Da Vitale Restaurant: A Family Tradition

Wonderful salad at Da Vitale Restaurant

Divine bread Da Vitale Restaurant at Civitavecchia

People often ask me what country I love the most in Europe. I always say Italy. Italy exudes charm, beautiful accents, lovely people and wonderful memories for me. Always. One story I love to tell is when my niece and I did the Roman Empire cruise from Rome to Rome on the Holland America Noordam in 2008. We stayed the night before the cruise at a hotel in Civitavecchia. We went to dinner at a restaurant a block away called Da Vitale. I don't remember what we ate, but it was good. The place was packed and so a guy with very blue eyes who spoke almost no English, came over and took our order. He had a parakeet in his pocket and we were amazed how he would gently take the bird out once in a while and stroke its head, speak to it and then put it back in his pocket. We pointed at what we wanted and he obliged. I never forgot that experience and my niece and I would reminisce about it once in a while.

Green parrot at Da Vitale 2013

So when I went back to take another cruise in 2013 from the same place, Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, I tried to find the guy who waited on us that night with the bird in his pocket. 

A gentleman waited on me this time, Lorenzo (see photo below) ... and he spoke very good English. He told me that the guy with the bird was the former owner, and he now ran a different restaurant and his brother ran this one in Civitavecchia. He still has birds, he said, but he told me he wasn't around. He seemed genuinely disappointed for me that I wasn't going to see him.

Da Vitale waiter Lorenzo .. great service and speaks English.

The next morning walking around town, a young woman who also worked there flagged me down to tell me that the bird guy was there in the restaurant, having breakfast with his brother. There he was. I would have recognized those blue eyes anywhere. I felt silly asking to take his photo, but I did get one of the lovely young woman who found me. It was the older waiter from the day before who must have told her the story. He was there as well. This and other wonderful memories are why I love Italy so much (and the food.) You can't forget the scrumptious food!

Great service with a smile at Da Vitale

If you are ever in Civitavecchia, I highly recommend you stop at Da Vitale. More information on this great family restaurant can be found here on TripAdvisor. Tell them Luh sent you!

From Toulon to Aix-en-Provence

Aix Fountain courtesy of WikiTravel

If there is one gargoyle-inspired stop on the Celebrity Silhouette Transatlantic cruise, it is Toulon, France. It is the gateway to Aix-en-Provence, a stunningly beautiful town. Note the amazing fountain above. I can just imagine a gargoye jumping down from it to explore the town. 

Aix flower market courtesy of WikiTravel

Between the flower market and the wonderful courtyards with fountains, a day wandering around Aix would be extremely pleasing to me. What do you think? Do you love these towns as much as I do? One of my favorite excursions a few years back went to Monaco, Eze and Nice. I especially loved Eze and did lots of posts on it. Aix looks just as inviting.

With its fabulous Cathedral and lovely streets to stroll, I think a leisurely day in Aix would be a delight and a great start to a Transatlantic cruise.

Cathedral Saint Sauveur at Aix

Celebrity Silhouette Transatlantic

This video has to be one of the most beautiful I have ever watched from YouTube. It is a sail away from Venice on the Celebrity Silhouette. I was convinced that the transatlantic cruise Moises and I should do is the Spanish Serenade on the Equinox, another Solstice class ship from Celebrity. But the more I investigate, I am drawn to the Italian Classic Transatlantic on the Silhouette. What a beautiful ship and what a fabulous itinerary. I am drawn to the itinerary for November 1st, 2014.

Silhouette Quasar night club courtesy of FloridaAgenda.com

It leaves from Rome and I would love to spend a few days in Tarquinia first. Tarquinia is the spot where there are 6,000 Etruscan graves at the Necropolis. More information on this wonderful UNESCO World Heritage site can be found here.

Tarquinia mural courtesy of UNESCO World Heritage site

The cruise travels to Livorno, where you can go to either Florence or Pisa ... also Toulon, France in Provence, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife in the Canary Islands before crossing to Fort Lauderdale. It is an awesome itinerary on a beautiful almost new ship. What's not to love.

Cathedral Palma de Mallorca

More information can be found on the Silhouette (Solstice class ship) on Celebrity Cruise Lines website.

Giglio Island: Costa Concordia Update

Costa Concordia January 2012

It is hard to believe it has already been one year and eight months since the horrific accident, where the Costa Concordia cruise ship went down on the Giglio Island reef. Finally this past Tuesday, the company in charge of moving the ship was able to get it upright, in preparation of moving it.

The technique used to turn the ship upright was accomplished by an operation called parbuckling. It was the largest ship to ever have this technique done, and the company who did it must be applauded, as they did a super job. More information on this operation can be found here.

Photo of Giglio Island  before the Costa Concordia accident

I just wonder how and when Giglio Island can return to normal. Maybe normal will be completely different than it was before. Having lived on Cozumel Island for the last thirteen years, I understand that small changes really effect the dynamics of an island, and having a monster cruise ship shipwrecked right off shore is a significant change, not a small one. 

This youtube video starts out showing how really beautiful the ship was. It is kind of frightening that they tell the cruisers that the ship is experiencing electrical problems and all will be well soon. Then the tragedy follows.

God bless those who lost their lives. I only hope for Giglio Island's sake, they can get the ship out of there soon.

Viva Mexico: Independence Day 2013

Happy Independence Day, Mexico! The theme this year is rain, rain, rain. We never made it down to the main street to see the fireworks last night. But one of our clients and a friend, Bill Bryan, took some amazing photos.

Enjoy!

Photo by Bill Bryan

Bill Bryan captured this photo on Sept. 15, 2013

My favorite from Bill Bryan from Independence Day 2013

Which is your favorite?

You Can Go Home Again

Me on Cozumel Island right before my trip

I have spent the better part of the last seven years dreading returning to my home town. It is the place of much happiness, but also unbelievable sadness. My mom is gone, dad too. Grandma died in 1995. Both my uncles and now my aunt have passed too. So much is due to the dreaded family disease, of which I was spared. It is a mixed blessing. Just the thought of Cincinnati brings back such bittersweet memories.

Mariemont Inn lobby

When I realized there was a good chance I wasn't going to see my niece Sarah unless I went to Cincinnati, I decided to take the plunge and go back to the place of my birth. I found an incredible place to stay, the Mariemont Inn, which made the visit very pleasant. 

Mariemont Inn lobby

I also realized what a beautiful city Cincinnati is, so steeped in hundreds of years in history. I enjoyed seeing my family again. Sometimes I stay away because the pain of leaving them again is not worth it. It is easier to stay here on Cozumel Island and pretend that I don't miss them. Seeing them almost made me realize how much I do miss everybody and wish we could see each other more often.

Mariemont Inn restored to 1923 standards

Amanda at Front Desk of the Mariemont Inn

I visited my parents' graves and tried to find Little Grandma's (that is the name my nieces gave my grandmother on my mom's side) grave. I was unsuccessful in finding it, but I will find it next time. I finally stopped to say a little prayer at my brother's grave. He died when he was 15. I still love you, Mike. I wrote a poem about you, remember?

My mom's grave stone

My dad's grave stone

Michael McDevitt 1960 to 1975

Believe it or not, I think there will be a next time in my very near future. I want my husband to return with me. I actually miss the place I was born and feel somewhat as if I have finally come full circle.

Mariemont Inn: Best of Both Worlds

Hallway of rooms at Mariemont Inn

Never in a million years did I think I would find the most awesome inn I have ever stayed at right in my home town. For our reunion this summer, my niece and I decided to meet in Cincinnati, where we were born. I searched on Google for a hotel that was close by where Sarah and my brother would be staying. 

Hall bench at Mariemont Inn

 I remembered the Mariemont Inn from years back when my mom and I would go for lunch. But they have done an incredible restoration to the way it was in 1923. The place is gorgeous and the rooms are so comfortable with Tempurpedic mattresses. They didn't have those in 1923, but I am glad they put them in any way. The one thing they needed to do is hide the TV as TVs were not present in 1923. I guess the mattresses they could get away with, as that is not seen when you view the room.

Television behind the painting at Mariemont Inn

The television is cleverly hidden behind a painting. You press a button and the screen moves to expose the TV. The Mariemont Inn is truly the best of both worlds, old-time charm and incredible woodwork of 1923 and the comforts of 2013. Definitely worth a stay. Even if you live in town, come for the weekend. You won't be sorry you did!

More information on this great property can be found here.