The following port cease on our cruise was Trapani, Sicily. Right here’s a recap of our go to to the Salt Museum, a vineyard, and Marsala.Take a look at my Explora II cruise submit right here.
Trapani, Sicily
Sicily was close to the highest of our bucket checklist of locations we needed to go to on this journey. We nearly did per week right here as an alternative of a cruise, however determined to attempt to see extra as an alternative. Thomas’s nice nice grandparents have been Sicilian (the place our Christmas pizza recipe comes from!) and so he was notably excited by visiting. I’m not kidding after I say that a number of of the locals we met had related options to him (pores and skin coloring, facial options), and through our stroll round Marsala, we joked at what number of “John Donne’s” (Thomas’s dad) we noticed.
(I additionally began this e book on the journey that takes place in Sicily each in olden occasions and fashionable occasions and extremely advocate!)
Our ship docked in Trapani, which is on the western coast of Sicily. Now we have discovered that a number of the extra touristy locations are on the Japanese facet (like Taormina the place White Lotus was filmed) and Trapani was a bit extra rustic. The local weather was dry – nearly desert-like! And other than Monte Erice, it was pretty flat.
We booked a vacation spot expertise organized by Explora for today that began with a go to to a salt museum, took us to a vineyard for lunch, after which ended with a tour of the city of Marsala.
Breakfast + a pleasant observe stroll earlier than we disembarked!
Museo Del Sale
We have been in a bunch of about 25 individuals for this tour, and we took a bus to the Museo Del Sale first.
We discovered all about salt making and the way salt was a major forex for Sicilians. It was additionally again breaking labor to reap and carry it out!
Previous windmill items
Donna Franca
Our second cease was a drive to the Baglio Donna Franca vineyard, which can also be a resort with visitor rooms and has a restaurant. The household who owned the property was stated to have launched Marsala wine to the world. It’s named for Franca Florio, a outstanding determine within the household.
The Ansaldi farm produces natural bread and pasta with historical grains from its personal property, and the wines are additionally natural. They don’t even use irrigation as a result of the property is on a really particular sort of clay that holds water very properly.
We bought to tour the cellar and be taught all in regards to the historical past of Sicilian winemaking.
After our tour, we had a lovely lunch within the restaurant. The wines have been wonderful!!
Gimme all of the appetizers!!!
Liked the lemon preserves made on the property!
We had two sorts of pasta for the primary course
Marsala
Our ultimate cease on the tour was a go to to the city of Marsala. It was somewhat sleepy with most of the retailers closed (maybe as a result of we have been there mid-week?) but it surely was enjoyable to see a smaller metropolis.
There was a marriage occurring within the church shortly after we arrived!
Lemon gelato all day, every single day.
Fil Rouge
Again on Explora II, we rested and showered and had dinner at Fil Rouge, the French-themed restaurant.
I had a crab cake appetizer
Seabass in puff pastry
and a white chocolate tart!
(It’s loopy writing about this meal as a result of I bear in mind being too full to actually get pleasure from it, however at this second (11am on a Thursday), I’d LOVE to eat these meals and drink that wine!!!)
