Journeys Viaggio

I just returned from a wonderful Seminar at Sea aboard the Azamara Journey. We sailed from San Juan to New York. It was a unique itinerary which blended beautiful beach ports with the sophistication of Bermuda and the magic that is New York City!

We had overnights in St. Thomas….very walkable touristy downtown right from the dock and of course many beach activities to enjoy around the island.

We hiked, kayaked and snorkeled (and saw sea turtles!) in St. John which is still low key and has lovely beaches. The ‘White Night’ Dinner on deck while moored in front of St. John’s was outstanding in every way….from the awesome staging of the pooldeck to look like a taverna, to the festive and well thought out menu, the enthusiastic staff, and the music.
The view of the island lights ashore and the warm Caribbean evening kept you on deck to enjoy the full evening.

Virgin Gorda was just one lush and gorgeous scene after the next. Beautiful serene bays dotted with dozens of sailboats.

Bermuda – As quaint and charming as anticipated! We cycled through picturesque neighborhoods with the sea always in view, and boated into pristine coves. Bermuda is 21 miles long and just about a mile wide so it is easy to access. Hamilton, the busniess hub, also has unique shops and restaurants. Stunning homes front the endless shorelines. All have white roofs to accomodate their own water collection systems, as water is a limited resource on Bermuda. The houses are all painted in a wide variety of pastel and vibrant colors! We were there Easter weekend, and took in the annual Passion re-enactment in the town of St. Georges. The cast consisted of at least fifty locals in costume from the five village churches. The procession was accompanied by the Salvation Army band, along with vocalists from the local choirs. The event lasted for two hours and traveled through the town…making stops staged at each churchyard.

Then – New York City. Sailing into the harbor past the Statue of Liberty on a clear sunny morning was the highlight. We sailed right up to our berth at Pier 88 in the heart of the city!
Azamara The Journey carries about 650 guests, it has an intimate feel and a “country club casual” atmosphere on board. Many lovely dining options, quality entertainment, gym, spa, pool, lovely deck space. All staff, including officers are friendly and ready to engage on any subject. Azamara prides itself on prime docking space in ports of call. In Hamilton, Bermuda we were right in the heart of town…it could not have been more central. And it was also impressive to witness the skills of the captain and crew manipulating the ship in and out of dock.

 

At most coffee bars, first you go to the cashier and pay for what you’ll order. The cashier gives you the bill which you present to the barista at the bar counter as you order. An efficient system for busy bars where many people come and go within minutes.

Most bars are so small so you stand at the counter as you drink your coffee and eat your croissant. In larger bars, especially those in major tourist areas and famous piazzas like Piazza San Marco in Venice, if you sit down at a table where a waiter serves you, you’ll pay at least double the price of the stand-up coffee. If you plan to linger over your cappuccino to admire the architecture and views and enjoy the friend you’re with, sit down, stay for awhile and soak up some “dolce vita”.

Some Italian coffee lingo:
1.If you order “coffee” or “caffe”, you’ll get espresso. For a weaker coffee, order “caffe Americano” or a “caffe lungo”—a long coffee.
2.If you order a “latte” like you might at Starbucks, you’ll get what you asked for—“latte” or milk. The barista will ask you if you want it hot or cold. Order “caffe latte.”
3.“Caffe macchiata” is espresso with a drop of milk in it.
4.A “caffe latte” has more milk and less foam than a “cappuccino”.
Local bars in Italy are where the regulars grab their quick expresso in the morning and later drop back in for a quick drink and conversation with the other regulars…really a gathering place for the neighborhood. In the morning, you will find a selection of pastries to accompany your coffee and in the afternoon a variety of freshly made panini (sandwiches). Soda, wine, and liquor are also to be had.
(from Mamma Margaret & friends)

For an entire year, an Airbus 330 in Alitalia’s fleet will be the site of an exhibit of 28 images by Tuscan photographer Alessandro Moggi.

The photos, featuring the many aspects of Tuscany, will be positioned above the overhead compartments of the aircraft, which serves some of Alitalia’s intercontinental routes to the United States, China, Brazil and Japan.

In the display, Moggi’s works-Tuscan landscapes, from the seaside to the mountains and the countryside, and Tuscan art-create a dialogue about similarities and differences: the precise geometry of Versilia and bright colours of the Lucca countryside; the wild nature of the woods; many of the region’s gardens and vineyards; and the representation of Salome by Filippo Lippi in the Prato Cathedral and the contemporary Gori Collection of Villa Celle in Pistoia. Along with subject matter appropriate for the venue, Moggi’s photographs were adaptable to the specific requirement of horizontal format.

The on-board exhibit ‘emphasizes the international vocation of Tuscany,’ said Tuscan president Enrico Rossi, ‘and enriches the journey of those who will fly on the new Alitalia planes, inviting them to come and enjoy our rich culture and landscapes.’

photos by Alessandro Moggi

article by:

The Florentine

Italians will often conclude the meal with a ‘digestivo’ – a digestive shot of grappa, limoncello (lemon liqueur made from Sorrento lemons) or Vin Santo sweet dessert wine. If I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be Vin Santo.

There are, as with any great Tuscan tale, several versions of just why Vin Santo – ‘Holy Wine’ – is so called. Vin Santo is made by leaving the Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes on the vine a little longer to allow the sugars inside the grapes to intensify. They are then hand-picked and carefully hung out to dry not in a cellar, but in the attic – that is, close to the saints. Vin Santo is the juice of choice used in mass, and this is possibly the most likely reason why it is called ‘Holy Wine’. Then there is the great legend that during the 1300s, the sweet Tuscan wine was given to help cure the sick who found this ‘miracle cure’ worthy of the title. Bottling also occurs at around Easter time, giving yet another holy association to this delicious Tuscan wine.
Once pressed, the small amount of liquid that remains is intensely sweet. It is then placed into a particular barrel known as ‘caratelli’, in which is kept for even up to a decade.
Vin Santo is traditionally enjoyed with Biscotti di Prato – crunchy biscotti that are dipped into the sweet liqueur for the simplest and most delicious of Tuscan desserts.

One of the notable producers of superb Vin Santo is Lornano, who ages it 10 years in wood barrrels before bottling. By the way Lornano produces some fabulous Super Tuscan red wines as well. Our villa company, Invitation to Tuscany, carries three apartments located on the vineyard estate in the heart of Tuscany for rent. So we can get our guests into the winery for special tastings.
http://www.invitationtotuscany.com/properties/property-detail?property_id=18

rome-in-the-snow.html

Romans bewildered by their city’s first big snowfall in 26 years used government-issured shovels to clear sidewalks and piazzas, and kitchen utensils to clear windshields on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. The snow was as deep as 8 inches in some neighborhoods, according to the Associated Press reports, and shut down tourist sites such as the Colosseum.
Riccardo De Luca | AP

Vatican City, Rome, Italy – A nun of the Missionaries of Charity shelters from the snow with an umbrella as she walks through St. Peter’s Square in Rome on Friday.

Experience a taste of Italy on the Southern California coast at The Resort at Pelican Hill, rated the number one Resort in the U.S. and the number one California Golf Resort by Conde Nast Traveler readers! The Spa at Pelican Hill is rated Five-Star by Forbes and Andrea, one of four dining venues, is among the “Top 50 U.S. Italian Restaurants”.
The Resort at Pelican Hill is perched on the coastline between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach with expansive views of the Pacific Ocean from almost anywhere on this Mediterranean-like resort. The architecture was inspired by the 16th century Italian, Andrea Palladio, best known for his grand villas across the Venitian countryside.

The accommodations consist of Bungalows with large private ocean-view terraces, hand-hewn vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, Italian limestone gas fireplaces, granite wet bars, generous sitting area, very large bathrooms with walk-in marble showers and oversized soaking tubs, and state of the art technology. The Bungalows begin at 850 sq ft, not including the well furnished terraces, which become an extension of the living area.
The Villas range from two, three, and four bedrooms, each with gourmet kitchens with all of the necessities, from dishes, to cookware and top notch appliances. Fully furnished terraces, private garage, and washer/dryer make for a perfect family or friend get-away.
Though Pelican Hill Resort is only a few years old, the landscaping is fully mature and abundant. Century-old olive trees throughout are harvested in the autumn and the resort celebrates with a weekend festival complete with wine and oil tastings, Italian delicacies, music and entertainment….you feel as though you are in the piazza of an Italian hill village. Other themed events happen throughout the year that would make for a great excuse to plan a visit for a weekend or more.

The main resort swimming pool is a perfect circle, 136 feet in diameter, aptly named ‘The Coliseum’. Luxurious cabanas and lounging areas line two levels of comfortable space around the pool….all enjoying a fabulous ocean-view. A great place to be at sunset for an incredible visual treat. The same view can also be enjoyed al fresco at most of the Resort’s restaurants and lounges. The Newport Coast enjoys an average of 340 days of sunshine a year.

The two 18 hole championship golf courses were designed by Tom Fazio and are set among over 400 acres of deep canyons with panoramic views of the Pacific.
The Resort at Pelican Hill is located across from Crystal Cove State Park which has 3.5 miles of beach offering spectacular sunbathing, swimming, surfing, diving and tide pool exploration. There are also miles of trails on the bluffs above the beach for walking, jogging and biking. Balboa Island and Newport Harbor offer sailing, deep-sea fishing and dinner cruise excursions. Laguna Beach hosts several annual arts events and festivals and has abundant art galleries, shops and restaurants. And for the serious shopper, First- class shopping is close by at the renowned Fashion Island and Crystal Cove Promenade.
So if you do not have the time to fly to Italy for your much needed Mediterranean break, you might consider a visit to The Resort at Pelican Hill, as I recently have!