A Silver Shadow Over The World - December 2023 to May 2024

[highplanesdrifters]

9 hours ago, mysty said:

 

They probably wouldn't recognize a Trebuchet if they tripped over it! 😅

I'd like to see you slip that one under the bed.  🤣

[mysty]

6 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

I'd like to see you slip that one under the bed.  🤣

 

@highplanesdrifters , I love your wit! 😁

[highplanesdrifters]

52 minutes ago, mysty said:

 

@highplanesdrifters , I love your wit! 😁

❤

[mysty]

For the vast majority of my 70 years on this planet, I have spent the holiday season in Ontario.  One year we celebrated with our son and his wife in Scottsdale, Arizona and twice we celebrated with our son and his wife and son in Calgary, Alberta.  For the first time we will be celebrating outside of North America.  It will be awesome!

 

Martinique - https://www.domainedesfondsblancs.com/en/christmas-in-martinique/
"Christmas in Martinique is as much about private homes, public buildings and squares decorated as it is in New-York or Paris and as in many places of the world, children dream of the many presents to come.

Christmas in Martinique tell however of a singular story. The filao trees, our version of the “Sapin de Noël” (Christmas Tree), sparkle as glittery as a starry night on top of Mount Pelée, the delicate flower we call “Fleuri Noel” is only at this time of the year, in full bloom and the typically “French crèche”, or manger scene, is re-created either in miniature or, alive in village squares or churches, with human figures and real animals.

The traditional Christmas dinner usually centers around, a smoked caramelized ham marinated in advance for a couple of days, warm petits pâtés, yams, boudin créole (a zesty West Indian sausage), and a spicy pork ragout with congo peas, all topped off with the Bûche de Noël, or Christmas log, for desert."

 

St. Barthelemy - https://westnautical.com/the-perfect-festive-season-in-st-barts/
"St Barts has a delightful Christmas Village in Gustavia, which runs from the 3rd – 20th December every year. Spend the day browsing stores with the works of local artisans, food vendors and of course, take the children to meet Santa or Pere Noel as he is known on the island. The Christmas Village provides the perfect place to do some last-minute shopping or purchase some unique gifts for your loved ones."

 

St Kitts -https://www.sntravel.co.uk/blog/st-kitts-nevis-celebrate-ultimate-christmas-carnival/
"Christmas time is special all over the Caribbean, but no other island group celebrates it in quite so much style as St Kitts and Nevis and that’s because its Carnival time! The Sugar Mas Carnival is an almost two-month long celebration of colour, music and dance and these tiny Caribbean islands certainly know how to put on a party!
Carnival has its traditions of course and this one wouldn’t be complete without certain events and costumes. The parade of clowns in their baggy trousers and head dresses and the famous “Moko-Jumbies” who dance on a pair of high stilts are legendary whilst the j-ouvert parades play host to countless dance troupes from all over the islands, each one dressed in their own special colours and performing the most frenzied of dances. The carnival competitions are the highlight for many, from the Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant through to the Junior Calypso Show and the National Carnival Queen Pageant and entrants will have spent the entire year preparing for their moment of glory. The calypso contest is hotly contested with the wit of words equally as important as the music and the winners of this competition always go on to become big stars of the entire West Indies, such importance it holds".

 

San Juan - https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/article/holiday-traditions-puerto-rico
"On the Island, la Navidad lasts around 45 days, starting right after Thanksgiving Day in November, extending through mid-January, and culminating with the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, also known as la SanSe. Every year, Puerto Ricans get ready to celebrate their Christmas traditions and customs, from food to music and even décor.

Since the holiday season is not so much a sprint as it is a marathon, here are some traditions you should know to get in the spirit of the occasion:

 

Parrandas
A parranda or trulla is the boricua version of a Christmas Carol. Friends and families gather in front of a house – usually after 10:00 p.m. – with instruments like panderos, maracas, güiros, cuatros, and guitars to sing aguinaldos (traditional Christmas songs).

 

Nochebuena
For most Puerto Ricans, Christmas Eve or Nochebuena trumps Christmas Day. This is the night where family and friends gather for a traditional dinner, exchange gifts, go out on parrandas, or take a drive to enjoy the Christmas decorations around town.

 

Traditional Dishes
The classic holiday menu consists of arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), lechón asado (spit-roasted pork), and pasteles (tamale-like patties of green banana and meat). Side dishes might include potato salad, pasta salad, or morcilla (rice-stuffed blood sausages). The traditional Christmas dessert is tembleque, a coconut-based pudding topped with cinnamon.

 

Coquito 
Instead of eggnog, Puerto Rico has coquito a thick, creamy holiday drink made primarily with coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, rum, and spices. It is usually served chilled in shot glasses to beat the heat of the warm winter days. ¡Salud! 

 

We would be in San Juan on Christmas Eve.  Christmas day we would be at sea.  Bring on the wonder!

 

[JoGay]

I don’t know if anyone has access to STARZ (or the equivalent in Canada), but there is a good show on it called Men in Kilts.  It stars 2 actors from the tv show Outlander.  During the first season of Men in Kilts they were talking about the culture and scenery of Scotland.  This season they are in New Zealand.  The episode last night was about the Māori culture.  It is definitely worth watching.

[jpalbny]

3 hours ago, mysty said:

For the first time we will be celebrating outside of North America.  It will be awesome!

 

It sure is! 

 

As you know we started a tradition of going "elsewhere" for Christmas when our schedule allows. Just a long weekend away so we can't go too far.

 

In past years we've visited Paris, Barcelona, and Geneva. Then we had to take a few years off from our Christmas travels, and when were primed to resume, Covid hit and delayed us further. 

 

Last year we finally were able to resume the tradition, and we visited London for Christmas. This year, it's planned to be the Loire Valley.

[highplanesdrifters]

17 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

 

It sure is! 

 

As you know we started a tradition of going "elsewhere" for Christmas when our schedule allows. Just a long weekend away so we can't go too far.

 

In past years we've visited Paris, Barcelona, and Geneva. Then we had to take a few years off from our Christmas travels, and when were primed to resume, Covid hit and delayed us further. 

 

Last year we finally were able to resume the tradition, and we visited London for Christmas. This year, it's planned to be the Loire Valley.

Do you wear a kilt on these "elsewhere" journeys? 🤣

[mysty]

1 hour ago, JoGay said:

I don’t know if anyone has access to STARZ (or the equivalent in Canada), but there is a good show on it called Men in Kilts.  It stars 2 actors from the tv show Outlander.  During the first season of Men in Kilts they were talking about the culture and scenery of Scotland.  This season they are in New Zealand.  The episode last night was about the Māori culture.  It is definitely worth watching.

 

Thank you @JoGay !  I'll see if I can find it!

[mysty]

43 minutes ago, jpalbny said:

 

It sure is! 

 

As you know we started a tradition of going "elsewhere" for Christmas when our schedule allows. Just a long weekend away so we can't go too far.

 

In past years we've visited Paris, Barcelona, and Geneva. Then we had to take a few years off from our Christmas travels, and when were primed to resume, Covid hit and delayed us further. 

 

Last year we finally were able to resume the tradition, and we visited London for Christmas. This year, it's planned to be the Loire Valley.

 

This will be a completely new experience for us.  I've wanted to do a Holiday Season cruise for a long time.  And we have never sailed the Caribbean.  This pre-cruise cruise ticked both boxes. Allons-y! 😁

[jpalbny]

12 hours ago, JoGay said:

I don’t know if anyone has access to STARZ (or the equivalent in Canada), but there is a good show on it called Men in Kilts.  It stars 2 actors from the tv show Outlander.  During the first season of Men in Kilts they were talking about the culture and scenery of Scotland.  This season they are in New Zealand.  The episode last night was about the Māori culture.  It is definitely worth watching.

 

One of those actors is Graham McTavish, who played one of the dwarves in the Hobbit trilogy. I "know" him because he does a bunch of exercise programs on my iFit treadmill. He's fun to listen to while trekking around all over. Will have to try to find that series. 

[JoGay]

9 hours ago, jpalbny said:

 

One of those actors is Graham McTavish, who played one of the dwarves in the Hobbit trilogy. I "know" him because he does a bunch of exercise programs on my iFit treadmill. He's fun to listen to while trekking around all over. Will have to try to find that series. 

Yes, and Graham lives in NZ.

[mysty]

Moving on in our food exploration we come to Puntarenas, Costa Rica.  The information presented here comes by way of https://www.govisitcostarica.com/blog/post/most-popular-foods-costa-rica.aspx  - The 9 Most Popular Foods in Costa Rica May 4, 2021 by Javi the Frog.

 

"Food in Costa Rica is second only to the country’s beauty. Known for its use of fresh ingredients, like fruits and vegetables, the cuisine in Costa Rica is generally on the mild side.

Costa Rican food is much different than other Latin American food, especially Mexican food. Of course, Mexico is not the only place to find its spicy food. San Diego which is just north of Mexico is also known for its Mexican and Latin American influence in its cuisine."

 

1. Gallo Pinto
Gallo Pinto is a breakfast dish made of rice and beans (well that’s no surprise!). The cuisine itself has roots in both Costa Rican and Nicaraguan culture, and is typically referred to as just “pinto” by the locals.

The dish’s main ingredients (rice and beans) are mixed together and paired with other ingredients to give it some spice, like red bell peppers, cilantro, onions and most importantly Salsa Lizano (Salsa Lizano used to be very hard to get but now you can buy it on Amazon).

When the beans and rice are mixed together, the create some coloring variations that make it look like the rice is speckled. This is how the dish got its name, because gallo pinto means “spotted rooster.”

 

2. Casado
The Casado is probably the most traditional dish in Costa Rican cuisine. It is not a singular dish, but a dish made up of many foods. In fact, it could be thought that a casado is a marriage of the foods that are served together, since marriage is the meaning of the word casado.

If you order a casado at a restaurant in Costa Rica, you can expect to be served a plate that contains the following: rice, beans, salad, tortillas, fried platano maduro, and meat (beef, pork, chicken or fish).

The location within the country will determine which meat you receive, or which you can choose from. A casado typically also includes a fresh fruit juice.

 

3. Tamal
A Costa Rican tamal is not apples to apples with a Mexican tamale. While at first glance the fillings might look the same, there are a few huge differences in the preparation.

First, Costa Ricans are found of garlic, but really go really, really easy on other spices. Mexican tamales will have a much spicier flavor than a Costa Rican tamale.

The other big difference is in the wrapping: Mexican tamales are wrapped in corn husks; Costa Rican tamales are wrapped in banana leaves. Tamales can be a meal all on their own, but they are also often paired with beans and served for breakfast.

 

4. Arroz con Leche
The easiest way to describe arroz con leche is to say that it is rice mixed with milk. But the taste is much more complicated, and delicious, than that makes it sound. The recipe also calls for sugar, salt, lemon zest, and cinnamon sticks.

 

5. Sopa Negra (Black Bean Soup)
This soup is a great option for vegetarians, and some recipes will meet other dietary restrictions, like gluten­-free.

Some of the main ingredients include black beans, onion, bell peppers, cilantro, tomatoes, hard or soft boiled egg and spices, along with optional Tabasco sauce.

 

6. Olla de Carne
The hearty olla de carne is a favorite weekend dish that you’ll find being prepared in many homes across the country on any given month of the year. While the stew can be compared to some stew from other cultures, there is, of course, a set of ingredients that help make it unique in look and taste.

Costa Rica is a mecca for fresh ingredients, and these are tapped into for the olla de carne recipe. These ingredients include cassava, carrots, corn, plantains, and taro root. Combined with other vegetables, this stew is full of rich flavors.

 

7. Chifrijo
Served at local events and farmer’s markets, as well as at restaurants. The name is a combination of the two main ingredients: chicharrones and frijoles.

Chicharrones are fried pork rinds, while frijoles are beans (I bet you aren’t surprised to see beans on the list again!). The dish is an amazing layer of ingredients that are served with fried tortilla chips, corn tortillas, or bread. The layered ingredients include the two main foods, along with rice, and either tomatoes or pico de gallo. 

 

8. Patacones
Patacones are deep fried deliciousness. It’s mainly served as a snack and basically consists of flattening plantains and frying them two times.

Have them finished off with a little bit of sea salt, and served with pico de gallo or mashed black beans (a black bean dip). Patacones make a great appetizer!

 

9. Flan
More dessert! Flan is a sweet treat that mixes together milk, vanilla, sugar, and eggs, resulting in a delicious egg custard! Though cooked in a pan lined with caramel, it is chilled before it is served.
 

[mysty]

Our son and his family have been living in Santa Monica since October 2019.  One of their favourite places to dine was the Restaurant at The Getty.  The photos of the meals they enjoyed there reminded us of the offerings at our favourite restaurant Black Tartan Kitchen.  We were hoping to visit it when we are scheduled to be there on January 12, 2024.  This may be an unmanageable dream.  Here is the information in case anyone is interested.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getty_Center

 

"The Getty Center, in Los Angeles, California, is a campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust. The $1.3 billion center opened to the public on December 16, 1997, and is well known for its architecture, gardens, and views overlooking Los Angeles. The center sits atop a hill connected to a visitors' parking garage at the bottom of the hill by a three-car, cable-pulled hovertrain people mover.

 

Located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, the center is one of two locations of the J. Paul Getty Museum and draws 1.8 million visitors annually. (The other location is the Getty Villa in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.) The center branch of the museum features pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, and decorative arts; and photographs from the 1830s through present day from all over the world.  In addition, the museum's collection at the center includes outdoor sculpture displayed on terraces and in gardens and the large Central Garden designed by Robert Irwin. Among the artworks on display is the Vincent van Gogh painting Irises.

 

Designed by architect Richard Meier, the campus also houses the Getty Research Institute (GRI), the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, and the J. Paul Getty Trust. The center's design included special provisions to address concerns regarding earthquakes and fires."

 

https://www.getty.edu/visit/center/ - 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA

 

The Restaurant
Full service dining with views of the Santa Monica Mountains whether sitting indoors or out. Reservations are recommended.

Location
Plaza level, Restaurant/Cafe building, near the entrance to the Getty Research Institute

Hours
Tuesday–Friday 11:30am–2:30pm
Saturday 11:30am–2:30pm, 5–8pm*
Sunday 11am–3pm
Monday Closed
*Last seating at 7:30pm.

 

Reservations
Call (310) 440-6810 or make a reservation through Open Table.

Same-day reservations may be available. Inquire at the Restaurant entrance or at the Museum Information Desk.

 

Menu
Menus change seasonally.

 

It is about 30 minutes north from the Los Angeles World Cruise Terminal

Edited August 20, 2023 by mysty

[JSR]

@Misty if your son lives in SM he will tell you count on everything involving a drive taking longer than anticipated. Don’t know when you mapped that but it will take a lot longer then 30 minutes most days. We are under a tropical storm watch and it’s Sunday morning here so traffic is at a low.  The Getty is architecturally magnificent. Their collection is primarily classical but the outdoor space is worthy of a visit. LA has many amazing dining opportunities. 

Edited August 20, 2023 by JSR

[mysty]

25 minutes ago, JSR said:

@Misty if your son lives in SM he will tell you count on everything involving a drive taking longer than anticipated. Don’t know when you mapped that but it will take a lot longer then 30 minutes most days. We are under a tropical storm watch and it’s Sunday morning here so traffic is at a low.  The Getty is architecturally magnificent. Their collection is primarily classical but the outdoor space is worthy of a visit. LA has many amazing dining opportunities. 

 

Thank you @JSR !  Coincidentally,  our son and family left Santa Monica yesterday to return to Calgary.  They're driving and got to Santa Cruz last evening.   They loved their time in Santa Monica and had awesome photos of the meals they enjoyed!

[JSR]

Sounds like they are ahead of the storm. Hopefully the storm anticipation is worse then the actual storm. It is pretty ominous out. We live part time in Los Angeles near the water. 

[mysty]

5 minutes ago, JSR said:

Sounds like they are ahead of the storm. Hopefully the storm anticipation is worse then the actual storm. It is pretty ominous out. We live part time in Los Angeles near the water. 

 

I hope you are spared any danger or damage JSR!  Mother Nature having a hissy is never a good thing!

[mysty]

@CruisinPashmina , will we be graced with your presence on this adventure?  If memory serves,  you were on the 2019 World Cruise. 

[drron29]

We have actually been to the Getty centre and eaten there for lunch. loved it. But 405 most times we have traveled it from LAX north and then back resembled a car park. So if flying out of LAX we stay nearby.

[mysty]

14 minutes ago, drron29 said:

We have actually been to the Getty centre and eaten there for lunch. loved it. But 405 most times we have traveled it from LAX north and then back resembled a car park. So if flying out of LAX we stay nearby.

 

Thank you @drron29 !  Our son went there often and raved about it!  It might be a bridge too far for us.

[mysty]

Next up on our food exploration is Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  The information presented here comes by way of  https://www.puertovallarta.net/what_to_do/puerto-vallarta-local-dishes/  - The Typical Local Dishes & Drinks In Puerto Vallarta.

 

"Puerto Vallarta, as you’d expect, has a wide variety of options when it comes to eating. What you wouldn’t expect is the exceptional quality of the food you’re offered here.

Vallarta is actually an important culinary destination in itself. A mix of international chefs, discerning gourmands that have made the city their home town, a long-running gourmet festival, the local Mexican food traditions, that are centuries old plus quality ingredients from sea and land combine into great food, great prices and an ever-expanding list of options."

 

Pescado Embarazado
One of local dishes that best represents what is typical in the town is “pescado embarazado”, that is, pregnant fish… sounds weird? It’s mostly the name that is, it’s actually a linguistic deformation of “pescado en vara asado”, that is fish roasted on a stick.

This delicious local food is prepared by grilling fish marinated in lime over coals, then served with Huichol salsa. The fish itself can be school shark (cazón) or marlin, another variant is to use shrimp instead of fish.

 

Birria
One of the favorite local dishes is “Birria”, the main ingredients include goat or lamb meat, boiled in a spicy sauce that includes cumin, oregano, and ginger. It’s served with lime (they call it lemon here), onions and the inseparable tortillas.

 

Pozole
Another local favorite is “Pozole” which has different incarnations around Mexico, in Jalisco and Vallarta it’s a tasty broth that includes as main ingredients pork or chicken meat, seasoned with chilli and includes a special popped corn. Once served you eat it with lettuce, radishes, and tostadas (sun-dried tortillas) y can be “rojo” (red as in the photo above) or blanco (white, or actually translucent).

 

Aguachile
Aguachile: the most traditional variation, which is similar to ceviche, includes fresh, raw shrimp, cucumber, red onion, lime juice, and chilis (usually serrano or jalapeño) that have been ground with some water, hence the name. It is typically served with tostadas, and avocado.

 

Ceviche
Ceviche: raw seafood “cooked” by in lime juice. Can be mixed with tomato, coriander, avocado, onion, salt, and green chili. The fish used is normally: mackerel, tuna, shrimp, octopus, and squid. can be served on tostadas. The recipe from Puerto Vallarta differs slightly from those found in other places. Carrots, cucumber, cilantro, and other ingredients are frequently added to the mixture in the Banderas Bay region.

 

Coctel de camarones
Although the Mexican dish is commonly referred to as a shrimp cocktail, the dish known as “Cóctel de Camarones” is quite different from its USA counterpart. It’s a cold tomato soup with raw vegetables and poached shrimp that’s popular all around Mexico, but especially along the coast. Cooling allows the tastes to meld together better and make it especially appealing in the humid weather along the Pacific Coast and Banderas Bay.

Ingredients include: Shrimp, Tomato, Onion, Bell pepper, Celery, Garlic, Coriander, Cucumber, Clam juice, Ketchup, Lime, Jalapeño chili, Serrano chili, Valentina hot sauce, Avocado.

 

Tamales
A Mexican favorite, that you’ll also enjoy in Puerto Vallarta is the “tamal” (plural: tamales), these are actually an American dish that you’ll find in local variants from Mexico all the way to Patagonia. The local version is prepared with white corn dough that is filled in the middle with either salty or sweet options, the most popular are “verdes” or “rojos” (green tomatoes with meat or red tomatoes with meat, all include chili pepper in greater o lesser amount, ask before eating, some have a sweet pineapple filling, kids like these a lot and they DO NOT include chili :-). The dough is then wrapped in corn leaves and steamed, yummy, give them a try!

 

Tortas Ahogadas
We can’t forget the famous “Tortas Ahogadas” (can be translated as “drowned sandwiches”), a very typical local dish. In Guadalajara, there’s a saying that “you’ve not been to Guadalajara unless you’ve eaten tortas ahogadas”, so you’re expected and “forced” to try them. These sandwiches are made with a special local white bread called “birote” (the story behind the name is that a Frenchman whose last name was Birot, in the XIX century tried to make baguettes in Guadalajara and ended up inventing the birote, that locally is also known as “salado” or salty) that is then stuffed with pork meat in pieces (some variations include shrimp and other fillings) and then covered with a generous amount of spicy chili and tomato sauce (that’s when they are “drowned”…) which can make it completely inedible if you are not a local, many places offer a variety of sauces from “pica poquito” to stronger options.

 

And other suggestions.....
Carne en su Jugo (Meat in its own juice) - Small pieces of beef with beans and bacon, seasoned with coriander, onion and lime juice.

 

Albondigas Reales (Royal Meatballs) - Meatballs stuffed with boiled egg, raisins and almonds.

 

Bote Cocido - Chicken, pig and beef meat broth seasoned with pulque.

 

Pepián - A sauce made with ground pumpkin seeds, red chili pepper and spices.

 

Gorditas (Little Fat Ones) - A thick tortilla of a smaller diameter made with corn dough, filled with cheese, threaded pig meat, beans or mashed potatoes.

 

Chiles Anchos Rellenos (Wide Stuffed Chili Peppers) - Dried Peppers filled with cheese, pumpkin flowers and battered

.

Pico de Gallo (Rooster’s beak) - Pieces of jicama, orange, pineapple with lime juice and ground chili.

Enchiladas Tapatías - Corn tortillas in chili sauce, fried and filled with cheese and onion.

 

Pollo a la Valentina (Valentina Chicken) - Spicy fried chicken with enchiladas (spicy stuffed deep fried tortillas) with potatoes and carrots.

[spinnaker2]

Add some vodka to that shrimp and tomato y thing, and i am all in!!!

[mysty]

14 minutes ago, spinnaker2 said:

Add some vodka to that shrimp and tomato y thing, and i am all in!!!

 

OH YES!  That would be amazing!  Thank you for the suggestion spins!!!!

[CruisinPashmina]

Musty,

i just saw your post asking if I were joining The 2024 World Cruise. I have actually never taken a World Cruise…the longest cruise I have ever taken was 32 days. My pattern has been to take at least 3 cruises a year and not one very long one. My late husband was much less avid than I. We used to laugh that at day 10 we would wake up hating each other ….one day of keeping our distance, and then back in love! 
i currently have four booked starting with a holiday adventure on The Nova. The other 3 are on The Shadow on which I haven’t sailed in many years. I’ve always loved both the Whisper and the Shadow, it will be fun to get back on these lovely Sisters. I feel a bit apprehensive about The Nova, but it will be an adventure no matter what.

Thank you for your spectacular reportage…I am SO enjoying this thread!

 

PS. If anyone has fresh info on the condition of The Shadow, I would like their impressions. Is there anything comparable to the brilliant Arts Cafe? The deck plans don’t show one, and I have been LOVING this innovation on the Muse and Moon. And I also really enjoy the Observation Library with its Bar Service at night. Other than for private or special parties, is this area open for drinks in the evenings? Thanks in advance for any info!

[dawntrdr]

58 minutes ago, CruisinPashmina said:

PS. If anyone has fresh info on the condition of The Shadow, I would like their impressions. Is there anything comparable to the brilliant Arts Cafe?

The Shadow was updated in 2019 and it does show an Arts Cafe on Deck 5.  The kind of moved all of the retail shop merchandise to the periphery and put tables in the middle.  It is more of an "on the avenue" experience rather than the separate room they have on the Moon and Dawn.