Hi ya'll,
This will be our final installment as I want to save some hours for Ermine, Margo's bartendar
in the Starrs Lounge.
Dave, Laura, Ida and I had reservations for Portifino's on the 10th for "A taste of Italy"
Our menu:
AntiPasti (Fresh Asparagus, with oil, lemon, parsley and Parmesan); Gamberoni Fra Diavola
(Jumbo shrimps in hot spicy tomato sauce)
Pasta Rigatoni all Amatriciana (tossed with garlic, bacon, onion and tomato)
Insalata (Mixed Green Salad with extra virgin
Olive Oil and lemon dressing
Fish Grilled Tuna with Lobster Reduction and
Saffron risotto
Secondo E Conorno Vitello Parmigiana
Torta Di Fruitta al Mascapone E Tiramisu
Wines: Santa Margerita Pinot Grigio
Chianti Classico Riserva, Getano D Aquino
Meal was outstanding--the wait staff all dressed
up and sang, we had plastic song sheets (Che Sara
Sara, Mi Amore, etc.,) and we sang too...Dave even played the spoons.
That evening Dave and I went to the Coniesurs (Sp)
club and had Macanudo Maduro's I brought..he bought the Cognac..perfect cap to a delightful evening with new cruise friends.
Saturday was a full Sea day...started with
the daily run and swim (25 min)...then Ida
and I enjoyed a superb breakfast at the Compass room..
Ida then went to the Gym to do three hours
of aerobics a couple hours Tae bo, sauna..she went through
lunch... I found the secret--never used except for AMX-P parties, Amx Mariner parties, Repeaters Parties--the empty Vista Lounge and read for a few
hours. Dave, Laura and I enjoyed lunch in Portifinos on the porch with the gentle sea
breezes..Met Ida back in the room and suggested she order room service...she ordered a shrimp
cocktail (four shrimp the size of a fist) and a turkey club...She told me this is why she loves cruising Rad style...you can do anything you want anytime you want and eat whenever you want with whoever you want....well said!
Dave and I then went to our favorite pool deck
lounge chairs and read for a few hours..At 4
were were back in the gym doing 25 min of elipticals then I followed this workout with another 20 min swim as the sun set..(I earned
desert)
We met DAve and Laura in the Compass room for Dinner...we met two other couples..had a delicous degustation menu mixed with the evening selections.
Avocado Fritters
Stuffed Rottini (A tony manutuano special)
Cream Cauliflower Capuccino (A Tony M special)
Salad & Pasta
Broiled Turbot (Me)
Braised Shortribs (A Tony M specialty)(Ida)
Rocky Road Ice Cream
Wines: Gavi--Italian dry white
Neibum Coppolla Claret (Superb)
We then went to watch Sean O'shea and Navigator Five for the evening's entertainment.
Sunday -- Grand Cayman
Had an early Room service breakfast as Dave
and I were diving today. Met with 8 other divers for the Rad sponsored two tank dive...went
to Don Fosters in GC...amazing destruction still present here in GC...sky cranes dot the skyline..
many roofs still covered by tarps...
Wonderfully organized dive operator...we got to dive the grand cayman wall...spectacular sea life
and coral..We saw turtles, sharks, jelly fish (ouch), Yellow tail snapper, barricudas, et. al.
Back to the ship and lunch on at Poolside Grill
at 2 pm Good Minute Steak sandwich...then
off to our lazyboy lounges and a few hours of
reading & sleeping.
It is now a tad after 6 pm and we have dinner
again in the Compass Room...all of the couples from last night asked us to do it again sam, tonight at 8. Well have to drag myself back
to the suite and prepare the Gin & Tonics....tough
life---and we're loving it.
Thank you all for sharing our first cruise with us. Your positive, kind, thoughts spurred me on to continue to share our experiences...We'll book a cruise tomorrow to get the 5% discount--but it really is a holding cruise--to transfer to a South America itinerary in 2006.
See you again on the Paul Gauguin in March!
Absolutely all the best to each one of you
for this upcoming Holiday season...and may you have a safe a joyous New Year.
Wes & Ida
