Tuesday, October 16, 2018 - Crotone, Italy

  

Crotone is the City of Pythagoras and only this suggests old Kroton has a lot more to it than at first meets the eye.  In fact, Crotone is the oldest part of Magna Grecia in Calabria, while at the same time being the youngest province in Italy.  Between the two, ad awful lot has happened in 5000 years.

For a start the land has been constantly eroded by the Neto river which flows from the Sila mountains once a favorite spot for Virgil.   This has left many small coves and beaches popular with tourists.  Some of them also harbored the Greek fleet which at one point was set alight by the wives of the sailors who were tired of traveling.

Today was a scheduled special event.  We'd been instructed not to eat breakfast or lunch because Chef David would be preparing all the goodies we'd purchased at the outdoor market yesterday.  At 1:00 p.m., we gathered in a part of the outdoor dining of the Colonnade Restaurant which had been set up with screens so as not to tempt any of the other guests aboard ship!  Again, will let photos do the majority of the work here!
           



             
Chef David preparing to cook!                                       Olive oil, garlic, and fresh shrimp in shells            

           
Assistant Chef - Risotto ai Fungi w/ truffle oil.           Mussels in garlic, white wine - YUM!

           
Sauteed fresh sword fish . . .                                        . . . atop salad of pear, pomegranate, tomato

  

. . . and to finish with a lovely tiramisu made from amaretti soaked in Amaretto, and a custard that was more like a zabione (sp?) than a custard, and topped by fine cocoa.

      

A wonderful way to spend a late lunch, accompanied by wines of the region.   Eric Goldring does really take very good care of his travelers!!

As if that wasn't enough, we all retired to the pool deck bar and enjoyed the afternoon.   Then was so tired, but knew I had to eat something before retiring.  The sushi restaurant is just around the corner from my room, so I entered as they opened. Told them I knew nothing about sushi and to just feed me a little.   Without saki, five dishes later and with five more to come, I halted the beautiful and delicious presentations.   Should have taken photos!!

. . . and so to bed . . . .