats but all of the stand-by passengers made it on board. Tony and I were in different rows. We landed around 11:30pm, picked up Lucy around 1:30am, and were in bed (after a couple of glasses of wine, as we were wide awake) by 2:30am. I woke up at 3pm! I really needed the sleep.

Summary

It's always great to return to Hawaii, a place I call home and where I grew up. We made the best of our trip while being sick ( went to the dr. when I returned home and have bronchitis). We were somewhat disappointed in the weather on Oahu (it's been the wettest in years) but loved the dry, sunny temps of Maui. It's amazing that the islands, about 80 miles apart, had such different weather conditions. We loved the food and the mai tai's. I loved the scenery of the islands and enjoyed my time swimming with the turtles. It was great to see old friends and meet new ones. I'm looking forward to our next visit to the islands.

Brunch at Olive's!

2011-05-01T18:07:00.014-04:00

Today was the second time Olive's Restaurant served brunch. It's a wonderful new feature at their restaurant. For only $21.95, you can select from a variety of tasty foods along with either a mimosa, screw driver, or bloody Mary. Additional drinks are just $5. You can also order omelets at your table, which is a nice touch instead of standing in line waiting to have one made.

Here are some photos of the foods we enjoyed. I didn't take photos of every single item. In addition to below, there were waffles, salmon, lasagna, sausage links, etc.

This is a delicious corn, crab, and avocado salad. Lots of lump crab!
Garden salad; corn/crab salad; pickle spears; a wonderful salmon mouse with fresh baked bread.

Potatoes with vegetables; asparagus topped with parmesan cheese
Rice; mixed vegetables

Breaded chicken breast topped with cheese

Ray carving the turkey

Omelet made to order:

My plates:

Our friends Eddie and Vanessa joined us. His dessert - baklava! That's all he wanted after his huge meal. Pastry chef Andrew makes some of the best desserts in town, including baklava, a recipe from his grandmother.

Carrot cake! Scrumptious! A nice selection of fruits

Vanessa at the dessert table.

All in all, this was a delicious brunch and I look forward to returning again soon.

For reservations:

Olives Frederick
http://www.olivesfrederick.com/

301-378-2045

Brunch: Sundays 11:30am to 3:30pm.

Tulips After the Rain

2011-04-23T12:51:00.004-04:00

I took these this morning. It rained all night long.
Taken with the Nikon D7000, Nikon 70-300mm VR, and a Raynox DCR-150 filter.

New Toy

2011-04-17T19:56:00.007-04:00

My dream macro lens is a Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR, but it's out of my price range at this time, so I purchased a Raynox DCR-150 Converter, which I can use on two different lenses. It's a small macro lens and converter that attaches very easily and only $50 (compared to the almost $1,000 for the Nikon lens). These are the first and I must say it takes getting used to the shallow depth of field. I'm happy that spring is here so I can go out and take pictures of flowers...even bugs!

Here are a couple from today, 18 April 2011:

20 March 2011 Photos

2011-03-21T10:59:00.005-04:00

I went out again last night and used three lenses, including the wide Tokina 12-24 for the church/column photos for some fun shots.

Other photos can be viewed here.

I took these today (21 March 2011):

Blue Hour and the Moon

2011-03-20T09:40:00.010-04:00

I took these last night. The moon didn't quite come out properly but I'm very pleased with my Blue Hour photos:

Heading out again tonight!

Just Another Bistro

2011-02-13T16:59:00.011-05:00

12 February 2011:

Tony and I dined at Wild Tomato, a new restaurant (7945 MacArthur Blvd, Cabin John) in Maryland along with friends Bruce and Marcia.

It's a small restaurant that seats about 45 people. Reservations are not accepted, so we waited about 45 minutes. There is a small bar at the back of the room, which was filled with customers waiting for their tables. In fact, the entry way was crowded with customers with no room to stand comfortably.

It took a while for our waitress to take our order, as there were only three waiters taking care of this packed restaurant, one being the hostess.

Tony and I started with the Thai mussels, which were tasty. The mussels were plump and tender. The broth was rich and I enjoyed the flavors of lemongrass and Thai basil. Included were a few slices of crusty bread for dipping into the broth.

Bruce and Marcia ordered the fried clams. I had a taste and thought they were the best I've ever had. The clams were not over cooked, so they didn't have a rubbery or tough texture. Both Tony and I thought the quantity of the appetizers were very small for the prices they charged ($12 for the mussels and $11 for the clams).

For my entree, I ordered fish tacos, which were highly recommended and I agree, they were excellent. The white fish was lightly battered and served in soft tortillas with guacamole, shredded cabbage and carrots, and a chili mayonnaise. The tacos were served with a side of fresh-made salsa and chips. I was stuffed by the time I finished my meal, although I did have some help. I will say my food was cold, but I'll come back to this later.

Tony had a burger with a side of fried onion rings. He asked for it medium-rare and was pleasantly surprised it was cooked to order. The onion rings were thinly sliced and lightly battered and were not greasy at all.

Bruce had the pizza with three types of meats, which he enjoyed.

Marcia ordered the 1/2 chicken, also good, but wow, it must have been a 1/2 chick.

Okay, so the food was good, but here are the negative points of this place and why I say it's "Just another Bistro."

1. Expensive appetizers for the portions you get.
2. Wine list. Ridiculous! $8 for a 3.5 to 4 ounce glass for a house Pinot Grigio. The prices of bottles of wine started at $34 and went too far up in my mind for a bistro.
3. Very long wait to get a table.
4. A very long wait to get our food. The waitress had told us, "I'm sorry it's taking so long but we had a huge take-out order." What!?? Shouldn't a restaurant take care of their in-house customers first? And if not, shouldn't she have kept her mouth shut? It made us feel as if we were the last on their mind.
5. My tacos were cold.
6. Tony's hamburger and onion rings were cold as well.
7. As a beer snob (Tony), their beer list is sorely lacking.

Overall, it wasn't worth the wait for just another bistro.

A few photos from yesterday - Morning Fog

2011-02-06T12:54:00.003-05:00

I took these yesterday morning in a couple of spots in Frederick. It was a very foggy day. I used my Nikon D7000 and 35-70mm f/2.8 lens.

Just a photo of Lucy

2011-02-01T14:37:00.004-05:00

Gogi Bop

2011-01-30T17:49:00.016-05:00

Today Tony and I had lunch at Gogi Bop, a fast food Korean sandwich wrap place in Frederick (Rte 85, Westview Village shopping center). It's been open for 9 weeks now and I recently heard about it from a friend of mine.

Similar in 'style' as Chipotle, you go through the assembly line and select from a variety of fresh-grilled meats (pork, chicken, beef or shrimp) and vegetables (either grilled or fresh). Simply choose to have it as a wrap or in a bowl.

Tony selected the pork (slightly spicy) with grilled zucchini, mushrooms, and onions, while I selected the beef with grilled zucchini, mushroom, onions, corn, and shredded lettuce ($7.29 each). We also ordered the small portion of fried dumplings, that were filled with chicken, noodles, zucchini, cabbage and tofu ($2.99). Everything was tasty and filling. Along with the food, you can choose from several types of sauces, from sweet to hot and spicy.

While I liked the choices of vegetables, I think they need to add more of the typical Korean Banchan items: Kimchee, pickled bean sprouts, radish salad, and my favorite, spinach (sigeumchi namul) which is marinated with garlic, green onion, soy sauce and sesame oil.

Vegetable tempura would be a great addition to the menu.

Tony thought the portion of meat was too small. I found it to be okay but then my wrap was huge with the vegtables I selected.

Overall, a tasty lunch and a place we'll return to again.

We met the owner, Marty, who was happy to meet us and even talked with us for about 10 minutes.

A friend visiting from China

2011-01-17T09:35:00.004-05:00

December 2010

My friend Fiona came to the USA for the first time on a business trip. She's from China and I met her in Chengdu in October 2008. We first met via Trip Advisor when I was making travel plans to see the pandas and was looking for information on how to get to the panda preserve. We corresponded often so I finally asked her if she would be my guide. She's a wonderful person and I was so happy when I found out she would be in DC.

Tony and I met Fiona in DC, took her to dinner, and then we checked out the White House Christmas tree. It was freezing that night, but we had a great time.

I hope to return to China soon to see her again. And she's ready for another trip to the USA.

Rome and Cadiz Photos from my recent cruise.

2011-01-02T11:00:00.004-05:00

Cadiz photos: http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/Spain/Cadiz-Spain/15296178_doK56#1144444372_xWYdV

Rome photos here: http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/Italy/Rome-October-2010/15271284_FJKYS#1142487850_XxaLF

Eqinox Transatlantic Cruise October 2010 Journal

2010-12-31T14:55:00.005-05:00

This is my cruise journal for the Celebrity Equinox 31 October 2010 Transatlantic cruise. I sailed on the inaugural cruise of the Equinox last October 2009. It was a fabulous cruise and my first transatlantic. As I said in last year’s journal, it was like a roller-coaster ride: as soon as I got off, I wanted back on again, so I booked the Equinox for 2010. In fact, I booked the Eclipse TA for October 2011. Of course, these cruises were enhanced with fellow Cruise Critic passengers. Warning, this is a long trip report.

28 October 2010, Thursday

Louisa and I met up at Dulles international airport – Tony and Lucy (our dog) dropped me off. I had purchased a neat hand scale to weigh my bags. With the airlines charging for overweight luggage, I wanted to be sure I didn’t go over the limit and pay any luggage fees. I was traveling with a large 29” spinner suitcase and a carry-on bag. Louisa was sure her bag was over 50 pounds. A man saw me hook up the scale to her suitcase and said he was interested in seeing it. I asked him if he could lift the suitcase for me. Sure enough, it weighed 55 pounds. Louisa moved some things around and I added a few items to my carryon bag.

After check-in, we had drinks at the bar near the gate. Larry and Anne (from Kauai) joined us. They had arrived from LAX and were on our flight. We had a nice time with them. They bought our drinks, which was a nice treat. Thanks! We had also ordered fried artichoke hearts with aioli sauce, which hit the spot. There were several other cruise critic members on our flight, so we chatted with them at the gate.

We encountered lots of turbulence during the first portion of the flight. It smoothed out once we started to cross the Atlantic. A flight attendant came up and I showed her my USAirways ID card to see about getting some complimentary wine. She looked at my seat number and said, "32B and C, yes, we know about you, the Captain told us." A friend of mine is a captain for United and Tony had contacted her to see if she was flying our flight. She sent a letter to the captain on board asking if he could help us out. We enjoyed a few glasses of wine. Later during the flight, the captain came up to me and introduced himself. We talked for about 10 minutes. It was nice of him to take the time to chat with us.

Our flight landed about 20 minutes early but the taxi to the gate seem to take forever, reminding me of the taxing at Charles de Gaulle in France. After a quick check-in with customs and gathering our luggage, we met up with John, who had arrived from Boston. I hired Stefano from Rome Cabs to take five of us to Hotel Parlamento in Rome. The price was right: 60 euros plus tip for all of us. It took about an hour to get to the hotel, as we hit rush hour in Rome.

Hotel Parlamento (Via delle Convertite, 5) was in a great location: Close to the Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps, and around the corner from via del Corso, the famous shopping street. Just half a block away is a bus station, at piazza San Silvestro. The hotel has a tiny elevator, so it took a while to get all of the luggage up to the 3rd floor. Then there’s one flight of stairs to the hotel lobby. Our room (#94), one flight up from the lobby level, had a view of the inner courtyard. It was very quiet at night, so I didn’t mind the lack of views. The room was small and a tight fit with our luggage, but Louisa and I arranged the room so that we could walk around. Twin beds, on the soft side, were comfortable. Lighting was poor but I wasn’t surprised. Most hotels I’ve stayed in while in Europe seem to use low wattage. The room had a flat screen tv., a small table, and end tables next to the beds. The bathroom was a nice size with a large counter top space. Lighting could be better but we had a window for light and fresh air. Small shower and bidet.

Next to the lobby/check-in area is a small breakfast room. And on our floor, there’s a doorway to the rooftop terrace. Some of the rooms have direct access to the terrace. This was one area we used during the late afternoon or evenings, enjoying a glass of wine or two, or to simply sit and write in my journal.

Since we were staying just three nights, we didn’t unpack too many things. We headed out and explored our area. For lunch near the Spanish steps, Louisa and I enjoyed a tasty 10-euro antipasti buffet at Ristorante ala Rampa. You fill your one plate up for the 10-euro price. I had fresh mozzarella, meatballs, grilled eggplant and zucchini, white bean salad, calamari salad, marinated octopus, sautéed spinach, etc. Everything was delicious and I actually had too much on my plate. There were many other choices to select for lunch.

The Spanish Steps were packed with people sunning themselves, as it was a beautiful sunny day. I went inside the church at the top, Trinita dei Monti. It was my first time there. Not as spectacular as other Churches' in Rome. The weather was on the cold side, so I was glad that I brought my London fog heavy jacket. We walked along via del Corso and window shopped. Fancy shoes, boots, and elegant dresses were on display.

Later, we met up with John on the terrace for some drinks before dinner. For dinner, we dined at Colline Emiliane (via degli Avignonesi, 22, 00187 Roma, Italy +39 06 481 7538)‎, which was located about a 15- minute walk from the hotel. It’s a small restaurant located close to two other favorites of mine (Gioa Mia and Hostaria Romana). I enjoy finding local restaurants that serve authentic cuisine. Colline Emiliane serves classic Bolognese dishes. I was hoping they would have lasagna Bolognese, like I had in Bologna a few years ago. It was served with green lasagna, which was heavenly! This restaurant didn’t have it but the menu had many other great choices. The three of us shared a couple of plates of mortadella and proscuitto. Both were excellent and sliced ever so thin. I had the tagliatelle alla Bolognese, which was delicious, along with a side dish of sautéed spinach and garlic. John and Louisa enjoyed their meal. With house red wine, our bill came to 27 euros each.

On the way back to the hotel, we swung by the Trevi fountain, always a crowded scene with people tossing their coin (or two) into the fountain for a future return to Rome. Back at the hotel, we ran into Christine and Paul, so the five of us had some drinks on the terrace, including some limoncello that I made and brought with me.

It was an easy day for us, but relaxing.

29 October 2010, Friday, Rome Italy

What a beautiful day! Last year in Rome it rained a lot. This morning was clear and crisp. I slept well thanks to half of an ambien pill. The wine and limoncello the night before might have helped too. The hotel serves a simple breakfast that includes fruit, yogurt, croissants, cheese, crackers, cereal, coffee, tea, and juice. It was just enough to get you going for the day. The breakfast room is pretty small, but it seemed to work out okay with people arriving at different times.

The owner of the hotel, an older gentleman, invited my friends and me to some wine and snacks later in the afternoon on the terrace. There were a dozen of us at the hotel that were going on the cruise. This was such a nice offer.

Today was a day of Churches. First Louisa and I visited the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, which is a crypt with displays of many bones and skulls (over 4,000 Capuchin friars). There were four or five rooms. Many of the bones were made into shapes and designs, which hung on the walls and the ceilings. It’s probably not a place for everyone.

Next we headed to Santa Maria della Vittoria, a Baroque church, where the famous Bernini statue of St. Teresa of Avila is located. I had missed this church last year, as Tony and I had arrived at the wrong time – it was closed for lunch, so I was glad to be able to see the exquisite and sensual looking statue. St. Teresa is about to be pierced by an angel’s arrow, the symbol of God’s love, or so I’m told.

Heading south, we had lunch at Trattoria Monti (Via San Vito, 13a, Tel: 06.446.6573), a nice local restaurant. It’s close to the Santa Maria Maggiore. I had the rigatoni with pecorino cheese, minced sausage, and black pepper. The pasta was perfectly ‘al dente’ and delicious.

Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the largest churches in Rome. It has a beautiful coffered ceiling, thick columns and wonderful mosaic tiled flooring. The last church of the day was San Pietro in Vincoli (Saint Peter in Chains). I had been here before, but wanted Louisa to see Michelangelo’s sculpture of Moses.

We headed back to the hotel, walking past the Colosseum, Roman Forum and took pictures along the way. Louisa and I headed to the terrace for our afternoon wine party with our friends. Roberto served red wine and chips/crackers. We ended up drinking four carafes of wine! It was getting colder as the sun began to set. We invited a young woman to join us. Cate was sitting outside at another table. I also invited her to join us for happy hour the next day with the cruise group.

For dinner, Louisa, Christine, Paul, John and I had dinner at Gioia Mia (Via degli Avignonesi, 34, tel 06.4882784), my forth visit there. Packed as usual and fast service, as the owner likes to turn the tables to take the many customers. Reservations are a must! Louisa and I shared a ½ liter of white wine. We all shared a plate of antipasti. All of us ordered the papparadelle alla gran duca (wide ribbon pasta with ham, mushrooms, cream, tomatoes and cognac), which was excellent, very flavorful and one of the house specialties. 18 euros per person.

After, we walked to the Trevi fountain and stopped in a couple of stores and sampled some liquor. Back in our room, the five of us had some wine before retiring for the night.

30 October 2010, Saturday, Rome Italy

It was another beautiful day in Rome. Having been here several times, I decided on another easy going day. After breakfast, Louisa and I headed over to Trastevere. On the way over, we swung by Piazza Navona, which was quite active with tourists and street vendors, as well as visited the market at Campo dei Fiori. It was also crowded with food vendors. It made me wish we stayed in an apartment so we could cook some Italian dishes.

In Trastevere, we walked around the area, did a little window shopping but didn’t buy anything. Clouds started to roll in and it got cooler. For lunch, we dined at Roma Sparita, which was recommended to me two years ago by my friend GB (editor of www.italiannotebook.com where I have several articles published). When I had asked him for restaurant recommendations, he told me, “If you want to eat in Trastevere, ONLY do Roma Sparita!” Just a few months ago, I was watching No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain. He had dined at this same place! The name of the restaurant was never mentioned, but his review was so interesting that I searched his web site and found out it was the place my friend recommended to me! Located in the corner of a simple piazza and next to a church, we dined al fresco. Louisa and I ordered fried, stuffed zucchini flowers, which had mozzarella and anchovy inside (should have ordered more!). I had the tagliolini cacio e pepe, which was a pasta dish with pecorino cheese and pepper served in a crispy parmesan cheese bowl. Simply delectable! Louisa had the fettucini with mushrooms, which was also very good.

Completely satisfied with our lunch, we walked to the Santa Maria in Trastevere church before heading back over the Tiber River. Louisa had enough of walking, so we took a taxi to the hotel. The ride was welcomed.

After our rest in the hotel room, we walked to La Curia di Bacco near the Campo dei Fiori for our pre-cruise get together with fellow cruisers. I had set up a happy hour for 50 people (about 40 showed up) that included antipasti and wine. Everyone had a great time. Food was fine, but I’ve had better antipasti at other bars, but it served us well, as we needed a large place to take all of us.

For dinner, my same dinner group dined at La Sagrestia (via del Seminario, 89. Tel: 06 67 97 581). I think I had one of the best meals in Rome on this trip: Seafood pasta that was baked in parchment paper. It had calamari, shrimp, clams, mussels, and lobster. It was in a very light red sauce. The seafood was tender (the lobster didn't taste right, so I avoided eating it) and the linguini cooked properly. I also had an appetizer of bruschetta with a tartufo spread. With wine, it was 20 euros per person.

Another walk past the Trevi fountain, Louisa picked up a bottle of limoncello for the cabin. More drinks on the roof top terrace. A nice end to our time in Rome. Tomorrow we head to the ship for our 15-night cruise.

31 October 2010, Sunday, Rome Italy

It was time to pack up and head to the ship. Louisa and I did most of the packing last night. Of course, we didn’t unpack too many things anyway. I didn’t sleep well, as I was concerned about the bus service I hired to take 39 of us to the port. I wanted things to run smoothly, unlike last year’s problem. When I got up, I used Louisa’s phone and re-confirmed the pick up time. I was told, “Yes, the driver will be there at 11:30am.” I corrected her saying I requested an 11:00am pick up time.

The breakfast room was crowded with us cruisers having our last breakfast and others just checking in to the hotel. We met Debra and Tom, who had arrived from their hotel, so they joined us for breakfast. Mr. Chini didn’t charge Debra and Tom, saying they were my guests. I found all of the employees at the hotel to be friendly and provided very good service. In fact, after showing Debra and Tom our room, they said they would stay at Hotel Parlamento. They didn’t like the service where they stayed.

Debra and Tom helped us take our luggage downstairs. At one point, Tiziano told me, “Come see me before you leave. I have to kiss you.” What a flirt! He was one of the younger men at the hotel. Downstairs all of the cruisers were waiting for the bus. Thank goodness everyone showed up. Everyone was chatting up a storm and at one point, I saw a woman look out her window wondering what the noise was all about. Apparently the building holds two hotels and apartments.

It had been raining all morning, but at least the weather held out until today. I took Debra and Tom to the nearby grocery store to buy some wine to have while on the ship. On the way back, I ran into Tiziano who said, “Don’t forget, I need to kiss you goodbye.” I’m all smiles. Upstairs, I said my goodbyes to the staff and Tiziano got his kiss.

The bus was parked a block away at the bus area, so everyone had to haul their luggage. It took a while for the driver to load all suitcases and had to open another compartment to add the last five pieces. Note to self: If I use this company again, the maximum number of people should be 34.

An hour or so later, we arrived at the port. It continued to rain. Not long after, we checked in and were on our way to the ship. It was very windy and rainy, so not a nice start to the cruise. On board, we received the standard glass of champagne, a nice touch.

This was Louisa’s first cruise, so I was quite excited for her and so was she. She loved our room (cabin 9261) and the views from the balcony. Surprisingly, our room was ready. We met our room attendant, a very quiet man from Thailand. Our cabin is in a very good location: near the elevators and library, port side for a sunny balcony (although it was hot most of the day), and just four decks below the ocean view café. The hallways were quiet. It was also a concierge class cabin, so a bottle of champagne was sitting on the table in an ice bucket.

After lunch at the ocean view café, I took Louisa around to see some of the ship. The Equinox is in excellent shape, still looks brand new. At 3:30pm, many of us gathered at the ocean view bar for our early sail away party. It was very cold and windy, so we moved to the sky observation lounge. Being Halloween, many wore masks. I made masks for Louisa and me but ended up not wearing them. I saved mine for next year’s cruise. The sail away party was lots of fun. Many people showed up and the bartenders couldn’t keep up with our drink orders.

The muster was at 5:15pm. Louisa and I went to Michael’s club, same location as last year for Tony and me. It lasted just 15 minutes and then we were back in the room.

Dinner was at 6pm, which I wanted to try. After two days, Louisa and I felt it was just too early for us so we switched to late. For dinner I started with the crab Louis with avocado, the caprese, the mushroom cappuccino soup and then the prime rib. Oh my, the cut of meat was huge! I could only eat half of it and I like to eat. It was a great dinner to start this cruise.

Later, we ran into Tom and Debra at the Quasar bar. They were dressed in Halloween costumes. We had drinks in their cabin. They had a large balcony, so we stood outside for a while. The wind was really blowing and you could see swirls of water in the air. The ship was rocking but it was a fun rock. We had a fun night.

1 November 2010, Monday – Livorno, Italy

What a miserable day! It rained all day long! I hired a private tour company (Tuscan Sunshine Tours, 50 euros pp plus tip) for the day to take eight of us to Lucca and Pisa. The company’s name didn’t help. We docked at 7:00am and were off the ship by 7:30am (Louisa and I ordered room service for breakfast). In my group were Larry, Anne, Elizabeth, Eric, Laura, Jeff, Louisa, and me.

Franco drove us to Lucca, which was about 30 minutes away. It was just drizzling when we arrived in Lucca. Too bad for the weather - Lucca is such a beautiful city to enjoy in the sunshine. Franco started our tour with a visit to the Cattedrale di San Martino, a church located on the south-east side of town. I loved the smaller columns on the façade of the building, as they are in different designs: candy striped, checkered, zigzag, floral, knotted, and even plain. Inside, you can see a painting by Tintoretto, the Last Supper, which was done in the late 1500s.

Franco took us for a short walk down a few narrow streets (in the rain!) to Piazza Napoleone. Surrounding the square were large trees, very pretty, but not so in the rain. Walking north, we visited San Michele and San Frediano, two other important churches in Lucca. Nearby is the Roman theatre, now a beautiful oblong shaped piazza. People were setting up booths for various shopping products. Also going on in Lucca was a large comic book convention. Apparently this yearly convention is quite popular. Many young kids were dressed in costume of their favorite comic book character. I have a photo or two of the piazza from several years ago – it was a sunny day, so I wasn’t overly disappointed that I missed out on some good photo ops.

The group split up for a few hours. By then it stopped raining and all of us were hopeful. Louisa and I stopped at a bar for a snack before heading up to walk along the town walls. Lots of people were biking and walking their dogs, but it began to rain again. Louisa and I just couldn’t stand it. Instead of our original plans to buy a panini and eat on the go, we decided to go to a restaurant I had been to before. I also decided not to climb the Guinigi tower (it has a tree growing on the top). Along the way we stopped in a leather store, where I purchased a beautiful purse. On display were the materials that the owners used to make their purses, belts, wallets, jackets, etc. It was nice to know I purchased a hand-made product.

By now, it was pouring! Louisa and I ran into a ceramic store to wait out the rain. It did not let up at all! We stayed long enough for me to buy a small ceramic bowl. There were may beautiful things in the store. I love Italian ceramics! Knowing the restaurant was just one block away, we made a mad dash to Trattoria da Leo (Via Tegrini, 1, tel 0583 492236). We were drenched. My shoes and socks were completely soaked and my umbrella as well. It was great to be in a warm and inviting restaurant. The waiter gave us napkins to sop up our wet socks, so we were very grateful. Our lunch consisted of local soups, which we felt would be the best on the menu to warm us up. And they did. My soup, minestra di farro, was made of faro and spelt, close in taste to a lentil soup. It’s a local Lucchese specialty and was full of flavor. Louisa had a soup that was similar to a split pea soup. We shared a side dish of baked fennel that was topped with parmesan cheese. Simply made yet wonderful. With a half carafe of wine, our lunch was 12 euros each. We sat for the longest time not wanting to leave the warmth of the restaurant.

We headed back to the van and fortunately for us it was just drizzling. We got back to the van early but the rest of the gang was already there. I guess they had enough ot Lucca and the rain.

Our next stop was to Pisa. I wasn’t interested in going there but a few wanted to climb the tower. Louisa and I were done for the day and decided we would just sit in the van while the rest toured Pisa. Franco was kind to us and took us for a short drive showing us the area and marina in Pisa. I saw a sign for Livorno and was temped to ask him to drop us off at the ship but decided that would cost him extra in gas. Back in Pisa, he bought us hot tea at a café where we sat for a while.

On the way back to the van, Louisa and I walked by the tower and took the obligatory photograph. On the way a young Italian said to me, “Ciao sexy.” Smiling, I said, “Louisa, did you hear that guy?” “No.” When I told her she said, “Wow, you must be desperate.” She thought I meant one of the guys who were selling umbrellas. “No! The good looking Italian!” We both laughed.

As we drove back to the port, the clouds began to break up and we could see spots of blue sky and a rainbow. I had collected everyone’s money and paid Franco. Happy to be back on board the ship, we changed out of our wet clothes and got ready for the evening.

Dinner tonight: Escargot, salad with gorgonzola, chicken saltimbocca; cigar tres leches for dessert. Later we met new friends Ken and Victor and Rob and Carlos at the martini bar.

2 November 2010, Tuesday, Cannes France

A cloudy day today but I think everyone on the ship was thankful it wasn't like yesterday. Most of the tours from Livorno to Cinque Terre had been cancelled, so those tourists were very disappointed in their day. I wonder what they did instead.

Louisa and I had breakfast in the cabin again, as it was another early wake up call. I booked a private tour for eight people (Louisa, me, Debra, Jon, Alan, Anita, Dennis, Virginia) to visit a few hill towns. Dennis wasn't feeling well and remained on the ship, but Virginia still joined us. Everyone met near the passport bar before boarding a tender to get to Cannes.

Our guide, Alain, met us and whisked us away for the day. We had a nice drive from Cannes to Nice as we drove along the coastal road. Beautiful sailboats and yachts were docked on various places. Money showed everywhere in these towns. Still fairly early, the towns quietly woke up.

As we arrived in Antibes, Alain asked us if we wanted to see the outdoor market. We voted for no, as we wanted as much time in the hill towns. I told Alan we didn’t want to do any shopping. I ate my words. While at one of the stoplights, I looked to the left and saw a small kitchen shop and in the window display was something Louisa and I had used in Provence last year: Acrylic lemon presses. We were at dinner one night and our meal was served with sliced lemons that we could press and pour onto our fish. We looked everywhere for these presses and even asked the waiter if we could buy them. He said no, so anytime we were out shopping, we kept an eye out on this nifty gadget. I couldn’t believe my eyes! There it was in one corner of the window begging to be purchased. As Alain continued through the light, I quickly turned to the others and asked if I could have 5 minutes so I could purchase the presses. I jumped out with my wallet and walked quickly to the store, bought a set and ran back to the van where it had pulled over and out of the traffic lane. I was thrilled that I finally had one in my hands. I should have bought two sets, but didn’t think of it at the time. If I had more time I would have browsed the store, as it had lots of neat items.

Passing through Nice and a quick stop for photo ops, we headed to a lookout point for Villefranche. Along the way we passed Elton John’s house…or I should say one of his homes. At the lookout point, Alain told us it was a pick up joint for gays. Interesting bit of information. The views from above were excellent. Villefranche is a beautiful port town, very colorful, and hidden in a small curve of the coast line.

We were getting anxious to see some hill towns, so Alain took us to Biot. Before getting to the center of town, we stopped at a glass factory. This area is known for its glass with little bubbles. A defect in the glass-making process is their signature design. Some of the pieces were gorgeous but also very expensive! None of us bought anything.

Biot is a very small yet charming medieval village. The town was pleasant to walk around and it wasn’t crowded with tourists. In the center is the Place des Arcades, where you can sit and relax.

Next we drove to Vence, just 19km away. Larger than Biot, it had a lot of charm too. There were cafés at the Place Clémenceau and a church across the way. We spent about an hour here walking around the town.

4km away was Saint Paul-de-Vence. This was one place I did not want to see, as I had read it was a beautiful tourist-trap village. I wanted picturesque, delightful, small, and characteristic. Alain, during our email correspondence, kept assisting that it was a town not to be missed. I had told him no thanks, but during our drive he asked the entire group, so we ended up going there. Yes, it was a picturesque town but there was no charm due to the many shops and shop signs down every street and tourists. I did manage to head off from the main street and was able to take some photos that I was hoping to take. It seemed that Alain kept pushing the shopping. I suppose he didn’t realize were not the typical tourists that wanted to shop. We wanted to see the towns themselves.

Our last stop was my absolute favorite, Tourrettes-sur-Loup. This perched town was beautiful and what I expected for a French hill town. It was a quiet place with very few tourists, as well as some shops (although not obtrusive). The main street is the Grand Rue that begins at the parking lot, goes through the village and to the other side. I found delightful scenes around every corner. Too bad that it was an overcast day. We encountered some sprinkles, but nothing like yesterday in Italy. This is definitely a town I would like to see again in the sunshine or to even spent a night there.

Lunch consisted of simple panini’s while standing under an arch while it rained. At least it rained briefly. The main restaurants were expensive and we didn’t want to take a lot of time at lunch.

Back at the port we thanks Alain for the tour. He did a good job but next time I hire someone I will stand my ground about where I want to go. I don’t think anyone stepped inside a shop in Saint Paul-de-Vence.

Tonight was the first formal night. There were three on this cruise. Around 5pm, Louisa and I met up with friends Bruce, Gail, Sharon, Jack and others in the observation sky lounge for happy hour drinks.

For dinner, Louisa and I had switched from early to late dining. We sat with Christine, Paul, Harvey, and Connie. 6pm was just too early for us. Dinner: Beef carpaccio and rack of lamb. Lamb is one of my favorites!

3 November 2010, Tuesday – Barcelona, Spain

Ah, finally, sunshine! In fact, we had sunny days the rest of our trip. I didn’t have a lot of plans for Barcelona since I had been there several times before. I just wanted to enjoy the sights of the Gothic quarter and Las Ramblas. Louisa and I took the local bus to town, as it was too far to walk from where we were docked. Celebrity had a shuttle service for 6 euros round trip, but the bus was half the price. We ended up waiting a little longer but chatted with a few people in line.

The bus dropped us of next to the Columbus monument and we walked up Las Ramblas. Nearby on the left is Placa del Rei, a beautiful square with lamp posts designed by Gaudi. In the center of the square is a large fountain where people can sit and enjoy this spot.

As we walked along Las Ramblas, we saw several human statues already at work and others getting set up with their makeup and clothing. We saw some interesting ones: A headless chef, a Yoda-like character that floated in the air (easy to figure out), an invisible man with floating sunglasses, a fruit stand, a baby in a carriage (annoying guy) and the creature from the movie Alien – he scared a little girl into crying as he leaned towards her.

One section of Las Ramblas has several flower stalls with lots of colorful flowers and plants. There’s also a bird market but that was further up the street.

On the left past the Leicu metro is the fabulous mercat (indoor market). With so many people in town the market was hard to walk around. It seemed like every type of fruit, vegetable, meat, and seafood were on display. Some of the shops had cured ham hanging from the ceiling. They looked wonderful. I purchased a few ounces of the tasty meat to snack on.

Off Las Ramblas on Calle Ferran, there is a great place for tapas: Mikel Etxea (#15). On display on the counters were numerous types of tapas to choose from, several of which were served on slices of toasted bread. We had chorizo topped with brie (baked), zucchini slice topped with a potato croquette and roumalade-type sauce, a mixed seafood salad with green and black olives, meatballs in a thick red sauce, and skewered chunks of pork (my favorite), along with some red wine. It wasn’t cheap but the food was very good and filling.

Later we did some window shopping, bought a couple of items, walked by the Cathedral (under partial scaffolding), and then headed back to the ship. Onboard in the theatre we caught the last half of the flamenco show, which consisted of three dancers, a lead male singer, and a male guitarist. They were very good.

Our usual evening on the ship started with happy hour at the sky observation lounge, which lasts between 4pm and 6pm. As a new Captain’s Club Elite member, I was able to enjoy complimentary drinks, 90 minutes of internet access, laundry service, and other perks. Louisa enjoyed the happy hour too since she was booked in my cabin. Entertainment of the night was a card magician. He was very good.

Dinner: Oysters Rockefeller, seafood risotto, pate, and stuffed sole with vegetables topped with a tiny amount of black caviar.

4 November 2010, Wednesday, Cartagena Spain

This morning (68 degrees and sunny) the cruise critic group met at the passport bar at 9:00am for our ‘cruise critic connections party.’ Although many of us already met at the sail away party, this was the official get together. About 60 people showed up. The staff served coffee, tea, juice, and pastries. We had about 45 minutes before everyone split up and got off the ship for the day. I had talked to my point and asked for a second get together later in the cruise, knowing that 45 minutes wouldn’t satisfy people.

Cartagena is an easy port to visit, but we were docked away from the town center. The Queen Elizabeth was docked in front of the town center, where we were docked last year. There was complimentary shuttle service to the center of town. For some reason we couldn’t walk to town on our own. Maybe it was because of the roads and lack of sidewalk, but as we drove, it didn’t look dangerous. I decided on a very relaxing, do not much of anything for this port. This cruise, being port intensive in the beginning, was beginning to wear on me and since I had been here before, I wasn’t worried about ‘seeing it all.’

Cartagena is a clean city with palm trees, beautiful architecture, and a pretty pedestrian street. Along the street is city hall, shops, bars and restaurants. At the bottom end of the pedestrian street is the town hall. A few of us walked inside just in time for a short tour. The building had been restored. It was amazing to see the “before” photographs. One room had three large chandeliers and tapestries with coat of arms on the walls. It was quite colorful. The front entrance leads to a beautiful marble split staircase with a rich red carpet runner in the middle – elegant and regal looking.

We did some window shopping and admired the wrought iron balconies and marble tiled façade of the buildings; and we stepped inside one church. Being a small town, we kept running into cruise friends. For lunch Louisa and I had some fried calamari and marinated mussels along with a glass of sangria that went down too quickly. Debra and Tom had joined us, as we sat outside, people-watched, and had a good time talking.

Dinner: Crab fritters; seafood risotto with scallops, shrimp and mussels. After dinner, we hit the martini bar for some drinks.

5 November 2010, Friday, Cadiz Spain
75 degrees and clear.

Cadiz was my favorite port to visit on this cruise and it was my first visit there. Many cruisers opted for tours to Seville (1.5 hours away) but I had been there a couple of times, so I wanted to enjoy something new. The town of Cadiz juts out on the Atlantic Ocean at the end of a narrow peninsula, making it a compact town to walk around. There are large promenades along the water, as well as fortifications. There are many small pedestrian streets to wander around with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants. Parts of the area reminded me of the small streets in Seville with its white washed buildings, wrought iron work, and colorful bougainvillea spilling over the balconies.

A bunch of us walked to town and headed to the cathedral. I purchased a combination ticket that included a visit to the crypt and nearby museum. Part of the interior of the cathedral is in restoration. I climbed the cathedral’s bell tower for great city views. From above you can see the cathedral’s yellow tiled dome. The building itself is of Baroque design and is made entirely of stone. The interesting round-shaped domed crypt contains the tomb of Manuel de Falla, an Andalusian composer. The museum is pretty small but had striking paintings, sculptures and massive song books.

More tapas for lunch. A friend recommended a place in the center of town called Las Flores. Nearby is a flower market and a block away is the main market (which we missed seeing). Louisa and I shared a some tapas: fried calamari, empanadas, and meat/potato croquettes. We enjoyed sitting outside in the shade. Inside the restaurant, many men were standing at the bar eating fried seafood and smoking their cigarettes like a chimney.

After lunch, we took a walk through the market, which must have closed an hour before. There were still people cleaning up their booths. Nearby was a restaurant with a Moorish style interior. The owner came out and asked if we wanted to have lunch. I told him we were admiring the interior. He was getting a little too friendly with me and put his arm around me and asked Louisa to take our photo.

We walked along side the water on the wide promenade, passing a couple of beaches and an area with modern sculptures. In one area was the El Parque Genovés, a lush garden with sculpted trees and fountains. It’s a place to sit, relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the gardens.

Having walked all day long, we cut through town and passed a lovely large square before getting back to the ship.

The special drink of the evening was mojitos. At the mast bar, Louisa and I sat and had a round while wearing pool towels around our shoulders. It had gotten cold and windy. Marco, the bartender, flirted and joked with us. Being a little too windy, we went to the pool deck away from the wind and sat with Cheryl, Emily. They too were drinking mojitos. We had a fun time with them.

Dinner tonight: Spinach turnover, petit filet mignon (huge!), and a Caesar salad.

After dinner, a bunch of us met at the ensemble lounge for drinks (Christine, Paul, Debra, Tom, Larry, Nancy, John, Louisa & me). It’s a nice area on the ship with comfortable chairs and with performers doing jazz.

Lucky for us, we got to set our clocks back one hour. It’s great to cruise east to west, as we gain back time slowly and arrive home without any jetlag.

6 November 2010, Saturday, First Day at Sea

Being a ‘port intensive’ cruise, everyone was so happy for our first sea day. There’s always lots to do on a ship but you can choose to do just a little or cram it all in. Celebrity has a new format for their list of events, which looks like the t.v. guide, so it makes for easy reading and to see if there are any overlaps of events.

I started my day by walking outside on the ‘track’ for 45 minutes. Eight laps equal a mile but I added a few rounds of the upper deck to get some stair-climbing in. I did this on during the sea days and was happy I came home one pound lighter! I ate and drank what I wanted but didn’t go overboard.

Our second cruise group get together was at 10:30am at the passport bar. It was a good turnout. Some people chose to meet later for a camera talk, which I arrived after lunch. I had gotten a list of people together who wanted to meet up and talk about their cameras and get some pointers how to take better pictures. Several people had emailed me saying they were looking forward to my lecture! It wasn’t a lecture but a forum, although I certainly appreciated the compliments.

For lunch, I enjoyed the brunch that Celebrity serves. Lots to choose from (except no crab claws this time).

In the afternoon, about 90 people participated in the cabin crawl where we visit some cabins to see the various layouts, larger balconies, and suites. Of course, in the suites, you could hear people sigh, ooh and ahh. Some day! This was the largest crawl I’ve done; I created three groups of people and staggered them by 5-10 minutes. This way the hallways weren’t packed with one large group. It was a lot of fun. One suite had glasses of champagne and snacks.

Having some on board credit to spend, Louisa and I went to the spa to make reservations to have massages, which we made for later in the week. Outside the spa area two young women were giving complimentary 5-minute massages. That was such a tease, but nice.

The Sky observation lounge was crowded with elites enjoying happy hour.

Dinner: A mouse paté; shrimp, scallop and avocado salad; stuffed chicken breast, which was breaded and served with green beans and carrots.

It was Nancy’s birthday, so we celebrated in her cabin with Larry and friends.

7 November Sunday, Tenerife, Canary Islands

Today was 66 degrees and clear, although it sometimes felt cooler. I had booked a rental car but later canceled the reservations, as I decided to take the tram to La Laguna in the morning with a visit to Santa Cruz in the afternoon and not mess with parking and filling the car with gas. However, I regretted not keeping the car, as 99% of the stores and restaurants were closed being a Sunday. Friends Bruce and Gail joined us, and their new friends Mary and Don.

Celebrity provided shuttle buses from the ship to the entrance of the port, otherwise, it was a 15-minute walk. At the tram area, we had to buy our tickets from a machine and had some difficulty. It turned out the machine was broken, so we had to jump the tracks to buy our tickets. I went over, bought mine, and went back to the other side. Don was the last to buy tickets, as he allowed another couple (Diane and Murray from Canada) to step in and buy theirs. I turned to Mary, “Oh look, Don is being nice and allowing that couple to buy their ticket before him. He’ll probably miss the tram.” In the next minute, the tram was coming towards us and it was moving fast! The doors opened and I got on board, while Louisa walked up to the front (from the outside) to tell the driver to please wait. Don and Bruce began to jump the tracks to our side. Seconds later, the doors began to close and I realized the rest wouldn’t get on the tram in time, so I moved quickly to get off. Nope, the door shut in my face, I couldn’t open it, and the tram began to move. So, there I was leaving the station looking at my friends through the window. I began to laugh and I waved. Diane and Murray were on board and realized at that moment what happened – had they bought their tickets last, my group would have made it on board with me. I could have gotten off at the next stop and walked back but decided to chat with my new friends. I knew the others would eventually catch up to me.

La Laguna sits way above sea level so it was much cooler than in Santa Cruz. Diane and Murray talked to me while I waited for the rest of the group at the end of the line. I thought they were going to tour around with us but actually they decided to wait with me until the rest of the group arrived. I thought that was very nice of them.

Our visit to La Laguna was pleasant. The town is listed as a world heritage site by UNISCO and was once the capital of Tenerife. Much of the architecture in town is of Mudejar design, which is a combination of European and Muslim design. The buildings are colorful and the walls of the entrance ways are tiled.

I was hoping to catch the 10:30am tourist office walking tour but many places were closed. The rest of the group arrived after 10:30am, so it was too late. I figured out later that there probably wasn’t a tour that day. We walked around the town, visited the oldest church, Iglesia de la Concepcion, (mass was in session), stopped for drinks, and visited the indoor market. I had lost my sunglasses the previous day (I always bring two pair of sunglasses but didn’t on this trip), but I was able to find a pair at the market for 3.90 euros. Cheap but stylish! Outside the market were many people enjoying their Sunday afternoon. There were kids on bikes, people hanging around talking to friends, and shopping for food. The town came alive in the afternoon.

Last year I saw a dog poke his head out of the corner of a second story window. He was people watching or just getting some fresh air. Well, I saw him again! Same window, same corner. I guess the owners keep that window open for him.

Most of the stores were closed but I was able to purchase some local sauces (mojo rojo and mojo verde) at a souvenir store. They are tasty sauces that you can use for cooking, spread, or dip. Last year Tony had packed the jars that we purchased in his carry-on bag, forgetting about airport security. Of course, they were taken away. I was so upset, but they were inexpensive. When he works (airline pilot) he’s able to bring home liquids in his bag. He just forgot they were in the carry-on. I made sure these jars were nicely wrapped and packed in my checked bag.

We all had lunch at a small Turkish restaurant. The food was tasty and quite filling. In fact, Louisa and I should have split a sandwich. After, we took the tram back to the port and walked back to the ship. We decided it wasn’t worth walking around Santa Cruz since everything was closed. Being the last port before sailing across the Atlantic ocean, we made sure we got back to the ship early enough. Don’t want to miss the ship at this port!

Back on board, several of us went to Erick and Jen’s cabin (small suite with a large corner balcony) for a sail away get together. They ordered several platters of food from their butler but Louisa and I only had a couple of small bites. We had plans to dine at the Silk Harvest and knew we had to go easy on the food. It was a pretty sail away from Tenerife. Beautiful sunset. We looked out knowing we had seven days ahead of us at sea. Nice!

Dinner: As I said, I knew we had to eat lightly during the say. This restaurant you must go hungry and early. Last year, ten of us had 8:30pm dinner reservations. We all waddled back to our rooms after 11pm. I made reservations for 6:30pm, which was perfect. Louisa and I dined with our original dinner mates John, Jane and Tony, and Jen and Kevin. All of us were eying certain dishes on the menu but I zeroed in on the sushi. Our waiter said, "If you will allow me, I will choose for you. You will enjoy 90% of the menu." And we did: Pork ribs, spring rolls, shumai, cream cheese wontons, salt n’ pepper ike & ebi (squid and rock shrimp), chicken lettuce wraps, a wonderful assortment of sushi and sashimi (my favorite), red curry duck, salmon and scallop stir-fry, etc. Assorted desserts including caramelized bananas. Everyone loved the variety of foods. The chef came out too to make sure we were enjoying our dinner. It was a filling dinner and I took a well needed walk around the ship afterwards.

There won’t be a Silk Harvest on the Eclipse next year (my cruise next fall 2011), which is a shame. It's such a popular place and the food is some of the best on the ship. Qsine is replacing this restaurant, which is a contemporary tapas-like place where customers will order their food via an ipad. Celebrity is certainly going with today's technology flow.

The entertainment of the evening was the “Flava” of the Med, which was held pool side. There were lots of dancers and singers performing various Mediterranean music: French, Greek, Italian, etc. It started close to 11pm, so we didn’t stay long.

Sea Days

People have asked me, “What do you do on a ship with so many days at sea? Don’t you get bored?” Not at all! You can relax the entire time or you can dive into all of the activities and lectures the ship has to offer. Many people bring books (or kindles) to read, some bring board games, but the best part is getting to know your fellow cruisers, which can turn into lasting friendships.

For me, I would work out in the morning, walking the track for 40-45 minutes and then have breakfast. Later I would participate in an activity or two or listen to a lecture. Other times I would write in my journal or read my book. And of course, many of us enjoyed the nightly happy hour in the sky lounge.

Since we did have six sea days, I’ll just do a quick write up of each day:

8 November, Monday, At Sea

Everyday on the ship there is always a sale at the stores. Today was “Mediterranean Market shopping.” Most of the items were cheap souvenirs. Instead, I bought a clear plastic cocktail tumbler that light up at the bottom. I had seen them last night at the Flava party, in which fruity, frozen drinks were served. I figure I could use it in my office and pretend I’m on a cruise ship someplace.

I organized a bridge tour for some friends. The tours are short, about 15 minutes, but always interesting to do.

For a cruise critic group event, we had a wine tasting party at 2:30pm. Those that participated brought a bottle of wine (per couple) from their hometown. Louisa brought a nice dry chardonnay wine from Virginia. It was a lot of fun! There must have been 20-25 bottles for everyone to try. We were given the sky observation lounge for an hour and the staff provided wine glasses and bottle openers. About an hour into the event, the area was taken over by trivia players, so we gathered the bottles and moved to a corner of the room to continue our party.

Formal night again. Dinner: Tuna carpaccio, French onion soup, and Duck a l'Orange.

Evening entertainment was the dazzling Cirque du Soleil show with acrobatic performers flying around in the air above the stage and audience using various ropes and wires, extravagant costumes, and a contortionist, which always makes me cringe. She was amazing. The show was very similar to last year and with the same Wow factor.

9 November, Tuesday, At Sea

Morning exercise routine and breakfast.

11:15am lecture in the theatre: “What do Astronomers do?” I really enjoyed the lecturer.

Noon – lunch in the dining room with friends. It’s nice to sit and be served, rather than go through the buffet at the ocean view café. I found the food in the dining room to be much better than at the buffet, although there’s a wider selection to choose from.

Window shopping at the stores. I bought a blue topaz ring, 50% off. Bought a different one another day.

2pm cruise critic group gift exchange in the Quasar bar – everyone brought a gift from home ($15 limit). I brought a Maryland recipe book.

4:30pm cocktails with Bruce and Gail in their cabin with their friends. Lovely rainbow outside.

Clocks turned back 1 hour.

Dinner: Steak, baked potato and green beans.

10 November, Wednesday, At Sea

Morning exercise routine and breakfast.

10am Lecture “The Berlin Airlift” – very interesting and I learned a lot. 11:15am – lecture “The Moon” – Fine, but didn’t stay entire time.

Met friends for lunch in the dining room.

1pm – Captain’s Club Celebration in the sky observation lounge with food and cocktails: Prime rib, sushi bar, crepes, fruits, etc.

2pm cruise critic slot pull. Everyone that participated ($15) ended up with $29. Exciting to watch and participate.

6:30pm. Dinner at the Muranos specialty restaurant ($35 supplement): Dinner was just as wonderful as last year. This is the place to go for fine dining with elegant service. I reserved the small wine cellar room, which has a table for 10 people. It's set off from the main dining room, so we had some privacy. The dinner group included Louisa, John, Tom and Debra, Erick and Jen, Harvey and Connie. Dianne and Doug had canceled, as they were not feeling well.

Our waiter started our evening with the amuse bouche, a small fried, breaded crab ball. When it comes to cruising, everyone knows it’s okay to order more than one appetizer, entrée, or dessert in the dining room. I didn't think this was possible at Murano's. However, I was told that yes, you could ask for a second appetizer. Instead of asking for two, I asked the waiter for a larger portion of foie gras. He said that the portions were the same size, but that he would serve me a double portion. I was a happy woman! This melt-in-your mouth delicacy was served with a filo pastry filled duck rillettes, equally delicious.

For my soup, I had the lobster bisque. The waiter set down the plate, already garnished, and poured the bisque into the bowl. I really liked the special small touches they provided during our dinner. Service is impeccable. Next I had the rack of lamb, coated with a mushroom crust. I sampled a small variety of cheese from the cheese cart and orange soufflé for dessert.

Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the atmosphere and food at Murano's.

Clocks turned back one hour

11 November, Thursday, At Sea

10am Veterans Day/Remembrance Day. This was a fiasco. I had requested that Celebrity have an event for Veterans Day/Remembrance Day, like I did last year. I asked if the cruise director (CD) could give a speech and provide a place for veterans to be able to spend time together. Nothing was posted in the Celebrity Today flyer, and I only heard about the time/location from another passenger. Because of the lack of announcement, attendance was small. Everyone that showed up waited in a conference room next to the Observation sky lounge that had chairs set up along with a podium. About 20 minutes later, I made a phone call to the onboard event coordinator asking when the CD would arrive. He showed up 10 minutes later. We were moved to the lounge, but still waited. By 10:45am, I needed to leave; the CD still had not started the event. I found out that the CD gave a poor speech, certainly nothing that made the veterans feel appreciated for their services. Many people were upset. I think Celebrity should make November 11^th a standard event on board their ships and show the respect veterans deserve.

Louisa and I attended the Elite wine tasting event. There were four wines to sample, two reds and two whites. This was a repeat event, as the Captains Club hostess screwed up the original event by having it in the Tuscan Grill dining room. What was she thinking? There were over 700 Elite members on board the ship and the dining room probably held 200 people. Last year it was held in the dining room. Many of us were turned away at the door, and quite rudely. After a few of us talked to the Concierge at guest relations, he apologized and assured us there would be a second one and that he would personally escort us to the dining room.

3:30pm Another cruise critic event was the pub crawl. Not sure how that went, as I didn’t attend. I believe it’s a poker game/drinking event.

5pm was my massage. I felt like a noodle when done. I wish massages weren’t so expensive, otherwise, I’d have them all the time!

12 November, Friday, At Sea

Today was the second brunch. Lots of the same foods as the first brunch, but a few additions, to include a delicious chicken pot pie.

4:30pm cocktail party in our cabin. Bruce and Gail, who I have sailed with three times now, always invited me to their cabin for drinks, so I wanted to play hostess for them and some friends. Louisa and I ordered some canapés, and picked up some cheese/crackers and other goodies from the ocean view café. Christine and Paul (their cabin was next to ours) ordered food from room service, so we had a nice spread of food. We had our room attendant open the partition on the balcony between cabins for extra room.

13 November, Saturday, At Sea

The seas: Three days ago, the captain told us that he would be changing his course due to the tail end of the weather from the last hurricane in the Caribbean. He also stated that the swells could get as high as 12 feet, which seemed like nothing at all to me. Anytime I looked out onto the ocean, I tried to figure out the height of the waves and swells; however, it was really difficult to do so, especially being so high up on the ship. We ended up heading in a south-west direction and skirted Cuba before hitting Florida, about a 250 mile difference from the original course. I loved the rocking of the ship and didn't find it uncomfortable, except to say everyone swayed left and right as they walked down corridors. I loved lying in my bed being rocked to sleep each night. Today the captain said it would be the worse of the three days and recommended that women not wear high heal shoes. It was formal night, so I don't think woman listened to the captain. I did hear that some people were seasick, but really, it wasn't anything serious.

Galley tour 10:00am. A glass of champagne is served to start the tour, which lasted 20 minutes or so. This is always fun to do, as you can watch some of the cooks in action.

Cooking competition followed in the theatre. Two cruisers competed with chefs helping them to cook their dishes.

Skipped the elegant tea (3:30pm).

Drinks with Larry and Anne in their cabin. NICE aft cabin!!

Formal night – Lobster for dinner!

14 November, Sunday, At Sea

Breakfast in the elite lounge.

Third/last cruise critic party in the late morning. Lots of hugs and “great to meet you” comments. At least a dozen Hobgoblins will be cruising the Eclipse next October 2011 with me.

Lunch in the restaurant with Louisa, Tom, and Debra.

Pool-side the remainder of the day.

15 November 2010, Monday

I woke up at 6:30am and felt sad. The cruise was over and it was time to vacate our cabin and ship for new passengers. As I opened the curtains, another cruise ship was just pulling in. There were four ships total, so I knew it would be a busy morning.

Louisa and I had our last breakfast at the ocean view café. Lox and bagel for me. We said our goodbyes to friends that we saw.

Group 19, 8:25am. Instead of waiting in the Tuscan Grill with the other elite members, we went to the dining room with Christine and Paul. Getting off the ship was very easy, but it took a long time to get inside the terminal. Apparently there were only three customs agents handling two ships in one large terminal area. Many people complained about the long wait and also having a hard time finding their luggage. Luggage was placed in the wrong numbered area. Fortunately for Louisa and me, we found ours in the right spot and at the end of the group of luggage. Very easy to see. Unfortunately, a wheel was missing from Louisa's newly purchased spinner suitcase, which made it difficult for her to pull it.

Erick, Jen, Louisa and I shared a taxi to the airport. We asked the man at the curb for a van, but he squeezed us in a large car. The taxi driver was very upset, but it wasn't our fault. He took the long way to the airport, making a right turn and down the road that hugged the port, rather than going straight, which we all knew, and told him so. He said, "Do you want to tell me how to get there?" What choice did we have? The ride was about $18, so the longer route didn't add to the cost too much. Still, it was upsetting. On the way to the airport, as we were on I-95, we saw a man on a bicycle peddling between the two right lanes! We were all stunned to see cars swerve over to avoid hitting the man! He must have been on drugs.

Check in took a while. I was hoping that I could flash my USAirways employee ID card to avoid the $25 luggage fee but it didn't work out. It's a shame that a large company like USAirways doesn't take care of their own employees and dependents. The flight home was so full and the overhead bins were full that they took my carry on bag and had it checked (and about 20 other passengers too). I had to scramble before handing it over and took out my valuables and shoved them in my large bag/purse.

The flight home was fine. We landed at Washington National where Louisa took a taxi home and Tony picked me up.

Summary:

Great, great cruise! I loved the ports, loved the sea days, and enjoying meeting new friends. We were all disappointed in the weather in Livorno and Cannes, but were happy for the sunny days on all other days.

If I ever do a cruise again from Rome (Civitavecchia), I most likely spend a few day outside of Rome. Having been to Rome several times now, I’d like to spend time elsewhere.

My absolute favorite port was Cadiz. It was such a beautiful city. I definitely want to return to the French Riviera and visit more hill towns. Tourrettes-sur-Loup was my favorite town.

Well, that’s it for now….until my next cruise next fall. I’ll be sailing on the Celebrity Eclipse out of Southampton, England to Miami. The itinerary will be Le Havre, Cherbourg, a day a sea, Vigo Spain, a day at sea, Ponta Delgada (Azores), and six days at sea. I’ll be spending four nights in London prior to the cruise. I can’t wait!

Monica

Rome Photos

2010-12-31T11:29:00.007-05:00

This is a link to my photos of Rome Italy, October 2010:

http://www.pileggiphotography.com/Travel/Italy/Rome-October-2010/15271284_FJKYS#1142487850_XxaLF

Dinner at Volt, 3 December 2010

2010-12-04T09:55:00.028-05:00

Dinner at Volt last night was wonderful. We dined again at Table 21. Food was fabulous, although I have to say our first visit (8 October 2010) was better, not in taste or quality, but in some of the food items. There were more meat dishes last time and more variety meats this time.

Due to our dissatisfaction the last time with the dining exerience, I corresponded with Chef/owner Bryan Voltaggio about our evening in October. He invited us back so that we could have the experience of chef's table.

The service was great. Taylor, our hostess, told everyone about each dish that was served. Here's what we ate:

"spiced cider" busnel cavaldos, pear, coriander

proscuitto chips & dip (a favorite)

yellow fin tuna tartare cilantro, jasmine rice, soy, yuzu, avocado (a favorite)

celeriac macroon foie gras

sunchoke oyster chowder mock root vegetables, dehydrated bacon....

....with the soup added.

nantucket bay scallops shitake, pak choi, garlic (a favorite)

chestnut ravioli maitake mushroom, butternut squash, sage (darn, came out blurry) (a huge favorite)

sturgeon cauliflower, ver jus, chickpea, beluga lentils, cilantro

Bryan on the right

artic char, black forbidden rice, kohlrabi leaves, black trumpet mushrooms

rockfish ruby beet risotto, leek fricassee, maitake mushrooms

Sweetbreads, confit fennel, hazelnuts, black trumpet mushrooms, sorrel

"winter garden" beets, radish, graham soil, cherry glen farm chevre

red wattle headcheese, caramelized red onion noodles, pearl onion

foie gras, brown turkey figs, purslane, vanilla brioche

bread to go with the foie gras

grilled lamb heart, quinoa, pine nut, mint, lemon

pineland farm beef, chanterelle mushroom, applewood smoked bacon, garlic

point reyes blue cheese, apple, balsamic

gala apple, walnut cake, dulce de leche, bourbon

coconut, lavender, vanilla (a favorite)

textures of chocolate, pistachio, orange. (We also received a plate of chocolates, candies, and macroons)

Thanks Bryan for a wonderful night. We appreciate what you did for us.

Greeting from the Atlantic Ocean

2010-11-10T04:58:00.002-05:00

9 November 2010
Somewhere in the Atlantic heading to Florida

Our cruise has been great, including our port days (some glitches on board but that's for another time). Will just write some highlights and will post my journal after I return home.

Our time in Rome was great. Beautiful days, no need for jackets during the day. Saw a few churches, had some delicious meals, wandered around Trastevere, and had a great pre-cruise get together that I organized for Saturday night for about 40 people. The place I picked, a bar, was located near the Campo dei Fiori. I arranged for drinks and antipasti. Everyone had a great time.

Bus service to the port went pretty smoothly, although we had a wet and cool morning. The group (39 total) met at my hotel and we headed to the port, arriving around 12:30pm. It was great to see the Equinox docked. Two or three other ships were in port, so the area was busy with arriving passengers.

Louisa was excited to see the cabin with the views from the balcony. A bottle of champagne was on our table.

Great sail away party with fellow cruise critic cruisers –at least 150 people showed up. We started at the oceanview bar but it was very windy and cold, so we headed to the sky view lounge.

First dinner on board was fabulous – prime rib! The portions were huge so I couldn’t eat everything. Enjoyed our dining companions but felt 6pm dinnertime too early. We switched to late two nights later.

LIVORNO: Next day we headed to Lucca and Pisa with Franco, who I hired to take 8 of us for the day. It POURED all day long. It was our worse day of the entire trip so far. My socks were soaked half way through the day. In Lucca after our walking tour and splitting up with the group for a while, Louisa and I ducked into a restaurant I had dined in several years ago. We enjoyed some hearty local soups. Also shared a delicious serving of baked fennel that was topped with parmesan cheese – nicely melted. In Pisa 4 people climbed to the top of the tower of Pisa while two went to a café. Franco took Louisa and me for a driving tour to the port marina area, as we just didn’t want to be outside in the rain. He later dropped us off at a café and bought us tea, which we welcomed.

CANNES: Cloudy day but were happy it wasn’t raining. Great tour with Alain for 8 of us to a few small hill towns. Biot was a lovely small town; Tourrettes was my favorite and Saint Paul de Vence my least – too touristy with all the shops. No charm at all. Our lunch consisted of a panini sandwich while it lightly rained. It wasn’t anything like yesterday.

BARCELONA: Easy day, as we had been there before. Walked along Las Ramblas, explored the fabulous Mercat (indoor market), delicious tapas for lunch (and red wine), and some light shopping. Beautiful sunny day.

CARTAGENA: Met fellow cruisers at our first cruise critic connections party. About 80 people showed up. The staff served coffee, tea, juice, and pastries. Had about 45 minutes before splitting up and getting off the ship. Cartagena is an easy port to visit, but we were docked away from the town center. Complimentary shuttle service to the center of town. Visited city hall in time for an interesting tour. The building had been renovated. Enjoyed some fried calamari and marinated mussels for lunch with a glass of sangria. We walked around the area but didn’t climb the steep hill to the old fortress.

CADIZ: My favorite port of this trip. Beautiful, beautiful city. Tickets to the main cathedral included a visit to the crypt and the nearby museum. I also climbed the tower for great city views. Another perfect blue-sky day with temps in the low 70s. More tapas for lunch. Long walk along the city walls and gardens. Lots of pedestrian streets to wander around.

1st Day at Sea: Being a ‘port intensive’ cruise, everyone was so happy for our first sea day. We enjoyed a cruise group get together and a cabin crawl where we visit various cabins. I go to check out the suites and larger balconies.

TENERIFE, Canary Islands: I had booked a rental car but later canceled the reservations, as I decided to take the tram to La Laguna in the morning and a visit to Santa Cruz in the afternoon. However, I do regret not keeping the car, as 99% of the stores and restaurants were closed being a Sunday. Friends Bruce and Gail joined us, and their new friends Mary and Don. We had to buy our tram tickets from a machine and had some difficulty. Don was the last to buy a ticket, as he allowed another couple (Diane and Murray from Canada) to buy theirs. The tram was arriving and it was arriving fast! I had said to Mary, “Oh look, Don is being nice and allowing that couple to buy their ticket before him. He’ll probably miss the tram. I got on board, Louisa tried to tell the driver to wait, as both Don and Bruce were jumping the tracks (ticket booth on our side wasn’t working). The tram arrives AND leaves on time. No one else got on board from my group so I quickly went to the door to get off. Nope, the door shut in my face and I couldn’t open it. So, there I was leaving the station with Diane and Murray while everyone else missed the tram. I had a good laugh and knew they would eventually catch up to me.

Our visit to La Laguna was nice. It was on the cooler side but at least no rain. We just walked the town, visited the church (mass in session), and visited the market. I had lost my sunglasses the previous day, but I was able to find a pair at the market for 3.90 euros. Cheap! We all had lunch at a Turkish kebab place. Tasty and filling. Tram back to the port and on the ship. We decided it wasn’t worth walking around Santa Cruz since everything was closed.

YESTERDAY AND TODAY: Two sea days have been great. Small waves, so just a nice rolling of the ship. No rain. Lots of sunshine.

Food has been fabulous on this ship. Not a single bad meal. We enjoyed dining at the Silk Harvest, an Asian restaurant. LOTS of food and some of the best sushi I’ve eaten.

More later!

Monica

Arrival in Rome 28 October 2010

2010-10-28T11:19:00.002-04:00

Time for another vacation. This trip includes 3 nights in Rome and then 15 nights on board the Celebrity Equinox (Sunday).

Louisa and I arrived safely today. When Louisa and I met up at the airport, I weighed her bag. Actually a guy saw me hook up the scale and he was interested in seeing it so I asked him to lift it 55 pounds, so she had to move things around and I ended up with a few items in my carry on. Had drinks at the bar near the gate and Larry and Anne (from Kauai) sat with us. They had arrived from LAX. Nice time with them and they bought our drinks. We had also ordered fried artichoke hearts with aoli sauce. Very good.

Lots of turbulence last night. Flight attendant came up and I started to show her my ID card to see about getting some complimentary wine and she looked at my seat number and said, "32B and C, yes, we know about you. The Captain told us." So Marcy did know someone on the flight Later he came up to me and introduced himself. We talked (and Louisa too) for about 10 minutes. That was nice of him.

Didn't do much today. Just walked around and had a very good lunch. Ristorante alla Rampa (near the Spanish steps) serves a 10 euros antipasti buffet. One plate only but you can fill it up. Fresh mozzarella, meatballs, eggplant, zucchini, white bean salad, calamari salad, marinated octopus, sauteed spinach, etc. Yummy.

Lots of tourists. Spanish steps packed with people sunning themselves. I went into the church at the top, first time there. Not as spectacular as other Churches' in Rome

It's cold here so I'm glad I brought my heavy jacket. Beautful sunny, no clouds, day.

Will be meeting friends on the terrace here at our hotel for drinks before we go out to dinner with John.

Frederick Maryland Top 10 Listing

2010-10-18T08:31:00.004-04:00

I'm very happy to read that downtown Frederick Maryland is listed as onoe of the Great places in America: Neighborhoods 2010.

Click on this link to read the article.

I'm downtown at least twice a week enjoying the local restaurants, shopping opportunities, and Baker Park (Lucy loves it too).

Dinner at Volt

2010-10-09T09:58:00.038-04:00

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. Tony and I dined at Table 21 at Volt, in Frederick, MD. The meal was fabulous...and expensive. Well worth the splurge for a special celebration. Table 21 is a 21-course tasting menu.

I will say we were a bit put off that Bryan, the chef (and owner), didn't come by to welcome everyone at the table. Between the dinner, drinks, tax and tip, we spent a hell of a lot of money - something we've never done before and most likely won't do again (Bryan, if you read this, check out our bill and you'll understand these comments). I had made reservations stating we would be celebrating our 22nd wedding anniversary and I really thought we would receive complimentary glass of champagne or something. We dine at Patrick's, an inexpensive pub in town, and the owner always greets us (and his other guests) and everyone once in a while comps us on something. Bryan also disappeared after a while. We selected table 21 because we expected to have the chef of the restaurant cook for us. Wouldn't a chef stay to take care of his table? His expensive table? So, we were very disappointed in this aspect.

Here's what we had:

"john daly" buddah hand citron, sweet tea foam.

proscuitto chips and dip. This was one of our favorites.

celeriac macaroon foie gras.

yellow fin tuna tartare cilantro, jasmine rice, soy, yuzu, avocado. Another favorite.

curry scented squash smoked scallop, tarragon pudding, red onion marmalade. Okay, this was another favorite!

"chicken parmesan" parmesan noodles, parsley

cherry glen farm ravioli maitake mushroom, goat cheese

hamachi, smoked chicken sausage, carmelized red onion, crisp chicken skin.

sturgeon cauliflower, ver jus, chickpea

artic char carnival squash, pumpkin leaves, black forbidden rice, matsutake mushrooms, brown butter. A new favorite fish for us!

barramundi mustard greens, brussel sprouts, red cabbage.

sweatbread, fennel, kalamata olive, caper, lemon

tuscarora farm beets arugula, goat cheese, balsamic

scottish hare, hudson valley foie gras, black mission fig, minus 8 gastrique.

When pigs fly - these two pigs were on display at our table. We were told that when chef Bryan came up with the idea of Table 21, the health department wasn't going to give approval - stating that it would be dangerous to have customers in the kitchen. So, he invited them to dinner to 'test' it out. The rest is history.

red wattle pork belly cranberry beans, carmellini beans, mostarda, petite sorrel

duck sunshokes, coffee, brussle sprouts

pineland farm beef chanterelle mushroom, applewood smoked bacon

point reyes blue cheese apple, balsamic

goat cheese cake, bartlett pears, spiced vanilla

gala apples, walnut crumb, dulce de leche

chocolate covered banana mousse, caramel, concord grape ice cream

Frederick, MD - In the Streets Festival

2010-09-11T15:31:00.007-04:00

Today in Frederick Maryland was "In the Streets", a yearly outdoor street festival. Market street was pedestrians only with lots of food stall, places for kids to have fun, and bands on several corners.

Downtown Frederick was packed with people enjoying the beautiful day. My friend Nicki and I spent about 3 hours walking around the area. We shared a panini sandwich and some wine at Olives. Yum!

There was even a booth with some beautiful owls and hawks, who had been rescued from the wild. One was missing an eye, another a wing, another with a paralyzed wing and this beauty his 'smarts.' He had flown into a window and like the others, no longer can care for himself.

The kids seemed to have the most fun with the hula hoops and face painting, hair coloring, and rock climbing.

Carol Creek Canal was filled with families in boats, along with performers.

New restaurant in Frederick - Olives Italian

2010-08-28T09:32:00.030-04:00

For those of you in the Frederick area - restaurant review of Olives Italian, downtown Frederick on Market Street:

Tony and I dined at Olive’s this past Thursday (8/26/10) and we loved the food. This place opened in July taking over the Indian restaurant location. We were served huge green Italian olives and olive flavored bread sticks to start (the kind you get in Italy, the thick ones!).

For our appetizer we had the fried calamari (tasty and not rubbery). Another choice I wanted to try (next time) was the meatballs stuffed with goat cheese - it sounded so good and someone at a nearby table ordered them and they looked good!

Tony had the veal and eggplant parmesan (the best he’s had in quite some time and he's very picky when it comes to Italian food - if the red sauce is good he’s happy). I had the Pappardelle Bolognese (also very good and I liked the fact that some of the meat was in chunks rather than ground, although it didn't have any wild boar meat in the dish).

Nice wine selection. No dessert this time, but we definitely want to go back. The prices were very reasonable and portions filling. We met the manager, Leanne, who was happy to hear we enjoyed our meal. We had arrived without reservations but there were 5-6 empty tables. By the time we left, the place was filled. I didn’t understand the art on the walls, as it reminded me of Gauguin’s Tahitian women with flowers in their hair, although not in the rough sense. Certainly not an Italian theme but a lively environment. Overall, a very good Italian restaurant.

2 September: Tony and I dined again at Olives. This time we started with the lamb meatballs stuffed with feta cheese and topped with a delicious marinara sauce.

Tony had the Pappardelle Bolognese (after seeing what I had the previous week), and I had their shrimp special:

Shrimp with proscuitto, tomatoes, and arugula in a wine and butter sauce with penne pasta. It was fabulous! The sauce wasn't heavy or rich in taste, but quite flavorful.

Foccacia bread, right out of the oven, is also served.

Service was a little on the slow side, but it was due to the restaurant being filled to capacity. We didn't mind the wait at all. We ordered a bottle of wine to enjoy with our meal.

We ate at Olives again (4 Sept) during the busy "First Saturday" in Frederick. I had called earlier in the day to make reservations and the only times that were available was after 9:30pm, so I decided we would dine elsewhere. However, we were able to walk in and grab two seats at the bar.

Tony had the panini "Olive's Special", which was was filled with roasted red and green peppers, onions, provolone, capacola ham, mortadella and salami. Filling and delicious. It was served with a small side salad.

I had the Zuppa di Pesce, which consisted of shrimp, scallops, calamari, and white fish. The scallops were very tender and the stew, a red-based sauce was light in texture and taste. It was really wonderful. Along with the stew, Italian garlic bread was served. You could certainly taste the garlic flavors.

I ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio (had some and took the bottle home), and Tony had a couple of martini's. Both bartenders Cheryl and Cliff were friendly and kept our glasses filled. We even met the owner, Jay Sachdev, who was busy running around taking care of things and talking to customers.

For dessert, we shared a very tasty Tiramisu:

Having dined here 3 times now in just over a week, I have to say this is one of our favorite places to dine in Frederick.

10 September: Okay, so we really like this place. We ate at Olives again. Friday was the start of First Saturday, so the area was already busy with people walking around and enjoying the evening. We were able to snag a table next to the front window.

Fried calamari to start (see photo above). Again, they were tender and lightly battered. Seemed like the portion was slightly bigger than the first visit.

I had the Cappesante con le nocciole - Scallops in a lemon butter sauce with hazlenuts. There were four large scallops, cooked until just still opaque in the center, and served with risotto and vegetables.

Tony had the veal marsala, also served with the same risotto and vegetable. Both dishes were very good.

Horses in my yard!

2010-08-08T14:56:00.007-04:00

I just looked out my window and saw horses in my yard! I tried to keep Lucy in the house, but she ran the door before I could stop her. They belong to a neighbor down the street. I guess an area of their fence is down. I threw an apple to Tony who was trying to keep them in the yard - he split the apple for three of them. They were pretty calm despite Lucy. 5 minutes later they headed back home.

Burano, Italy

2010-07-17T12:18:00.004-04:00

Here are my photos of Burano.

And here are all of my Burano Reflections photos.

A Short Visit to Washington DC

2010-07-16T17:11:00.012-04:00

It was a scorcher today! About 98 degrees. Tony had plans to meet some VMI buddies for lunch in Washington DC, so I went along for the ride and hopped on a metro to the Eastern Market on 7th Street SE. I hadn't been there before and I do enjoy visiting markets.

This is an indoor market filled with wonderful foods: Seafood, meats, fruit stands, a cheese stand, a lovely flower stand, and a place with delicious looking pastries and pies. There were even foods that were vacuum sealed, such as the pollo asado. One meat stand had a variety of sausages: Italian, Argentinean, even Mexican.

I enjoyed a tasty crab cake sandwich at Market Lunch. The line was long with people waiting to place their order. There was a nice variety of seafood to choose from, as well as burgers and BBQ sandwiches. There's a long table with bar stools for the diners. I bellied up and ate my sandwich while talking with a couple of guys next to me. One had just moved to the area after living in Japan for 20 years. Navy guy.

I understand that this market is quite packed on the weekends along with vendor stands outside, so today was fairly quiet. I'll have to return on a weekend...on a cool day.

I walked up 7th street and headed over towards the capitol. Along the way I passed some very beautiful homes. I also saw a small garden with hibiscus the size of small dinner plates. I had never seen them this large!

Nearby I saw this squirrel trying to keep cool in the shade by laying flat on its belly with legs and arms spread out on the dirt. He didn't move at all. Another squirrel was rolling around in the dirt.

I headed to Union station where I knew I could cool down, window shop a little and wait for Tony to pick me up.

We don't get to Washington DC that often and being there today made me realize we need to take advantage of its offerings: The museums, a visit to Chinatown, the monuments, and the Eastern Market...but next time we'll go with a cooler in the car so we can bring home some meats and seafood. I saw some fresh octopus - that would be tasty on the grill!

PS: I was in bed awake at 5:00am this morning and felt the earthquake (5:04am). After the occurrence, I thought to myself: Big truck in the area? No. Airplane? No. Earthquake? Here? Hmmmm. Had to be. Lying in bed, it shook me side to side along with a low, long rumble. The news this morning confirmed what I felt.

Burano Reflections

2010-07-13T09:46:00.006-04:00

I wrote an article for the Italian Notebook website, a great web site that provides daily notes on Italy. The photos taken were from my recent trip to Venice. A friend purchased two of them!

http://www.italiannotebook.com/local-interest/burano-reflections/

Monica

Venetian Masks

2010-07-08T17:52:00.007-04:00

In Venice Italy, there are many shops that sell Venetian Masks, many which can cost hundreds of euros, as it can take many hours to make by hand. Masks sold at souvenir stands, such as the one in this photo, aren't of a high quality but are definitely a fun souvenir to bring home. These were in the 10 -15 euro range.

Lunch at Hinode's

2010-06-27T14:13:00.009-04:00

Today I had lunch with my dad and we dined at Hinode's located next to Carroll Creek canal in downtown Frederick.

It was too hot to sit outside under the umbrellas, as the temperature was rising to the high 90's, possibly hitting 100!

Hinode's has a nice selection of Japanese foods including sushi, sashimi, tempura and teriyaki dishes, and even lunch boxes.

We started with the Gataguri shrimp, which is wrapped in noodles, deep fried, and served with a sweet and spicy sauce,
and pan-fried beef gyoza.

Both were delicious, although the portions were small.

I had the sashimi lunch box, which consisted of a bowl of miso soup, California roll (although I asked for fish roe to be included), shrimp and vegetable tempura), rice, and three types of sashimi (tuna, white tuna, and flounder).

Dad ordered the pork Katsu, which is lightly battered and fried, and is served with a thick sauce; along with a side salad (not pictured).

For dessert we shared the creme brulee, which was one of the best I've had in a while (very creamy and light).

I thought the sashimi pieces should have been thinly sliced, rather than served in thick chunks; and the tuna wasn't of the best quality. Also, were served our main entrees when we were still trying to enjoy the appetizers. Overall, lunch was tasty and filling.

Gondola and Flowers

2010-06-26T18:30:00.001-04:00

I took this photo on my second day in Venice. It was a beautiful day!

The Color Purple

2010-06-19T15:10:00.016-04:00

Today my friend Beth and I went to a lavender farm in Pennsylvania. It was a beautiful but hot and humid day. We lasted just three hours before we began to wilt. We took many photos and picked lavender to take home. The smell of lavender is wonderful and soothing. There were about a dozen or so of vendors selling various products, including items from Provence (which they jacked up the price).

Here area a bunch of photos I took from our visit.

In addition to the two fields of lavender, there were some pretty flower beds and herbal gardens.

After, we headed back to Frederick to have lunch downtown at Acacia. Delicious caesar salad and spinach stuffed ravioli with a Bolognese meat sauce for me ...

...and a beet salad and fried chicken with mashed potatoes for Beth.

A great day despite the humidity.

7 June 2010, Time to head home from Venice

2010-06-19T13:05:00.001-04:00

7 June, Monday

I got up at 6:10am and got ready to head to the airport.

After breakfast at the hotel and paying the bill, I left at the hotel. The streets were very quiet, although some people were around. I took the #1 vaporetto to Piazzale Roma. On the way I snapped a few last shots of the Grand Canal.

I caught the #5 bus (A1 stop) to the airport. It was a hazy morning, so I knew it would be a very hot day. It was time to get out of Dodge, although another day in Venice would have been great.

Check in was fast since I got to the airport early. Security was tighter than in Philadelphia. I was asked to have my bags inspected. One camera and my itouch were in the carry on bag. Of course, it took a few minutes for me to put everything back neatly so I could close my suitcase. Flying with only carry-on is great but you do have to pack perfectly.

The flight home took a little over nine hours. We took off 30 minutes late but still arrived on time. I watched a couple of movies, read my book, and talked to the flight attendants who treated me to a few goodies.

It took about 40 minutes to get through immigration. I guess I got in the wrong line! I talked to two guys behind me for a bit. They lived in Towson, MD. One security worker had her cute beagle and he went around sniffing the luggage in the area.

Just as I got out of the customs area, I called Tony. I knew he had been working and was calling to see where he was. He said, “I’m just outside.” What a nice surprise! He was just around the corner from the customs area. He had finished working around noon and decided to fly to Philadelphia to meet me so we could drive home together.

On the way home, we stopped for dinner and later he did the rest of the driving. At that point I was pretty tired.

It was a great trip that I really needed and Venice is one place that I can go to anytime and enjoy. I can never get tired of exploring the many streets, canals, and bridges. There's a photo to be taken around every corner.

The weather was beautiful overall with the exception of two very hot days and some rain. I had the opportunity to meet old friends and new friends; and chat with waiters and hotel owners.

I'll be back to Venice again someday soon.

Now it's time to wait for my next trip: Another transatlantic cruise from Rome to Ft. Lauderdale!

Day trip to Verona, Italy

2010-06-18T09:02:00.011-04:00

6 June Sunday, Verona

Last night I had decided I would spend my last full day in Venice. I woke up early and decided I would go to Verona even though I hadn't bought any train tickets in advance. After a quick breakfast (nice spread of food at the hotel), I took the vapporetto to the train station and got in line to buy my tickets. The line had about a dozen customers in front of me, so I knew the line would go quickly. Four or five windows were open. I was lucky and caught the next train, only 10 minutes after purchasing my tickets.

It took about 1 hour, 20 minutes to get to Verona. Another hot but sunny day, I walked all around the city. Verona is a beautiful city with fabulous architecture. The lines were long at the Roman amphitheatre so I decided to visit it in the afternoon.

Along the pedestrian street, via Mazzini, there were lots of expensive shops with beautiful window displays. There was no market this day but I got to see the piazza Erbe without all the vendor's umbrellas covering the entire area. The piazza was once the forum in Roman times. All of the streets were small and so colorful. Many of the buildings had wrought iron balconies.

I took the easy way (elevator) to the top of the La Torre dei Lamberti (tower) for some great views. Not one cloud in the sky! The tower was first built in the 12th century and later restored I the mid 1400’s. A large clock was added in 1779.

My friend Anne gave me some restaurant suggestions but I ended up at Osteria Verona Antica. If I didn't have to worry about catching the train back to Venice I wouldn't have minded the slow service. I had a polenta and mixed mushroom dish and pasta with chinghiale (wild boar). I’ve had better.

I walked by Romeo's home...or at least that's the story. Juliette's home was nearby but didn't think about it at the time. I had been there several years ago.

I walked along the river, stopped in a two church’s (one with some fabulous frescoes that had been discovered at some point and unfortunately discovered when the workers used picks to tear town the stucco, which heavily damaged the frescoes). It was sad to see such damage. The other had a fabulous ceiling.

Next I walked to the castle but didn't go inside - I had seen one castle/fortress already and that was enough for this trip. The afternoon was very hot, close to 90 degrees.

In the center of town there was some sort of sport street festival and a stage with musicians.

There were lots of cafes in the area with people having afternoon drinks and dessert. At the amphitheatre, I discovered the place had closed at 2pm. I wasn't sure if it was for just the one day; however, that night I did see a concert on tv and I was 98% sure it was at the Verona amphitheatre. I also saw a sign for a Rod Stewart concert for June 21st. Too bad, as it would have been great to see him in concert in such a fabulous place.

I headed back to Venice on the 4:40pm train. It was a nice visit to Verona, as my last time there was back in 2001. It would have been nice to spend a night or two there. Back at the hotel, I had printed out my boarding pass. The hotel has one computer next to the front desk for people to use and a printer set up as well. I had Tony check me in since I couldn’t do it during the day.

I was back at ai Tre Spiedi around 8pm. The restaurant was empty when I arrived, but a few people did come in soon after for dinner. It was a slow night, but then maybe a lot of tourists left the city. I had a delicious bowl of mussels and clams in a light red sauce (like a soup), and then a pork cutlet with potatoes. The water treated me to a shot of cold limoncello. Yum!

I walked along the streets towards St Marks and took several photos. I bought a pretty purse in one of the shops that was still open. It was marked 25 euros. He knocked it down to 23 and I offered 20. He was quick to accept, so I imagined I could have started lower.

Back in the room, I finished off my local white wine, packed my suitcase, and went to bed.

2010-06-14T15:17:00.002-04:00

This is one of my favorite photos from Venice. I took this same shot back in 2006. I wasn't sure I could find the place again, but happily I did.