Mareblu

42 minutes ago, clo said:

I used to be on a food site and that was their consensus .

 

Is Rome considered southern or northern Italy?

 

 

Although Rome is in central Italy, many refer to it as the line between southern and northern Italy. Most consider it to be part of the north.Jan 9, 2021

 

Northern vs. southern Italy: how to pick your ideal Italian ...

 

The Points Guy

https://thepointsguy.com › guide › pick-ideal-italian-holi...

 

 

https://sardellaspizza.com/northern-vs-southern-italian-food-whats-the-difference/

Mario and i are seated in Martinis, enjoying our last evening on Vista before disembarking tomorrow.  I just read your post, with its link, to him.  He nearly choked on his single malt, and he is a placid man.  I can assure you, Italians consider Roma central Italia.  We have been married 55 tears this years (yes, married very young) but we have spent what would total several years of that time in Italy, mainly in his home region of the Dolomites. That is northern Italy.  We consider ourselves members of a vibrant Italian community in Australia, where those who ventured from Italy to start a new life retained the vital elements of their roots, while happily embracing their adopted land.  To a person, they would tell you Rome is central Italy.  Many of them are of Roman origin.  Anyhooo…Mario has stopped choking and rolling about the floor, and has just raised a glass to you.  Do some wider research.

2 hours ago, clo said:

I understand that cooking/eating in Rome (considered Northern Italy) is more apt to have cream.

Considered by whom?

2 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Just chatted with my “personal chef” and she dies not even use olive oil.  She says the oil would cause the cheese to slide off the pasta.  Just a little of the pasta water to melt the parmigiana and lots of black pepper.  Cream sounds like a major faux pas as it becomes something akin to an Alfredo sauce.

 

Hank

Yes, I agree.  The starchy pasta water and cheese are sufficient to coat and bind.  Cream is rarely, if ever, used in genuine Italian cuisine.  It is absolutely forbidden in carbonara, but people still insist “a little is okay”.  It is not.

4 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

 

I love the dish!  If not adding cream (which I thought was the way is was made) how do you make yours?

Try this, as it traditionally uses olive oil.  Even butter would be frowned upon, but not so much as cream.  This recipe does call for a heavy dose of fresh garlic,  could be eliminated or at least reduced, but be brave and add at least a little.

https://www.delicious.com.au > traditional cacio e pepe recipe

Penultimate evening of the cruise.  Grazie Hank for your dedication and objectivity in faithfully maintaining the blog.  We dined in Toscana tonight, and enjoyed all but Mario’s “caccio e Pepe” linguine.  Very bland, and cream had been added.  A huge taboo.  Overall, though, a very pleasant evening.  In the theatre now, awaiting the talented Welsh singer.  Then up to Horizons.  Mario is in a pink shirt and I’m in a sparkly jacket if you’re there and wish to say hello before we all leave.  Thanks again for the great daily reports.

26 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

IMO, the best of the HS bunch.

On either day 1or 2 of this cruise, the HS flavour was a vanilla with salted caramel and toffee shards.  I must admit it was delicious.  I haven’t seen it repeated, but then I seldom approach the ice cream counter, and then with caution, for obvious reasons.  

21 minutes ago, Harters said:

Before Oceania, I'd not heard of it. But then there's probably any number of American ice creams I've not heard of. 

 

They have some weird flavours. Some of which I found to be OK (but no better than OK) and a couple just not very nice. They're not something I'd go out of my  way for. 

There’s actually one HS ice cream aboard named “Elvis the Fat Years”🤷🏻‍♀️

40 minutes ago, Iamthesea said:

We did not notice anything special about the ice cream.  In fact, for most of our recent week on the Vista, I thought that Humphry Slocomeb was a flavor of ice cream.  I asked one of the attendants which ice cream was the Humphry Slocombe.  He started pointing out different flavors.  I replied that I would try it.  Whatever flavor he gave me was tasteless. 

 

Some of the other flavors of ice cream throughout the week were good, but nothing outstanding.  DH was disappointed in the chocolate.  And when getting a cone of ice cream, the scoop barely made it to the top of the cup of the cone.  DH had to ask for another scoop.

 

BTW - Hambagahle and Mareblu... The best ice cream that we have ever had was from a stand is Movenpick.  Had our first taste in Sydney Australia, and then found it again in Switzerland.  Also found it in the lower level of the Movenpick Hotel in Amsterdam!

We stayed in that hotel some years ago awaiting a Uniworld river cruise.  Don’t recall seeing the ice cream, but Gerry and I would agree that some of the world’s little treasures are indeed found in Australia and Switzerland🥰

11 minutes ago, Hambagahle said:

I had not heard of that ice cream until I saw it listed on a menu from Vista.  Is it really good?  Or just ice cream? 

A different HS flavour is presented each day.  I hadn’t heard of it either, until boarding.

48 minutes ago, Harters said:

Me too. Although they would be very 1980s. I'm not sure what the accent might be.  Although British accents can be very regionalised. On trips to the States, I have been asked several times if I'm from New Zealand. And, no, my accent is local to Manchester (where I've lived all my life) and is nothing like a Kiwi's.  

 

To keep this firmly on an Oceania theme, I didnt realise until the other week why Humphry Slocombe ice cream is so called. According to the website, the owners loved British 1970s/80 sitcom "Are you being served" and took the names of two characters - Mr Humphries and Mrs Slocombe. Show was very much in the tradition of British theatrical farce and an earlier generation of music hall comedy - with catchphrases, parodies of the class system, innuendo, double entendre, etc. It was very popular in its day but would now seem very dated and inappropriate. 

Really?  That’s so fascinating.  We wondered where the name originated.  DH keeps calling it “Humphry Bogart”🙄 Mrs Slocombe’s one-liners would be toe-curling now😉. 

For us, the air travel component has always been part of our adventure, ever since we first flew business with Lauder 25 years ago.  I cannot in my wildest nightmares imagine returning to the cramped discomfort of economy (which we flew all our lives previously) unless it was absolutely essential.  

The alternative to business travel for us, having enjoyed the wonder of countless exploration adventures over many years, is simple:  we’ll happily stay in the comfort of our own home.  I wouldn’t dream of criticising your point if view, Mic, because that is exactly how we felt until we didn’t.  This current adventure is our first and only trip this year.  We’re probably running out of years for comfortable travel, but we wouldn’t even consider another trip for at least 18-24 months, that’s why we’re extending our time in the northern hemisphere.  Truth be told, we don’t relish the hassles that air travel brings:  airport security, crowds, wait times.  $200 per hour is no temptation.

Julie, my apologies.  The new SA bc cabin refurbishment is not great, because the seats are indeed hard.  They were perfect before.  We switched to a smaller plane for the Singapore-Rome leg, and enjoyed sinking into ultra comfy seats.

i’ll be watching for your world voyage blog.  Have a wonderful time.

2 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

I'm doing well Linda, thanks for asking. I have gone a couple of days without pain killers. I still have some twinges if I move awkwardly. We are trying to decide about our flight arrangements. We have 2 choices for direct flights from Vancouver to Sydney; Air Canada and Qantas, we were not really that pleased with our Air Canada business class on our east coast trip last year. Right now we are leaning towards Qantas Premium Economy but may switch to Business Class depending on the price. We certainly didn't like the angled pods on Air Canada, the business class seats on Qantas look much better. The premium Economy on Qantas looks good as well if we can get the bulkhead seats, if we can't get those that may be the catalyst to go with Business class. We have so much of the trip planned but are taking a break from planning, while we settle Lynn's Mom's estate.

We have had a few Cruise ships in so far this season but I think this weekend is well and truly full with seven cruise ship visits between Thursday and Sunday. We even had a Regent ship in our drydock last week, although I don't know which one.

Glad to hear you’re on the mend.  Yes, estate settling is poignant and sometimes exhausting.  Qantas fares always seem exorbitant.  BC is a good product, I know, but the price makes it prohibitive for us.  Does Air New Zealand fly direct?  Last time we flew from Vancouver to Sydney (years ago) we flew to Honolulu then picked up AirNZ business.  Fantastic flight, great ambiance with hilarious crew.  I seem to remember they were angled pods though.

58 minutes ago, buchhalm said:

Scotland/Shetland Islands???

Bingo!  Well done.  Cliffs guarding the waterway to Lerwick. Your turn…

11 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

Ireland? Mohr?

Not Ireland

2 hours ago, Blackduck59 said:

Were you in Newfoundland?

Not Newfoundland Lyle

Looking, but I don’t have full access to my photos while away, but will search.  I’ll probably also do a repeat😅

How are you feeling and healing, Lyle?

1 hour ago, buchhalm said:

Where was I?

I feel like a cheat to say, “Capri”, because I claimed this one, once before, because I knew it.  For the second time:  Capri 🤣

Wishing you all a truly wonderful and memorable sailing on this epic voyage.  

We’re still aboard Oceania Vista, and yesterday, ANZAC Day, were in Mykonos.  We were all back on board (Aussies and Kiwis) for the 4.15pm commemoration service in the theatre.  Very moving, with recital of The Ode, Last Post, and hymns and both national anthems.  The poem I’m posting was read beautifully by an Australian female passenger.  Brought tears to our eyes. Bravo, Oceania, and CD Peter, who organised this moving reflection and homage on their own initiative.  Lest We Forget.

35 minutes ago, cmm398 said:

And she's underway

Whoopee!👏

6 hours ago, lorimay said:

We will be in Santorini on Vista in July. The day we are in port, there will be a total of eight cruise ships (if you add up the passengers, it could be about 14,000 people). We were going to explore on our own, but from what I read we could be looking at a several hour wait in the hot sun to get the cable car. I'm thinking of booking the Santorini Panorama excursion through Oceania just so we don't have wait for the cable car or walk up. The description for the tour leaves a little to be desired. If I understand correctly, the ship's tender will take us to a different dock (away from the cable car), then we will tour around the island on a bus and have a walking tour at Oia. However, it doesn't say how we get back to the ship. One line in the description says "There may be lines for the cable car during the busy summer season."  Does this mean they will drop us off at the top of the cable car and we have to wait for it to get back down to the tenders? Thanks - I'm not sure if I'm ready for that many people on that small island.

We’re just over an hour from anchoring in Santorini.  Our friends with us aboard Vista are doing Santorini Panorama today, as they haven’t been to the island before.  We’re staying aboard this time, as we believe there’ll be at least another four cruise ships ahead of us.  The tour (as I remember) finishes at the top, with free time to spend in the village.  Then the cable car queue is to be faced.  The facility can only move a max of 600 pax per hour.  No thanks!  Before Istanbul was dropped from our itinerary, we were scheduled to visit on a day when we were apparently the only vessel in Santorini.  Such is life.

!

4 hours ago, ORV said:

Let me get back with you when I have a better internet. 

My internet is strong on Vista here in the Aegean sea.

1 hour ago, Hanoverian said:

Based on our experience on Vista in March, we agree with both of your points, Linda.  However, we were in 11069 and I would describe the deck noise from above as a bit louder than you described but I chalk that up to different room locations on deck 11.  Neither problem would make us hesitate to sail on Vista again.  Far more troubling to me was the lack of coffee and light morning snacks in Horizon.  I do love to sit, sip, and try to wake up in the mornings while looking out over the waves.    

Hi Don, and yes, I couldn’t agree more about coffee in Horizons at an early hour.  It would make so much sense to be able to enjoy this facility with an open coffee bar.  It would spread the Barista crowd, and make full use of the panoramic view from a large, comfortable venue.  We were granted full barista service for our M&M the other day, but that was from 11.00am.