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Cruising The Western Mediterranean
Rome was next, where we spent a full day visiting all our favorite sights...The Vatican, The Spanish Steps, The Pantheon and Coliseum. We had a delicious plate of pasta and some red wine in one of the touristy pasta restaurants that line the Piazza Navona. We sat, lingering over our meal, under a brilliant yellow umbrella. Protected from the relentless Italian sun, we drank in the endless procession of tourists, street performers; pick pockets and flocks of pigeons that is the Piazza Navona.
The next port of call, Liverno, is further up the Italian coast. I got to see the leaning Tower of Pisa for the first time and I must admit I was astonished! That sucker looks like it will fall at any second. It really is worth a visit, even if it means putting up with the crowds of tourists that seem to be there year round.
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| Monte Carlo |
A full day in Monte Carlo was next on the agenda. The Principality of Monaco is one of the most well known playgrounds of the rich and famous. This fairytale land where an American actress became a real princess is still filled with the pomp and circumstance of a royal dynasty. The harbor is filled with yachts and the streets, when not hosting the Grand Prix, are crowded with luxury cars...we are talking Rolls Royces. The Mercedes tend to be driven by the servants!
We had a delightful lunch at the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel. With a magnificent view overlooking the sea, Le Pistou restaurant specializes in authentic Mediterranean cuisine. Menu offerings we especially enjoyed, included a warm Octopus and Baby Squid Salad with Coriander, a marvelous Crab and Shrimp Lasagna and a Coquilles Saint Jacques Provencal, that consisted of Pan-seared Scallops in a white wine, garlic and parsley sauce. Perched high above the vivid turquoise blue of the surrounding Mediterranean Sea, the view from Le Pistou was the perfect complement to our meal.
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| Tarts Monte Carlo Grand Hotel |
Princess Grace opened the hotel in 1975 as the Loews Monte Carlo. Its singular geometric architecture overhanging the Mediterranean Sea was quite innovative and has become a signature part of Monaco's famed post card views. The resort and convention center became the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel in 1998. With 619 rooms and suites with private terraces overlooking the Mediterranean, this wonderful hotel maintains a high standard of personal service and attention to detail. It is literally across the street from the stately Grand Casino de Monte Carlo, yet maintains its own more relaxed Las Vegas style casino if you prefer a less formal environment.
The hotel has two additional restaurants, including L'Argentin, a wonderful South American style steak house and Le Café de Mer that offers the same spectacular views and features a daily fresh "catch of the day". The deserts in all the restaurants are truly incredible and are created by the hotel's Pastry Chef, Jean Pierre Freulon. Having studied his craft in both France and Switzerland, he attended the renowned La Coba, School of Confectionery & Chocolate. In fact his creations are so good the hotel opened the Café Viennois, a bakery featuring his most popular cakes and pastries!
For more information visit the hotel web site at www.montecarlograndhotel.com
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| Mediterranean Fortress |
Next stop Marseille. Aside from having some great bread and pastry shops, for the most part this city is a seedy, poverty stricken slum with the largest Arab population outside of the Middle East. It lived up to my image from the sixties movie, " The French Connection" staring Gene Hackman as Popeye the crazed New York Cop out to bust heroin traffic from its source. On the plus side it is a jumping off point for a day excursion to Aix en Provence, the 12th century regional capital. Just an hour drive, motorized vehicles are not permitted in the old city, so exploring the twisting streets must be done on foot. It is like being transported back to medieval France and is a great way to spend the day!
Menorca is the second largest of the Baleric Islands and is less well known than the more popular Mallorca and Ibiza. Menorca is beautiful and still not quite the tourist magnet her sister islands are. We spent a delightful day exploring the well kept streets of Mahon, the main city and took a taxi ride out of town for about forty-five minutes to one of the lazy fishing villages. The people are friendly and this island is a part of Spain well worth a return visit!
We departed the ship in Barcelona and having to return to the states we went directly to the airport for the flight home. A visit to Barcelona will just have to be part of a future Western Mediterranean itinerary...
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