by Dan Price
I don't know about you, but when I travel, I eat. There is a lot of rich, deep history to take in at museums and landmarks, and I am all for that. I've been on cruises with some fantastic shore excursions that were soft and cuddly, like holding sloths, or thrilling, like when Sara and I went ziplining through the jungles of wherever we were. But, while we were in Greece, when we got done climbing up The Acropolis, my first question was, "What's for lunch?" True story!
And when I hear about other people's travels, whether it be Oslo, Ottawa, or Oklahoma, one of my first questions is always, 'What did you eat?'. And if they did go to Oklahoma and went to Burger King and passed on a local Oklahoma Onion Burger, I would become highly judgmental... but that's not the point right now.
So, when the travelers and team of Celebration Senior Travel made their way to Italy, Greece and Croatia this summer, we arrived with our eyes wide open and our stomachs rumbling in anticipation of the culinary delights that awaited us. And, boy, did they not disappoint! Here are a few highlights:
On our first day in Bologna, Italy, we had a delicious dining experience at a small restaurant in a building over 400 years old. They served family-style plates of grilled eggplant, peppers, and zucchini for everyone to start with. Then, the dreamiest tortellini in a cream sauce that you have ever tasted. The portion was so large that I thought it was the main dish, but I was mistaken. The waiters, a funny couple of fellows thrown off by the sheer number of American seniors who only drank flat water, not sparkling (seriously, this perplexed them), arrived at the table with huge platters of veal cutlets in a cream sauce. Incredible! For those with sweet tooth, dessert was tiramisu, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I don't do coffee, so dessert was a non-negotiable for me.
Another amazing meal came from a truck stop on the way to the cruise port to catch the RCL Explorer of the Seas for the Greece and Croatia legs of the trip. Our buses pulled over so everyone could use the facilities, but the most amazing thing happened… they had sandwiches. And when I say, 'truck stop sandwich,' you conjure up visions of triangular cut tuna salad sandwich you get out of the cooler, a foot long from a Subway stand at a Love's, or even Buc-ee's chopped beef sandwich.
No.
This, my friends, was a true sandwich. A crusty baguette filled with prosciutto and some sort of formaggi (that means cheese to you and me). They threw it into the oven, gave it to me and let the good times roll! It was so good that I had to share with Debra, Zoe, Grace and my darling Sara, who was able to join us on this trip. Greg opted for the truck stop lasagna. He said it was fantastic in its own right!
On the ship, the main dining room was dynamite! And while we can go on and on about the sheer quantity of food they offer, the quality was there in every bite. I surfed the menu a bit on this ship, trying things I've previously had on Royal Caribbean as well as new dishes, including a Vidalia onion tartlet for an appetizer that seared its flavor into my tastebuds, and for that, I am forever grateful. Of course, I had the escargot a couple of times for appetizer, tried the chicken piccata for the first time (very good!), and I have to tell you, a very good prime rib cooked to perfection was enjoyed by all on the second night of the ship.
Ever had a gyro? Pretty good, right? Ever had a year on the beach of Mykonos, Greece? Even better! One day, the Celebration team grabbed a quick bite and enjoyed it right by the water. I had a chicken gyro; Sara had pork. Both phenomenal! I also learned the proper way to say 'gyro' and 'euro' so there would be less confusion in the future. So, I have that going for me, which is nice.
One of the coolest meals of the trip was on the last night of the cruise. Celebration rented out the whole Chops Steakhouse exclusively for our travelers. It was a great evening with beautiful filets and lamb chops, incredible starters and sides, and a wonderful choice of desserts. We ate, we laughed, we drank, and we laughed some more. It was definitely one of my favorite meals on the trip!
It was another wonderful adventure filled with new friends, great experiences and a belly full of memories, Celebration-style. Can't wait till the next one!
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