Sometimes everything conspires to make a cruise stop perfect. We found that in Syracusa, a port city that used to rival Athens in importance. It is beautiful, really beautiful, its old town projecting into the blue sea so that there are views everywhere you look. Trees in bloom with colorful flowers. Perfect air, not too hot. A fabulous place for lunch. A fascinating cathedral afterwards, and a leisurely stroll to an open boat ride to the ship.
It was a picture perfect day. I’ll let the pictures tell the story.
Panoramic view of old town, Syracusa, as we get ready to anchor. Taken from our balcony.Taking an open boat (not the tender!) into townGetting closerArrived!First thing we saw — Greek ruins. This city is layer upon layer of peoples long gone.Brilliant color in a local shop.Cool darkness leading to a sunny courtyardView back toward the grand portLooking back on the Encore at anchorTourist bustle in the narrow lanesOur lunch destination — il Tempio di AthenaThe menu. Choices, choices!Happy to be here, sitting in the shadeBruschetta. A little something to startRaising the antipasti bar — all my favorite thingsSeafood potato salad — Jerry’s first coursePizza Diavolo — Jerry’sVegetariano — guess whose?Trying to be prudent (could have eaten the whole thing)A little lemon sorbetto to finishHappy, happy guySteps from the restaurant, the other side of the townRocky beach, crystal watersAnother lovely street sceneLucky find — artisanal jewelry shop with the artisan working at his bench insideJewelry maker at workMore street scenesCathedral with columns from the Greek temple to Athena, Byzantine and medieval additionsInteriorGreek columnsHome of fabulous gelato and Sicilian almond cookiesIncredible almond and pistachio cookiesSelf explanatory. Just sitting there in the middle of town. Doesn’t everyone have Greek ruins? If I ever run a B&B, this is what I am calling itHeading home to the shipNo dinner for me. Who knew almond cookies would make me sick?Champagne and caviar for JerSunsets behind a smoking Mount EtnaPretty content on the second to last night of the cruiseA pilot boards to navigate us through the Straits of Messina. He just stepped off the pilot boat on to ours while both were moving. Suddenly teaching Trump to freshmen looks like a pretty good job“Land of fires” in southern Italy
and away she goes.... 