Saturday, February 20, 2010

91 more days...

A blast from the past:
CRUISING




August, 1990




While Mo and I are looking forward to this cruise like no other, it happens that this is not our first.  In 1990 Mo and I cruised to Nassau, and also spent time Florida.  It was a great trip.

The things that we remember most from that trip include:

 Parasailing
(Mo's favorite!)



SNORKELING
(Mo got separated from the pack and came face to face with a GIANT GROUPER)



Banana Boating
Who don't like banana boating!



...and just hanging out on the beaches and in the water.
(Mo found $20 floating in the surf, and I recall that our buoyancy in the high salinity water was also kinda fun.)


 How about the rest of you?
What memorable vacations can you remember, cruise or otherwise, from any time in your life?




Friday, February 19, 2010

92 more days...

Cruising with Cyn
Collection of useless information circuitous to the OPERATION: Poisson Rouge Adventure.

This 6 week installment of Cruising with Cyn, we will be exploring local cuisine from the regions we will be visiting. Ken and I will be preparing a traditional meal from Barcelona, Naples, Rome, Florence, Nice and Toulon. We will be posting the receipe and our review.


Tagliata with Arugula
Ingredients
1 minced garlic clove
1 1/2 teaspoons each of chopped rosemary and sage
Coarse sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 boneless rib eye steak, cut 2 inches thick (2 1/4 pounds)
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 bunch of arugula

1 tablespoon lemon juice


Instructions
• Preheat the oven to 350°. Preheat a cast-iron skillet.
• In a bowl, mix the garlic, rosemary, sage, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Rub the mixture all over the steak.
• Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the steak and cook over moderate heat until browned all over.
• Stand the steak on its side and roast it in the oven for 20 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 135°.
• Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes, then slice.
• Spread the arugula on a platter and top with the steak.
• Drizzle with oil and lemon juice and top with the cheese shavings.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

93 more days...


The Island of Capri


Capri (pronounced CAH-pree) is an enchanting and picturesque island made of limestone rock. A favorite with Roman emperors, the rich and famous, artists, and writers, it's still one of the Mediterranean's must-see places. The island of Capri, located just across the Bay of Naples, has two charming villages (Anacapri and Capri) full of boutiques and sidewalk cafes and is a fun destination for easy-going sightseeing. While the island is small — just four miles by two miles — there's plenty to see and do. Capri is a day of unforgettable views!


Marina Grande


Tourists arrive by boat at Marina Grande, the island's main harbor. Capri is easily visited as a day trip from Naples. The island can be reached by frequent ferries and hydrofoils from the city of Naples. To get to Capri, head across the cruise terminal to the hydrofoil station; the trip across the Bay of Naples takes 50- 90 minutes each way, and the boats dock at Marina Grande. From Naples, the ferry takes about 80 minutes and costs about 9,00 EUR . The hydrofoil takes about 40 minutes and costs 16,00 EUR.


The Blue Grotto


The famous Blue Grotto, Grotta Azzurra, is the most fascinating of the island's many caves. Refraction of sunlight into the cave makes an iridescent blue light in the water. Once inside you're met with the spectacular sight of the blue water. Boats at the harbor offer tours around the island or transport to the Blue Grotto. Daily, regular departures from 9 a.m. throughout the day, depart from Marina Grande. The Blue Grotto experience is more than visiting a cave. Getting there, getting in, and getting back are all part of the experience. You will enjoy a fast cruise partway around the gorgeous island, seeing bird life and local fisherman at work all under dramatic limestone cliffs. Once at the Blue Grotto, you will transfer to a small rowboat that will take you into the cave. A truly memorable experience.

Funicular to Capri

The funicular railway (funiculare) takes visitors up the hill from Marina Grande to the town of Capri. In Marina Grande the ticket office is not located at the entrance of the Funicular railway but, rather, on the left hand side of the port, where the ticket offices of the various navigation companies can also be found.

Capri
Capri, the largest of the island's two towns, sits in a saddle above the port. Piazza Umberto, often called La Piazzetta, is the main square of this cute and touristy shopping town. This is the heart and soul of Capri. It’s a small, colorful square with a 17th-century baroque clock tower. The main drag is nicknamed "Rodeo Drive" for its exclusive boutiques. While prices are steep, the window shopping is free. There are outdoor cafes, countless designer and ceramic shops, 5 star hotels fine restaurants, discos and gelaterias (gelato shops). At the edge of town, elegant villas and a public garden are strategically placed to enjoy the amazing views. Window shop, grab a gelato, and then sit down and take in the breathtaking view.


On glitzy Capri, everything is done with panache. Taxis are white convertibles. Though expensive, they make getting around an unforgettable part of your visit. Remember the view! Public buses run around the island, but they can be crowded. Buses run frequently, although times are subject to variation. Tickets can be purchased directly on board the bus, in the ticket offices of the Funicular railway in Marina Grande or in Piazza Martiri d’Ungheria, close to the Piazzetta, where the bus station is located. Taxi service is reliable and the convertibles taxis are a nice way to travel on warm days. Taxi fare from Capri to Anacapri is roughly 20 Eur. Remember to set the price before you get in the taxi.


Anacapri
















The island's second town, Anacapri, has fewer tourists, a little more character, spectacular views of the harbor, and a passion for colorful Majolica tiles. The town's celebrated San Michele Church has a remarkable majolica floor showing paradise on earth in a classic 18th-century Neapolitan style. Ironically, the church's floor is so gorgeous that pews for worshippers are replaced by a boardwalk for tourists.

Also check out Villa San Michele (Anacapri, daily from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.). The 18th-century home of a Swedish physician, this elegant villa has lovely furnishings, classical art and a gorgeous garden. Villa San Michele, in Anacapri, was built by the Swedish writer Axel Munthe in the late 19th century on the site of a Tiberian villa. Bits of the Roman villa are incorporated into the atrium and garden. Inside are traditional local and Swedish furnishings and hundreds of art pieces from antiquity to the 20th century. Not to be missed are the garden with breathtaking views of the cliffs, harbor, and sea.

Near the central square there's a chair lift to Mount Solaro and a street lined with shops, several of which offer limoncello tasting. Olive trees, grapevines, and flowers give it a Mediterranean charm.



Chairlift from Anacapri to Monte Solaro

For the best views of the island take the single-seat chairlift trip (12 minutes) up to Monte Solaro (rough translation is Solar Mountain). Chairlift operators help tourists in and out of the non-stop chairlift. Roughly 8 Eur round trip. (Tip: Make sure your shoes are firmly attached to your feet or hold on to them.) The view on the way up is amazing and the view at Monte Solaro is worth the trip. Don't miss it!



Monte Solaro

Monte Solaro is the highest and most panoramic spot on the island. At the top you are 1,955 feet above sea level and have a 360° panorama of the island of Capri. The rocky formation is volcanic in origin and is actually and extension of the Sorrentine peninsula. Enjoy the experience while sitting at the cafe on Monte Solaro. Travel back to Anacapri can be made by the chairlift or by walking down a winding path past lemon trees, private homes and gardens with fabulous views.

Oh, and did I mention the view?


Sights to See

Faraglioni,rock formations, are one of the island's natural wonders. The faraglioni make up the classic view one associates with Capri. There are several other unusual rock formations in the sea around the island, including a natural arch.

Certosa of San Giacomo is a 14th century monastery near the town of Capri. It houses a museum and library and holds concerts. Nearby are the beautiful Giardini Augusto, gardens of Augustus. There's an overlook with great sea views.

Marina Piccola, the south harbor, has restaurants and a rocky beach with swimming, beautiful views of the sea, and the Faraglioni rock formations. The marina can be reached by bus or taxi.

Roman villa remains from the 12 elaborate villas built by Emperor Tiberius include Villa Jovis, in a spectacular position on Mount Tiberio and the most elaborate and interesting, and the Sea Palace and Baths of Tiberius near Marina Grande.

The Phoenician Steps, 800 ancient steps connecting Anacapri to the sea and offering splendid views.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

94 more days...

Ancient Rome & America
The Classical Influence That Shaped Our Nation


***World Premiere Exhibition***

Opens February 19th at the Constitution Center
in Historic Phila
delphia

Located just two blocks from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall


Click Here for more information, ticket prices and hours


(thought I'd share this with everyone - sounds like a great exhibit...and it runs until August 1st, 2010)

__________________________________



OLYMPICS

FUN FACTS
__________________________________


Spain has hosted 1 Olympic Game
  • 1992 - Summer - Barcelona


France has hosted 5 Olympic Games
  • 1900 - Summer - Paris
  • 1924 - Summer - Paris
  • 1924 - Winter - Chamonix
  • 1968 - Winter - Grenoble
  • 1992 - Winter - Albertville


Italy has hosted 3 Olympic Games
  • 1956 - Winter - Cortina d'Ampezzo
  • 1960 - Summer - Rome
  • 2006 - Winter - Torino
Torino, Italy - Olympic Medal
First medal design to feature a hole in the middle


_______________________________________

The Following Performance Highlights
Cruise-master Ken & Cruise-mistress Cindy
in an Olympic Figure Skating Routine
....I give them a 9.4...which reminds me...

94 MORE DAYS!!!

(Maybe they will give us an encore presentation on Voyager of the Seas at the ice skating rink!)


Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Cruise along and enjoy...^_~

Karen

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

95 more days...

The mini-series continues:
Would Nana do it, for a buck?"
Reading about the wonderful food overseas got me thinking... Frog's legs, escargot, and brains. Would Nana do it, for a buck? Let's find out.

~ Frog's Legs ~

  • France consumes about 3,500 tons of frogs legs per year (or about 70 million frogs).
  • Because frogs are becoming endangered, much of Frances frogs legs are imported, in particular from Indonesia.  
So, what do you say Nana? Les cuisses de grenouilles, pour $1? On second thought, frogs legs are really no big deal. They serve them at the local Chinese buffet, and they are actually quite tasty. So instead, how about...
  
~ Escargots ~
  • Escargots are typically removed from their shell, gutted, and then cooked.
  • Snails are very high in protein and low in fat when they are cooked and served without butter sauce.
  • But escargots are usually cooked in garlic and butter sauce, and then put back into the shells with the butter sauce. (Well, of course! What DOESN'T taste good in garlic and butter?!?!)
  • There are special tongs, as there are special devices for lobster, used to hold the shell. There are also special snail forks that are used to get the meat out of the shell. Or, you can just slurp at it! Yummmmmmmmm!
Not bad, but maybe not worth a buck...
What else do we have to offer?
~ Brains ~
  • Animal brains are featured in French cuisine, in dishes such as cervelle de veau and tĂȘte de veau.
  • I have nothing else to say...
So, what do you say, Nana?
Do we have a bet?



Monday, February 15, 2010

96 more days...

The Finance Report:
Creeping Higher!

As the $US continued its ascent, Nana's bid remained closest to the actual exchange rate (0.73 vs 0.736811 euro / $US).  But Mo is a real challenger and still has a great shot at taking the prize.  The good news is that a stronger dollar equates to more buying power for us, so let 'er ride! 



CONTEST UPDATE:
Nana is still in the lead!

The winner of our contest (Grand Prize = 1 euro!) will be the one with the closest guess on May 21st, 2010. 
___________________________________________________

THE WEB REPORT:
It's getting crowded in here!

I can hardly keep track of who is new anymore, although it is plain to see that Great Britain is coming back over and over.  I wonder if its Mo's travel tips, Karen's language lessons, or Cindy's recipes that are the big draw.  Whatever it is, they have 96 more days of fun ahead of them.


free counters

What must they think?  We can only wonder, unless of course they take the time to write and request a free postcard!

_______________________________________________

FREE Postcards!
What a segway...  Our offer remains open to anyone in the world who wants to receive a FREE postcard from the cast of Operation: Poisson Rouge during our European adventure.  Please click on the 'contact me' button below, and make your request.  There are 4 more postcards requests available, each to be filled free of charge!

Postcard #2 - #5: Still available

(Offer void to family, friends, and friends of family and friends...)

Sunday, February 14, 2010

O: PR Special Report

O: PR Special Report
Happy Birthday Toot


Our dear Toot would have been 99 years old today.  Toot would have fit right in on this adventure as she howled her way across the Mediterranean. 

Happy birthday, you old bitty.  We miss you.

Love,
All of us

97 more days...

____________________________________________

The History of Saint Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day started in the time of the Roman Empire. In ancient Rome, February 14th was a holiday to honour Juno. Juno was the Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses. The Romans also knew her as the Goddess of women and marriage. The following day, February 15th, began the Feast of Lupercalia.

The lives of young boys and girls were strictly separate. However, one of the customs of the young people was name drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man would draw a girl's name from the jar and would then be partners for the duration of the festival with the girl whom he chose. Sometimes the pairing of the children lasted an entire year, and often, they would fall in love and would later marry.

Under the rule of Emperor Claudius II Rome was involved in many bloody and unpopular campaigns. Claudius the Cruel was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. He believed that the reason was that roman men did not want to leave their loves or families. As a result, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs and secretly married couples, and for this kind deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about the year 270. At that time it was the custom in Rome, a very ancient custom, indeed, to celebrate in the month of February the Lupercalia, feasts in honour of a heathen god. On these occasions, amidst a variety of pagan ceremonies, the names of young women were placed in a box, from which they were drawn by the men as chance directed.

The pastors of the early Christian Church in Rome endeavoured to do away with the pagan element in these feasts by substituting the names of saints for those of maidens. And as the Lupercalia began about the middle of February, the pastors appear to have chosen Saint Valentine's Day for the celebration of this new feaSt. So it seems that the custom of young men choosing maidens for valentines, or saints as patrons for the coming year, arose in this way.

************************************************************************



In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of love, and the son of Venus. In ancient Greece, he was known as Eros, son of Aphrodite.

According to Roman mythology, Venus became jealous of a beautiful maiden named Psyche. She ordered Cupid to punish the maiden. But Cupid fell in love with Psyche. The two married, but as a mortal she was forbidden to look at him. Pysche's sisters would later convince her to look at Cupid. When she did, Cupid punished her by leaving her. Their beautiful surroundings, including their castle and gardens, were gone too. Left with nothing, Psyche wandered in search of her lost love. She would eventually arrive at the temple of Venus, who wanted to destroy her.


Venus gave Psyche a series of tasks, each more dangerous than the last. For her final task, Psyche was sent to the underworld with a small box. She was told to use the box to collect some of the beauty of Proserpine, the wife of Pluto.

Psyche was warned not to open the box, but temptation would overcome her. When she opened the box, Psyche fell into a death-like sleep.

When Cupid found her lifeless on the ground, he woke her, and all was forgiven. The gods, moved by Psyche's love for Cupid, made her a goddess.

_________________________________________________________

Let's Speak Italian - Test!

as promised....Did you study?

Many Italian words have been adopted by the English language and are now so very common that you probably don't even realize just how much Italian you already know and speak every day! In this fun test, you will see a list of brief definitions listed below. The first person who correctly identifies all the corresponding Italian words and lists their answers in the comment section will be the winner! Sharpen your pencils and wit...I'm throwing in one U.S. dollar to the winner to make it interesting!* Buona Fortuna!

Example: A hot beverage consisting of espresso coffee and steamed milk - Answer: Cappuccino

*Void where prohibited. Author of this blog entry is the sole judge and can not be challenged. Contest will not be audited and all decisions are final. If winner can not be contacted, runner up will be awarded the one U.S. dollar prize and assume all responsibilities as the winner. In the event of a tie, correct spelling will determine the winner. Winner will be announced on Sunday evening at 9:00pm in the comments section below.

1. Squid appetizer

2. Pink lunch-meat

3. Bits of paper thrown at celebrations

4. A preserved cherry

5. To sing or be alone

6. Short knife or woman's high heel

7. Molton rock

8. Dancer on tip-toe

9. Portable case for holding loose papers

10. Has black and white keys

11. Hell fire

12. Landing docks for boats

13. High platform surrounded by railing

14. Shallow pie with tomato and cheese

15. Dried flour paste used in cooking

16. Gambling parlor (Mom BETTER get this one!)

17. To tag with spray paint

18. Large hairy spider

19. Boat race

20. The grand end


...only 97 more days!


Cruise along and enjoy....^_~

Karen