The subsequent 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 put up 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 virtually did every week right here as an alternative of a cruise, however determined to attempt to see extra as an alternative. Thomas’s nice nice grandparents had been Sicilian (the place our Christmas pizza recipe comes from!) and so he was notably curious about visiting. I’m not kidding once I say that a number of of the locals we met had comparable 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 instances and fashionable instances and extremely suggest!)
Our ship docked in Trapani, which is on the western coast of Sicily. Now we have discovered that a variety of the extra touristy locations are on the Jap facet (like Taormina the place White Lotus was filmed) and Trapani was a bit extra rustic. The local weather was dry – virtually desert-like! And except for Monte Erice, it was pretty flat.
We booked a vacation spot expertise organized by Explora for this present day 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 had been in a gaggle of about 25 folks 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 mentioned to have launched Marsala wine to the world. It’s named for Franca Florio, a distinguished determine within the household.
The Ansaldi farm produces natural bread and pasta with historic 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 kind of clay that holds water very effectively.
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 stupendous lunch within the restaurant. The wines had been glorious!!
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 remaining cease on the tour was a go to to the city of Marsala. It was a bit sleepy with most of the outlets closed (maybe as a result of we had been there mid-week?) however it was enjoyable to see a smaller metropolis.
There was a marriage taking place within the church shortly after we arrived!
Lemon gelato all day, day-after-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 essentially take pleasure in it, however at this second (11am on a Thursday), I might LOVE to eat these meals and drink that wine!!!)
