Next on the hit parade is back to Italy, Syracusa Sicily...
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| View of Syracusa from our balcony... |
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| First, let's get ashore... |
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| ....another tender ride.... |
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| Welcome to Syracusa... |
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| ...now a motor-coach ride... |
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| ...to the wonderful... |
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| ...Pupillo Family Winery! |
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| First a tour of the gardens... |
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| ...and the history of the family! |
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| Then inside to see how to make... |
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| ...the wine and of course... |
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...we had to taste it! Very Nice!
The food was great too! |
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Tom w/ 2 generations of wine
makers & our tour guide. |
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| After lunch we said Ciao to Syracusa |
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| and went back to the boat! |
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| An early sail, so we could see... |
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| ...the volcano Stromboli! |
That after noon we circled Stromboli while it rumbled and grumbled at us...Cool!
Next port-of-call, Lipari, Italy...take a look...
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| Our balcony view of Lipari! |
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| Another tender ride to land... |
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| ...then a wander around w/my honey! |
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| An adorable little town... |
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| ...and a great view of the ship! |
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| Local color, shopping... |
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| ...then lunch! |
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| A marvelous lunch with Tom... |
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| ...then back to the ship! |
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Afternoon cocktails with Suzanne
& Andrew at the Sky Bar |
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While the crew served Caviar
in the pool to all takers! |
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We sail away, saying Ciao to
the volcano... |
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...and have a pre-dinner martini at
sunset in the Observation Lounge! |
Next stop, Ponza Italy...
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A beautiful day in Ponza for a boat ride around the island...
Everybody was downstairs huddled together but Tom & I went upstairs
and had the boat to ourselves for about an hour - very nice! |
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| Relaxing, sunny, wonderful! |
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| ...oh, and pretty too! |
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| The captain pulled the boat into... |
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| ...the grottos, very cool! |
The captain navigating the boat into a grotto...
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| The colors of the rocks... |
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| ...& the water, vivid & beautiful! |
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| We even did a little swimming... |
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| The water was wonderful! |
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4 hours later back to Ponza
for a little lunch (alici for Tom) |
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Then back to the ship for formal
night at our pre-dinner martini! |
Last stop for this posting will be Livorno, Italy.
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Livorno was a quaint little port town
Not a lot was open - it is known for a
section known as Little Venice... |
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| The Quartiere Venezia! |
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| After a wander around & lunch... |
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| ...we headed back to the boat! |
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| On-board the crew was setting up... |
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| ...for the Epicurean Event Poolside! |
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Of course we had our martini's,
enjoyed the amazing sunset
and then headed to dinner... |
We had decided to eat at the specialty restaurant, "Restaurant 2" this night. It wan an amazing 7 course tasting menu (paired with wines if you like). The atmosphere, the service and food were wonderful - I really liked the granite-lite-up menu...
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| un-lite... |
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| ...lite! |
Lastly, the night's entertainment at poolside...
A little Love Shack!
I think that is enough for this posting (and our wine delivery will be showing up in a few minutes).
As always, we want to send love and best wishes to our family and friends...
This time I would also like to send a special wish to a friend (and follower of this blog). A women whom Tom & I met some 5 years ago now on our first trip to Italy...Margaret Blechinger. Margaret has kept in touch over the years and we even had the chance to get together while we were living in Rome. She is a marvelous sweet hearted person and we are fortunate to have her in our lives! Stay well and enjoy life!
Ok, next time Portovenere (Cinqua Terre), Monaco, Nice & Eze and Monte Carlo!
Ciao for now -
Ron & Tom
