 |
|
Posts Tagged ‘mediterranean’
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
I have written several stories about my family’s Disney Cruise and the new ports of call in the Mediterranean on TravelMamas.com over the past few months. Set sail with me on a journey from vibrant Barcelona in Spain to such destinations as history-rich Rome in Italy and picturesque Provence in France in this round-up post. Bon voyage!
Barcelona is the embarkation city of most Disney Mediterranean cruises. Discover what to do and what to skip in this friendly Spanish city in The Best & Worst of Barcelona with Kids.
Our stop in Sicily was the stuff vacation daydreams are made of. Find out why in A Day on the Farm in Sicily.
Although Sorrento and Pompeii were wonderful, our visit to these destinations did not go as smoothly as we had hoped. From great frustrations one can learn great lessons, as you’ll see in Vacation Savoring Lessons Learned in Sorrento & Pompeii.
After many days on the go, go, go touring historic European sites, a Sardinian beach day was just what the Travel Mama ordered! Check out the fun we had in Sun, Sand & Sea in Sardinia.
They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, but could it be conquered in a day with a toddler in tow? Find out in Rome in a Day.
Lovely little Lerici, Italy made it’s way into my heart and into The Travel Mama’s Top 3 Hidden Gem Destinations. This story was chosen as an Editor’s Pick for the ebook, Tripbase Best Kept Travel Secrets – Italy.
Sometimes not having set vacation plans allows for unexpected discoveries and is the best way to travel. Other times, not having an agenda leads to poor decisions and missed opportunities. Both proved true on this second to last stop of our Disney Cruise through the Mediterranean. Read more in Monte Carlo, Nice, or Villefranche?
Tags: barcelona, Disney Cruise, France, Italy, Lerici, Luberon, mediterranean, Monte Carlo, Nice, Pompeii, Provence, Rome, Sardinia, Sicily, Sorrento, spain, Tripbase Best Kept Travel Secrets, Villefranche
Posted in Family Vacations, Restaurant Reviews, Theme Parks | 3 Comments »
Thursday, October 14th, 2010
The Luberon is the region of France upon which Peter Mayle based his bucolic books like A Year in Provence. Having read the series years prior, I was looking forward to eating a time-consuming lunch here served with a glass of wine or Pastis in an idyllic spot of sunshine while breathing in the scent of Provence’s famed lavender fields. A day that started as a quest for a quintessentially Provençal experience became something much bigger when I discovered that my life would be forever changed.
The Sorgue River in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Marseille would be the last port of our Disney Mediterranean cruise before returning to our embarkation city of Barcelona. I had emailed back and forth with our private French driver and tour guide, Catherine, about my hopes for the day. Unlike our obstinate guide in Sorrento and Pompeii, Catherine was more than happy to adjust her typical itinerary to popular tourist destinations like Avignon and Aix-en-Provence to accommodate my request to visit the hillside towns of the Luberon.
I should note, instead of Marseille, the Disney Mediterranean Cruises now stop in Ajaccio, Corsica. As a francophile, Corsica has long been on my Bucket List. Warm weather, melodic language, sand beaches, and vineyards…what more could you ask for?
Fountain in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
The day started with Catherine driving my husband, our toddler, and me one hour to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (translated as Island on the Sorgue River). From its namesake river that encircles the town to fountains and watermills, water seems to be everywhere in this town. It was a sizzling hot day, so while the water did not provide any literal relief from the heat, the view was at least refreshing.
Paella and produce vendors on market day
We visited on a market day (Thursday), which brought a lively international flavor to our visit. In addition to the standard array of fresh fruits and vegetables found at open-air markets around the world, there were also stands selling pungent French cheeses and honey-laced desserts with a Morroccan flair, while a vendor’s giant black pan of paella sent the Spanish aroma of saffron, seafood, and sausage sailing through the air.
Antique Toy and Doll Museum
I had rosey-colored images in my mind’s eye of visiting the Antique Toy and Doll Museum with my then two-and-a-half-year-old, Karissa. In reality, I had to scoop up my toddler and race through the tiny museum to keep her from sitting on the adorable miniature chairs or picking up the priceless porcelain dolls while she pointed at the toys and shouted, “That’s mine! That’s mine!”
Tour Guide Catherine with my husband, Phil, at lunch at La Prévôté
Luckily, my Southern French lunchtime daydreams came true when our daughter miraculously napped through our meal at La Prévôté. We dined on chilled asparagus soup and sea bass with fresh herbs and sunset-colored root vegetables while sipping crisp white wine in a garden courtyard surrounded by olive trees. It was the picture-perfect Provençal lunch.
Afterwards, I think Catherine’s French sensabilities were a tad offended when we asked to go to the McDonald’s drive-through to grab our daughter’s meal, but the chicken nuggets were much more to Karissa’s liking than the fresh fish, turnips, and deep purple potatoes would have been!
The town of Gordes
Afterwards, Catherine brought us to Gordes, a picturesque town cut into the side of a mountain with a gorgeous view of the verdant valleys of Provence below. My husband and I drank afternoon cafes cremes to rouse us from our noontime wine while Karissa ran a muck, pulling relentlessly on her safety harness (or as some might call it, her “leash”).
We weaved in and out of the town’s darling shops that sold decorative ceramics, packets of herbes de Provence, and the darling household knick-knacks you’d expect to find in this region of France.
Museum of Lavender in Coustellet
In mid-July, Catherine told me it was already late in the lavender season and I may not be able to fulfill my longing to see a field of the fragrant flowers. Still, she drove us to the Museum of Lavender in Coustellet so I could purchase some lavender-themed souvenirs. We had to get back to the ship in time for its departure so only I jumped out and ran into the gift shop to select scented sachets, soaps, and lotions to bring back home.
The museum sat amid a lovely field of lavender. I took a brief moment to inhale a deep breath of the earthy, floral scent indicative of Provence before hopping back in the car.
My daughter hugging Goofy as we re-boarded Disney’s Magic
As always, a Disney character was just outside the ship, ready to greet our family back aboard Magic. This time it was Goofy. My daughter hugged him like an old friend. At this point in our cruise, he truly was.
While shopping in Gordes, I purchased a teddy bear wall decoration with seven hooks above which the days of the week were written in French. I told my husband I was buying it for Karissa’s room, but in my heart I knew it was for the baby’s room…the baby we were hoping to someday have and whom I would discover that night on board the ship (thanks to an EPT brought overseas) I was already carrying with us on this journey.
The teddy bear wall decoration that now hangs in my son, Leo’s bedroom
I wanted a second baby. And I would come to discover in the next few months just how desperately I wanted that baby when my first trimester screen revealed that I was at high-risk of miscarriage or of giving birth to a child with Trisomy 13 or 18, a severe and life-limiting birth defect. The doctor urged me to undergo amniosynthesis (which would put me at higher risk of miscarriage) to determine with absolute certainty whether my baby had this disorder so I could terminate the pregnancy if I wanted. I discovered something you cannot truly know until it is you carrying the baby. While I am pro-choice for others, I am profoundly pro-life when it comes to my own child. I refused the amniosynthesis.
I am, and will always be, beyond grateful for my little boy, who was born perfectly healthy four-and-a-half weeks early. While Karissa had always been a daddy’s girl and today her allegiance vascillates somewhere between the two of us, Leo is staunchly a mama’s boy.
I never thought I wanted a son. I had longed for a sister for Karisssa and a second pink-clad girly-girl. Who knew how wonderful it would be to have a little man in the house? He is at once a thunderous clap of noise and a sun shower of love. He flings toys across the room and kicks the water from the bath. Then he snuggles into my neck and gobbles up my heart.
However, when I found out I was growing a new baby inside my belly, instead of the pure joy I felt upon discovering my first pregnancy, I felt a loss. There are rare moments when you know with absolute certainty that life from that point forward will forever be different. This was one of them. I knew we were no longer a trio. Our family had become a quartet. That night and for a few weeks to come, I mourned the loss of my sweet family of three.
Big sister kissing her newborn baby brother
Even though Leo wasn’t born for another seven months, maybe the reason I look back upon our Disney Mediterranean Cruise with such nostalgia, beyond the awesome customer service, family-friendly fun, and attention to detail, is because it represents for me a last hurrah for our family as a threesome.
That trip will forever hold a special place in my heart…for the time spent together as a trio…for some of the happiest vacation memories of my life…and for the momentous discovery that my family and my heart would soon expand more than I could ever imagine.
Have you ever experienced a life-changing moment while traveling? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
You might also like:
• A Day on the Farm in Sicily
• Monte Carlo, Nice, or Villefranche?
• Paris with Kids – C’est Magnifique!
• Why We Travel with Children
Tags: A Year in Provence, Antique Toy and Doll Museum, Disney Cruise, France, Gordes, lavender, Luberon, mediterranean, Peter Mayle, Provence, toddler
Posted in Family Vacations, Restaurant Reviews | 11 Comments »
Thursday, October 7th, 2010
The lovely French seaside town of Villefranche is situated between two tourist hot spots, Nice and Monte Carlo. Since I’d already visited these two cities during my college year abroad and had pleasant memories of both, I couldn’t decide which to revisit on this second to last stop of our Disney Cruise through the Mediterranean.
Villefranche by Day
Leaving It Up to Fate
My husband, Phil, and I started our day wandering with our toddler, Karissa, through Villefranche’s tiny downtown area. We enjoyed a breakfast of cafés crèmes and pains au chocolats (chocolate-filled croissants). Then we decided to let fate decide our destination. We walked to the train station and agreed to take the first train available going to either Nice or Monte Carlo (which were about 20 minutes away in opposite directions).
Nice won. In retrospect, we wished Monaco would have. Monte Carlo is more compact and offers kid-friendly options like flowery, grass-filled parks perfect for toddling legs as well as a small zoo and an impressive aquarium.
Nice is too widespread to tackle in one day and is not the kind of town for aimless meandering. One should have a goal here (mostly the beach or shopping). Still, just as I had remembered, the people of Nice were…well…very nice. The city’s residents seemed impressed with my fading grasp of French and everyone we encountered went out of their way to wish us a bonne journee (or good day).
Lunch at La Maison de Marie in Nice
Family-Friendly Nice
On my first visit to Nice, I had gone for Carnival with two fellow foreign exchange students. Carnival and its famous night of Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) has been celebrated here since the 1200s. The version I encountered here during college was much tamer than that of New Orleans. In Nice flowers are tossed from floats instead of beads. I did not witness or participate in the flashing of any usually covered body parts. No one was drinking Hurricanes. (Well, but we did have a few drinks after watching the parades!)
This time around, my husband and I spent much of the day pushing a stroller long distances trying to decide where to go and what to do. Our Nicoise lunch at a Rick Steves’ recommended restaurant, La Maison de Marie, was just as lunch in Southern France should be: in a picture perfect setting with delicious food. We were the only American diners in the restaurant’s darling outdoor courtyard. Thankfully our then two-year-old daughter slept throughout the entire languorous lunch, allowing me to enjoy my chicken with dried fruits and almonds as well as some grown-up conversation with the hubs under the shade of bougainvillea vines.
Beachtime in Villefranche
That morning we had spied a sweet little beach in Villefranche but had not brought any swimsuits with us for the day. Since we had taken a tender boat to shore and knew that it would be a time-consuming ordeal to tender back to our cabin, I took this as a sign that we should scour Nice’s department stores for French swim duds for the family. This was quite the fun quest for me; not so much for my husband.
After our return train trip, we stopped in a café for afternoon refreshments (which was really just an excuse to slip into their restroom to change into our new, chic beach gear). I purchased Karissa a Finding Nemo inflatable swim ring from a beachside stand, which wound up being quite handy since she refused to step her delicate tootsies on the pebble sea floor. She floated about in the comfort of her ring for as long as my sand-spoiled feet could handle it.
Fountain in Villefranche
Date Night for Mom & Dad
We tendered back to the ship and fed Karissa a dinner of pizza before dropping her off at Flounders Nursery. After quick showers, Phil and I hesitantly left Karissa aboard the ship while we (gulp!) headed ashore for dinner alone.
It seemed all of the town’s residents had gathered that evening for a summer festival of sorts. They gabbed aimiably with one another, listening to live music and watching a modern dance performance, as they sat perched on the edge of the square’s sweetly pitiful fountain.
We perused the menus of the handful of restaurants surrounding the town’s tiny main square before settling upon one for dinner. We dined on incredibly fresh fish and toasted our good fortune at experiencing such an incredible vacation, which would be coming to an end all too soon. Romantic moments on vacation with children are rare and make them ever so much more worthy of savoring.
Villefranche at Night
The pressure of time and parental duty weighed on us unspoken throughout our meal. Before long we dutifully took the tender boat back to the ship as the sun dipped slowly beneath the horizon. I snuggled with my husband, his arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders to protect me from the cold breeze as the boat sped across the bay. I stared at the bittersweet beauty of that little French town’s colorful lights shimmering across the water and the sound of the jazz trio fading while I tried to cement the feeling of gratitude and wonder of that moment forever in my memory.
Sometimes not having set vacation plans allows for unexpected discoveries and is the best way to travel. Other times, not having an agenda leads to poor decisions and missed opportunities. Both proved true for us on this day in Southern France.
Do you prefer perfectly planned vacations or spur of the moment travel? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• A Day on the Farm in Sicily
• Paris with Kids – C’est Magnifique!
• Rome in a Day
• The Best & Worst of Barcelona with Kids
Tags: aquarium, beach, Disney Cruise, Flounders Nursery, France, mediterranean, Monte Carlo, Nice, Villefranche, zoo
Posted in Family Vacations, Restaurant Reviews | 5 Comments »
Sunday, September 26th, 2010
They say Rome wasn’t built in a day. But could it be conquered in a day with a toddler in tow?
Rome was the most highly anticipated stop of our Disney Mediterranean Cruise for my husband, Phil. It was also the most dreaded for me. I worried the city’s numerous monuments would be too much tackle in one day, particularly when traveling with a two-and-a-half-year-old in the flaming heat of a Roman July. Phil is typically a “whatever you want to do is fine with me” kind of vacation-goer. However, he had made it clear it was imperative that he see all that Rome had to offer. Taking it easy was not an option.
The Roman Forum
I had visited Rome years prior during my year abroad as a student in Southern France. I fell in love with the history, culture, art, food, and vivaciousness of Rome the minute I stepped foot in the Eternal City. On my first visit, I literally (and I mean literally!) ran from site to site, more enthralled with the next ancient treasure than the last.
Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
This time around we hired a private guide, a pleasant Roman woman named Irene (Eee-ree-nay), who drove us the nearly two hours from our port town of Civitavecchia into Rome. Our first stop was the Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, also known as St Paul’s Basilica or St Paul Outside the Walls. This was a bit of a treat for me since I had not visited this lesser known church on my previous visit. It was lovely, but certainly not a must-see for first-time visitors.
Next we swung by the Roman Forum for a snapshot of the family before we jumped back into Irene’s car. Hopping in and out of a vehicle to take photos of these historic sites was not the most “authentic” way to experience Rome, but you would’ve done the same under the blazingly hot, time-crushed circumstances. Irene’s air conditioned car was our new best friend. Still, it would have been nice to spend more time here, wandering through the ruins of what was once the cultural, financial, and religious center of Ancient Rome.
The Roman Colosseum
Then it was on to the Roman Colosseum. As you know, the Roman Colosseum is the largest coliseum ever built by the Roman Empire and is famous for its remarkable architecture and engineering.
Massive lines of tourists snaked around the monument’s perimeter. Our daughter, Karissa, had fallen asleep in her car seat and Irene assured us we could bypass the lines since she had pre-purchased entrance tickets for us. So we decided to…leave our toddler sleeping…in the car…with Irene…whom we had just met a few hours prior. (ARE WE CRAZY?!)
The monstrous lines turned out to be for groups (some of them our fellow Disney cruisers) awaiting a tour of the Colosseum’s interior. They also had their entrance tickets and were none too eager to let the hubs and me squeeze in front of them in line. An Italian woman offered to sell us a personalized tour of the interior. We declined but my husband, salesman that he is, offered to pay her if she could help us bypass the line since we only had a half-hour to get in and back to our sleeping toddler. She took pity on us and marched us up to the front of the line, refusing our money. (Grazie mille, you sweet Italian lady, whoever you are!)
Soon we were inside the Colosseum (another first for me). We marveled at the network of underground tunnels and imagined gladiators fighting for their lives in this giant amphitheatre. We snapped a few photos, bought a couple of souvenirs, and departed.
The interior of the Colosseum
Phil and I spotted Irene standing outside the car bopping with our daughter in her arms, while Karissa wailed, “Mommmmmmmyyy!” I sprinted to my little girl and she quieted the minute I reached her. Irene said that Karissa slept much of the time and then woke a few minutes before we arrived. Irene played her some Italian pop music and sang to her for a bit. Then it occurred to Karissa that her parents had gone missing, which is when the screaming commenced.
Next our family stopped for a quick lunch of lasagna and cold pasta with Irene. For how laidback the Italians are supposed to be, I will tell you this: the tour drivers are anything but. Maybe it is from years of dealing with uptight Americans eager to squeeze in every Italian site possible, but when we asked if we could stop for a cappuccino or even lunch, she looked at us like we were crazy (as was the case with our driver in Sorrento and Pompeii).
The Trevi Fountain
Our next stop: the Trevi Fountain. On my first visit, I knew nothing of this fountain beyond what I had read in my Let’s Go Europe! Sure, the guidebook said it would be big. But big did not prepare me for the overwhelming magnitude of this fountain. This is the fountain to top all fountains. I defy you to find me a more magnificent fountain! On this trip, we hopped out…ran over to the fountain…gave Karissa a penny and helped her toss it over her shoulder to ensure she would someday return to Rome.
Our original plan was for the three of us to embark on a private tour of the Vatican (ahhh…the days before the economy collapsed were glorious!). However, I was on a crazy quest for a lemon centerpiece and I had already visited the Holy City, so instead Irene dropped Karissa and me off near the Spanish Steps before she drove Phil to the Vatican.
Modeling new Italian fashions (No, I don’t remember what I thought was so funny!)
The stores I encountered were intimidating, high-end fashion boutiques like Gucci, Dolce & Gabana, and Prada (none of which, curiously, carried citrus-themed ceramics). I felt odd pushing my dirty old stroller up steps and into the luxurious shops, but the air-conditioned interiors beckoned to me. I rambled along cobblestone streets searching for an indoor seat at an air-conditioned café. Finally I found one. I ordered a lemon ice over which I lingered like an Italian, buying time out of the stifling heat while my daughter dozed.
After more than an hour, I braved the heat to head toward my pick-up spot. I found a reasonably priced boutique where I purchased a silky teal shirt and a sexy scarlet dress, both size small. I should have realized that a size small American equals a size medium or large Italian, but my ego got in the way. Hence, the teal shirt was worn exactly once (on the ship that night) and the red dress was given to my tiny friend, Sona, after we returned home.
The Vatican
Meanwhile, my (Jewish) husband adored his tour of the Vatican with his personal guide, Marta. He marveled at the Pieta, the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and thousands of other priceless works of art.
The first time I had visited Rome it was over the span of a few days and I left enchanted with the Eternal City. This time, I just left exhausted. I hope Disney Cruise Line will eventually dedicate two days of their Mediterranean Cruise itinerary to Rome, allowing cruisers to get a more genuine taste of the city. Rome is meant to savored, not swallowed in big gulps. Hopefully our Trevi Fountain coins will indeed bring us back to Rome someday so we can meander from square to square, eat leisurely meals of pasta and wine, and simply enjoy life as it should be in Italy…simple, relaxed, delicious.
If you only had one day to visit Rome, how would you spend it? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• A Day on the Farm in Sicily
• Disney Cruise – The Ideal Family Vacation
• Sun, Sand & Sea in Sardinia
• Vacation Savoring Lessons Learned in Sorrento & Pompeii
A note from the Travel Mama: My family paid for this cruise and I did not receive any compensation or goodies from Disney related to this story. I will always let you know if I receive any money or products related to a blog post.
Tags: civitavecchia, Colosseum, Disney Cruise, Italy, lemon ice, mediterranean, Rome, shopping, St. Paul's Basilica, toddler, Vatican
Posted in Family Vacations | 12 Comments »
Sunday, September 12th, 2010
My sail down memory lane continues with the fourth port of our Disney Mediterranean Cruise - Sardinia, Italy. After many days on the go, go, go touring historic European sites, a beach day Sardinian-style was just what the Travel Mama ordered!
This day we signed up for a Disney beach excursion. My husband, two-year-old daughter, and I boarded a bus with other cruisers to reach La Cinta Beach in Olbia, Sardinia. The sandy beach was quite the treat since many Mediterranean beaches have pebble or rock bottoms, which require tough feet or water shoes when taking a dip in the water. The tall grasses sprouting from the sand along the perimeter of the beach reminded me of Cape Cod. As part of our excursion fees, we were provided with two lounge chairs and a blue and white striped sun umbrella.
For lunch we snagged some unimpressive-looking tomato and mozarella sandwiches from the snack bar. Even these pre-made plastic-wrapped sandwiches were quite tasty. Italians sure do know how to do food!
After a couple of hours of splashing in the calm waves and digging in the sand with Disney-provided sand toys, we reboarded the buses for our hour-long journey back to the ship.
One of my sanity saving and vacation savoring tips is to schedule down days after busy days and to be sure to include activities that meet the desires of all trip-goers…parents, kids, everyone! Was this the most momentous day of our cruise? No. Was it a wonderful day nonetheless? Absolutely.
Some might say there are beaches in the U.S. and spending a day seaside was a waste of our precious vacation time. I believe relaxation should be part of any itinerary and a day spent playing at the beach recharged our internal batteries, allowing us to do the unthinkable…tackle Rome in a day with a toddler! Check back for my story on that one!
The current Disney Mediterranean Cruise no longer includes a stop at Sardinia. Instead, cruisers visit Tunis, Tunisia on the Northern tip of Africa. Visitors can explore on their own, visiting this Muslim city’s famed Zitouna Mosque, tasting Tunisia’s flavorful, exotic cuisine and shopping for handicrafts, jewelry, and spices in the city’s center medina, or marketplace. Disney excursions are available too – with day trips to the ruins of Carthage and Moorish village of Sidi Bou Said or the town of Nabeul, known for its pottery. The Bardo Museum and Medina for Families excursion includes a special youth activity, where children can create their own mosaic with Disney Youth Counselors to bring home while parents explore the museum’s beautiful artwork.
I love that Disney Cruise Line is always working to change and improve its cruise destinations and excursions. It makes taking another Disney Mediterranean Cruise someday even more tempting as I daydream about what activities my family would choose in each port!
Which would you rather visit, Sardinia or Tunisia? Leave a comment below!
You might also like:
• A Day on the Farm in Sicily
• Disney Cruise – The Ideal Family Vacation
• 5 Favorite Islands (Not Your Typical List!)
• Vacation Savoring Lessons Learned in Sorrento & Pompeii
A note from the Travel Mama: My family paid for this cruise and I did not receive any compensation or goodies from Disney related to this story. I will always let you know if I receive any money or products related to a blog post.
Tags: beach, Disney Cruise, Italy, La Cinta, mediterranean, Olbia, Sardinia, Tunis, Tunisia
Posted in Family Vacations | 1 Comment »
Sunday, July 18th, 2010
You know those rare vacation moments when you look around and think, “I don’t ever want this experience to end!” My one-day adventure through the Sicilian countryside was filled with those.
There are many who look down upon all tours for being inauthentic…too touristy…maybe even cheesy. I like travel in nearly all forms: cruise, train, road trip, independent, relaxing, adventurous, romantic, girlfriend getaway, kid-centric, and beyond. And, I like a good tour from time to time, especially one that gives a glimpse into a location’s essence that you might not be able to find on your own.
A slice of Sicilian heaven
Sicily was the second port on our Disney Mediterranean Cruise. As our bus rambled through the gorgeous Sicilian landscape, our proud tour guide gave a brief lecture on her country’s history and culture. My daughter, Karissa (then age two), draped her body across mine and dozed during our one-hour trek, allowing me to savor a rare moment of snuggly relaxation. The guide on our “A Day on the Farm” excursion told us in a lilting Italian accent that Sicily’s central location in the Mediterranean Sea has made it a target throughout the ages by conquering forces from Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines to Arabs, Normans, and more. She said the island’s residents to this day consider themselves Sicilian, not Italian.
My daughter snuggled up in her beach towel on my lap
Upon arrival at Villa Dafne, an agritourism farm/hotel in Alia, the children were given lumps of dough to roll into little balls. Afterwards, we were served delicious pieces of airy focaccia topped with tomatoes and olives (not formed by the kids). Then we were given bowls of fresh ricotta to sample. The warm, lumpy cheese was a bit too reminiscent of something else entirely unappetizing of the same temperature and consistency, so after one bite I discreetly dumped the rest in a trash can. Adults helped themselves to some red Sicilian vino while kids sipped bottled water.
Foccaccia topped with tomatoes and olives
Then we donned requisite blue swimming caps and jumped in the pool, where we splashed alongside resort guests of various nationalities. As my husband tossed my giggling daughter about in the water, I was overwhelmed by the bittersweet perfection of that moment. The aqua blue of the pool, surrounded by the golden hills…I wanted to stop the clock and forever be enveloped by Sicily’s beauty, the sun shining down on our happy little family, the sounds of children at play ringing through the air. I knew it would be over all too soon.
My daughter and I taking a dip in a pool in the Sicilian countryside
Before long it was time to depart that watery spot of heaven. Thankfully the transition was an easy one because it involved eating a multi-course organic farm-style Sicilian lunch. After one more small glass of wine, I switched to Coca-Cola but my husband, Phil, drank my portion and then some. We were treated to several appetizers involving things like eggplant, tomatoes, and olives. Then we dined on homemade pasta shaped into little shells and served with chicken in a fresh, earthy broth. It was a dish that I will probably never stop craving. It pains me to know that I will never taste anything like it again, unless, of course I return to that little farmhouse hotel. (I might have to, if only for that pasta dish!) Then lamb was served, which we declined due to full bellies (and my personal aversion to eating baby animals of any sort).
A fountain at Villa Dafne
Finally, it was time for a dessert of cannoli. Ever since, I have been on a quest for an authentic cannolo. I have found a few good cannoli, but none even in the same realm as what we tasted that day. Our tour guide had prepared us for the wonders of this sweet treat. She told us that to get a taste of true cannoli, one must come to Sicily. She warned us that the Italian version of Sicily’s national dessert should be avoided at all costs. She said, “You are more likely to get authentic cannoli in America than in Italy because Sicilians who have moved to New York City and beyond carry on the true recipes and methods of making the dessert, unlike the excuse for cannoli that can be found in Rome.”
Prickly Pear Cactus Crop in the Sicilian Countryside
Some cannoli shells are flimsy and soggy while others are overly dense and greasy, having been over-cooked to stay crunchy while holding the creamy center for hours on end. According to our guide, the dessert should be stuffed with Ricotta cheese just prior to eating. Most cannoli cream I have encountered, even if delicious, had a slightly grainy texture. The genuine cannoli we were served consisted of an impossibly crisp, light shell that crackled when bitten. The filling was a cloud of sweet velvety goodness.
My daughter dutifully mooed at these Sicilian cows
Sufficiently plumped, bronzed, and relaxed – we and our cruise mates re-boarded the bus. After a quick stop to spy on cows and watch brave fellow cruisers milk goats, my good fortune continued. The bus was equipped with a television screen on which old-school Mickey Mouse cartoons played to the delight of tired children and their parents. While Phil slept off his numerous glasses of lunchtime wine (I can hear him now, “But it’s table wine – it’s not that strong!), I happily stared out the window at a patchwork of verdant and sun-bleached rolling hills speckled with vineyards of twisted grape vines and crops of prickly pear cactus bearing a few gems of their burgundy-colored fruit.
Not all vacation days are blissful. Most aren’t, in fact. But some are. And this one was.
Sadly, the current Disney European Cruises do not stop at Sicily. This stop has been replaced by Valletta, Malta. Of course, I wouldn’t mind exploring this nation, which is spread across seven islands and is home to ruins that predate the Egyptian pyramids and England’s Stonehenge. Ahhh…a girl can dream…
How do you feel about Sicily or about group travel tours? Please share your thoughts below!
You might also like:
• Disney Cruise – The Ideal Family Vacation
• Happiest Travel Memories
• 10 Best Family-Friendly Hotel Pools in the World
• The Best & Worst of Barcelona with Kids
Tags: cannoli, Disney Cruise, farm, mediterranean, pool, Sicily, Villa Dafne
Posted in Family Vacations, Hotel Reviews, Restaurant Reviews | 4 Comments »
Sunday, May 16th, 2010
Here’s what I have been telling anyone who will listen ever since I set sail with Mickey Mouse and friends in 2007: A Disney Cruise is THE ideal vacation for families. Whether you have a baby, kid, or teen…everyone’s needs (and wants!) are met on a Disney Cruise. Plus, the children are so entertained and catered to, parents are free to do something so rare on a vacation with kids…relax!
Our ship, Disney’s Magic
During my cruise through the Mediterranean, I was accompanied by my husband and then two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. My son was stowing away in my belly too, as we discovered while onboard the ship! Some of my favorite memories as a family of three took place during this vacation.
Here are just some of the reasons I am such a big fan of cruising Disney-style…
Incomparable Service
The service we received aboard Disney’s Magic was beyond belief. Our waitress cheerfully brought us extra dessert when we couldn’t decide on just one and even stopped by to cut up our daughter’s pizza while inquiring about our day. Our room steward made sure our cabins were kept in tip top shape, always greeted us by name, and transformed regular bath towels into bunny rabbits and stingrays each night. Everyone went above and beyond to make sure we had an unforgettable experience!
It was a treat to return from dinner every night to find a different towel creature, like this elephant, waiting for us
Delightful Dining
During our 10-night cruise, most days we chose to eat room service breakfast on our stateroom’s balcony, taking in the view of various picturesque port towns as we nibbled on fresh fruit, yogurt and baked goodies. On our last day at sea, we attended a character breakfast with Lilo and Stitch doing Elvis impersonations and dancing the hula in one of the ship’s restaurants.
Our lunches, for the most part, were eaten onshore. During at sea days, we grabbed quick, easy meals from the ship’s eateries, like Pluto’s Dog House (which serves hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and the like), Pinocchio’s Pizzeria, or Goofy’s Galley (with healthy options like wraps and fresh salads).
Each evening, we were seated with the same family (a wonderful foursome from Eden Prairie, Minnesota) and we kept the same wait staff for every dinner. However, we rotated through three restaurants: Lumiere’s (with a French ambiance), Animator’s Palate (with walls that start out black and white but which come alive with Disney characters in colorful lights), and Parrot Cay (with a Caribbean theme). The menus on our cruise were themed to the Mediterranean, serving Spanish, Italian, and French meals plus some standard American options and kid favorites. Even the meals onboard a Disney ship are magical - just as our little one would start to get too squirmy, Beauty and the Beast would come waltzing through the dining room!
Dressed up for formal night at Animator’s Palate
Carrying the tradition over from Disney’s Caribbean cruises, one night’s theme was Pirate Night, during which diners sported free pirate-y bandanas or dressed up in more elaborate garb brought from home or purchased on the ship.
The crème de la crème was Palo, an adult-only fine-dining restaurant that requires reservations. We partook of the scrumptious brunch and a to-die-for dinner but didn’t have time enough to book a high tea this time around.
Awesome Kids’ Clubs
A Disney Cruise is paradise, especially for children! Instead of offering a casino like most cruise lines, Disney puts that space to use for its various clubs for kids of all ages. Parents can indulge in a spa treatment, relax by the adult-only pool, or dine at Palo sans kids without guilt, knowing their offspring are having the time of their lives at the onboard kids’ clubs.
Our tablemates even had a hard time convincing their six-year-old and nine-year-old sons to join us for dinner each night because they wanted to stay at Oceaneer kids’ clubs (for ages three to 12 years) and play, play, play! There is also a teen club on each Disney ship, where kids aged 13 to 17 enjoy dance parties, board and video games, and Karaoke.
Most cruise lines’ childcare programs do not accept children until age two or three, but babies as young as three months are welcomed in the Disney Cruise Line nurseries. We worried when we dropped off our daughter at Flounder’s Reef Nursery the first time and she began to wail. But then we stopped by five minutes later to take a peek at her though a giant one-way window and saw her happily playing with the counselors and a rainbow of toys. This put our minds at ease, allowing us to enjoy our date night free from worry.
On our last night my husband, Phil, told Karissa she was all done with Flounders, which set her off crying and carrying on once more…this time because she wanted one last chance to return to the nursery!
Entertainment
The live shows aboard a Disney Cruise are Broadway caliber and feature favorite characters from movies like Toy Story and Cinderella. Even our wiggly toddler stayed entertained through most of the performances.
Karissa was in awe of Minnie Mouse in her gorgeous gown following the Golden Mickeys live stage show
There’s even a movie theatre aboard the ships in which new-release Disney movies are shown on screen. For example, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 was in theatres on land and at sea during our sailing.
There are bars and nightclubs onboard the ship too but we were never up late enough to explore those much. Instead, Phil and I enjoyed a glass of wine or two on our stateroom’s balcony after our daughter was tucked in for the night. I have heard the party scene aboard a Disney ship is much more subdued than other lines though. So, if you’re looking to party-hardy – a Disney Cruise is probably not up your galley!
Family-Friendly Staterooms
Not only are Disney’s staterooms larger than most cruise lines, but also they offer some special amenities that cater to families’ needs. First of all, they offer not one but TWO sinks to make getting ready for the day easier.
Disney is the only line I know of that offers a privacy curtain that can be pulled shut to separate the adult sleeping area (with a queen bed) from the kid sleeping area (which is usually outfitted with a single bed or bunk beds, depending upon which room type you book). This is absolutely fabulous for parents traveling with young children whose bedtimes are much earlier than their own. Rather than turning in before sunset, Phil and I were able to quietly watch television, read in bed, and snuggle up a bit!
Karissa tucked into her single bed in our stateroom with a stuffed Mickey Mouse
Disney’s new ship, Dream, will offer virtual portholes for interior cabins that will display a live view of the scenery, plus animated Nemo characters swimming past every now and then!
Water Fun
Most cruise lines do not allow non-potty-trained children in their pools for sanitary reasons. However, Disney offers a fountain pool with a special filtration system that allows babies and toddlers to have a splashing good time aboard their ships! There are also family pools, an adult-only pool, and even a small staff-only pool!
The new Dream ship will offer a sweet looking waterslide called the AquaDuck that will send riders out over the ocean in a see-through tube slide! Plus, the Dream’s Nemo’s Reef splash area for kids looks like buckets of fun!
Karissa and I splashing in the toddler pool
(See how dedicated I am to you, my fellow Travel Mamas? I’m even willing to post a photo of myself in a swimsuit!)
Shore Activities
During our cruise through the Mediterranean we explored the ruins of Pompeii, perused museums and shops, ate long lunches of pasta and vino, and lazed on sandy beaches. Some days we chose Disney-organized shore excursions while on other days we opted to explore on our own. Even on days filled with lots of grown-up activities, our daughter was content, especially when she was greeted with a big hug from characters like Donald Duck or Minnie Mouse the minute we returned to the ship.
Kids got a chance to roll out foccaccia dough as part of our Sicilian “Day on the Farm” Disney shore excursion
Here’s a little Mickey-shaped dough creation one of the guides made
With Disney, kids aren’t just tolerated on shore excursions, they are catered to! This year, for example, the Highlights of Rome for Families excursion includes a 45-minute puppet show for kids supervised by Disney youth counselors at Villa Borghese while parents have a bit of time to themselves to shop or sightsee. Of course, there are excursions that cater to an older crowd too, like a Cooking Lesson in Tuscany for those aged 21+ in La Spezia, Italy or the Screamin’ Eagle jet boat ride just for teens on the Caribbean cruise to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Disney Does Europe
Disney Cruise Line is sailing through Europe for the second time this summer. The itinerary for the Mediterranean cruise has changed somewhat since we took that cruise, making me drool even more over this year’s schedule! For the first time there will also be cruises through Northern Europe and Scandinavia. (Drool again!)
Join me throughout this summer as I reminisce about my Disney Mediterranean Cruise onshore experiences and dream about this year’s European Disney Cruise itineraries!
Are you dreaming of a Disney Cruise too? Why or why not? Share your thoughts with other Travel Mamas and Travel Daddies in the comments below!
You might also like:
• Carnival Cruise Line’s Onboard Activities for Kids
• Epcot’s Best Rides & Hidden Gems for Kids
• Romance at Disneyland
• Top 10 Disneyland Attractions for Babies & Toddlers
A note from the Travel Mama: My family paid for this cruise and I did not receive any compensation or goodies from Disney related to this story. I will always let you know if I receive any money or products related to a blog post.
Tags: caribbean, Cruise, disney, France, Italy, mediterranean, pool, spain, waterslide
Posted in Family Vacations, Theme Parks | 12 Comments »
|
|
|
.jpg)
