Thursday, October 18, 2018 I- Katakolon, Greece
The seaside Greek town of Katakolon, with a population around 600, is your typical small-town cruise port. Fishing boats bob in the harbor; cafes lace the waterfront; shops sell t-shirts, has and jewelry and a small beach draws swimmers and splashers.
Drive 40 minutes from Katalolon, and you are transported back thousands of years. Stroll the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient Olympia, and you walk in the footsteps of early Greek and Roman athletes, wrestlers, chariot drivers, discus throwers, runners and long jumpers who vied for glory and the gods' favor. Stand alongside the massive columns, and, with the tales of a good guide, you can envision the once magnificent temples, athletes training in the palestra and runners readying on the track. Alexander the Great, Nero, Plato and Aristotle are among those who watched the games from where you will stand.
Even after a very good night's sleep, am tired, so have opted out of today's jaunt to Olympia. Believe almost everyone has done the same and perhaps Eric went with just one of the couples in our group.
Have spent the morning catching up the last two days' journals, and am going to nap again shortly.
Have also decided that this will be a kidney recuperation day, and will drink tons of water. No wine until tonight!
Iva and Jeff at the starting line in Olympia!! Not my photos, but too cute not to post!
Tonight we have our last dinner in the Thomas Keller grill. Eric and I are dining with Sheila and Jeff and we will enjoy the last two bottles of red Chateau la Nerthe. I have been promised a repeat of the duck from the chef and am starving today so that I can enjoy tonight!!
It's a beautiful day today - that makes two days in a row. Blue, slightly hazy skies, no threatening rain and mild temperatures.
Began organizing my clothing prior to taking the suitcases out from the bed tomorrow. Otherwise, had a lazy day. A short nap, shower and I was ready for the dinner in the TK Grill.
Everyone on the tour has been talking about a really good Sancerre. I have never liked it in the past, but because it seemed to be a favorite, bought a bottle for our cocktail hour. It seemed good to Eric and Jeff, but my palate still doesn't take kindly to the taste of it. Eric decided that this one was not the best, but the only one offered on the wine menu. Oh well, there are other wines . . . .
Tonight's dinner was to be more special than we even thought it would be. Chef Michael, from Napa, outdid himself. Can't remember if I related this, but Michael trained with Thomas Keller at French Laundry, and then opened Bouchon. He comes to the ship with really great credentials, and once again, our dinner was over the top!
First course was a smoked salmon carpaccio, with capers, etc. Michael asked if we would trust him to complete our meal without regard for the menu - who would say "No"!!! So delicious and so beautifully presented.
Then came a delicate foie gras, on buttered Parker House bread toast, with a bit of truffle puree . . . oh my goodness . . . there was no chatter at the table, just a symphony of "yums". The ridiculous thing is that I haven't favored foie gras in the past, and may never have it again, unless Chef Michael prepares it for me!
Our main was to be duck, specially requested, but lo and behold, we'd run out of our wonderful wine from Chateauneuf du Pape, so had to buy another comparable wine and chose this one. Twice the price of the Chateauneuf wine (but did get a 15% discount!). It wasn't that great, but oh well, we were spoiled by the two previous bottles. Thank goodness, that no one had to drive home tonight. I could actually crawl back to my suite if necessary and not have to navigate any stairs. I did walk quite steadily!
Michael then asked if we would trust him with dessert. He prepared a most unusual Floating Island, or Isle Flottante. The base of the dessert was a lush tapioca pudding. The egg was a meringue, shaped like a half egg white, filled with a berry marmalade. Dots of the meringue together with a bit of mint puree completed this delicious dessert, together with a piece of dark chocolate. The plates were all eaten clean!
By this time, Sheila had retired, we were the last in the restaurant, and it was only 11:30 p.m.! The guys went on to the bar, and I headed back to my suite and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
Drive 40 minutes from Katalolon, and you are transported back thousands of years. Stroll the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient Olympia, and you walk in the footsteps of early Greek and Roman athletes, wrestlers, chariot drivers, discus throwers, runners and long jumpers who vied for glory and the gods' favor. Stand alongside the massive columns, and, with the tales of a good guide, you can envision the once magnificent temples, athletes training in the palestra and runners readying on the track. Alexander the Great, Nero, Plato and Aristotle are among those who watched the games from where you will stand.
Even after a very good night's sleep, am tired, so have opted out of today's jaunt to Olympia. Believe almost everyone has done the same and perhaps Eric went with just one of the couples in our group.
Have spent the morning catching up the last two days' journals, and am going to nap again shortly.
Have also decided that this will be a kidney recuperation day, and will drink tons of water. No wine until tonight!
Iva and Jeff at the starting line in Olympia!! Not my photos, but too cute not to post!
Tonight we have our last dinner in the Thomas Keller grill. Eric and I are dining with Sheila and Jeff and we will enjoy the last two bottles of red Chateau la Nerthe. I have been promised a repeat of the duck from the chef and am starving today so that I can enjoy tonight!!
It's a beautiful day today - that makes two days in a row. Blue, slightly hazy skies, no threatening rain and mild temperatures.
Began organizing my clothing prior to taking the suitcases out from the bed tomorrow. Otherwise, had a lazy day. A short nap, shower and I was ready for the dinner in the TK Grill.
Everyone on the tour has been talking about a really good Sancerre. I have never liked it in the past, but because it seemed to be a favorite, bought a bottle for our cocktail hour. It seemed good to Eric and Jeff, but my palate still doesn't take kindly to the taste of it. Eric decided that this one was not the best, but the only one offered on the wine menu. Oh well, there are other wines . . . .
Tonight's dinner was to be more special than we even thought it would be. Chef Michael, from Napa, outdid himself. Can't remember if I related this, but Michael trained with Thomas Keller at French Laundry, and then opened Bouchon. He comes to the ship with really great credentials, and once again, our dinner was over the top!
First course was a smoked salmon carpaccio, with capers, etc. Michael asked if we would trust him to complete our meal without regard for the menu - who would say "No"!!! So delicious and so beautifully presented.
Then came a delicate foie gras, on buttered Parker House bread toast, with a bit of truffle puree . . . oh my goodness . . . there was no chatter at the table, just a symphony of "yums". The ridiculous thing is that I haven't favored foie gras in the past, and may never have it again, unless Chef Michael prepares it for me!
Our main was to be duck, specially requested, but lo and behold, we'd run out of our wonderful wine from Chateauneuf du Pape, so had to buy another comparable wine and chose this one. Twice the price of the Chateauneuf wine (but did get a 15% discount!). It wasn't that great, but oh well, we were spoiled by the two previous bottles. Thank goodness, that no one had to drive home tonight. I could actually crawl back to my suite if necessary and not have to navigate any stairs. I did walk quite steadily!
Michael then asked if we would trust him with dessert. He prepared a most unusual Floating Island, or Isle Flottante. The base of the dessert was a lush tapioca pudding. The egg was a meringue, shaped like a half egg white, filled with a berry marmalade. Dots of the meringue together with a bit of mint puree completed this delicious dessert, together with a piece of dark chocolate. The plates were all eaten clean!
By this time, Sheila had retired, we were the last in the restaurant, and it was only 11:30 p.m.! The guys went on to the bar, and I headed back to my suite and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
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