Full Day in Curaçao

 Curaçao is beautiful but it is hot and humid. Saturday I spent a lot of energy staying hydrated and it worked. We got up and went to breakfast, and then found a cabana and chairs to camp out at. We went swimming in the ocean and pool throughout the day. Some of the girls went snorkeling also.

For lunch, we went to the buffet. I had some fried fish that was really good. By late afternoon, Shawna and I went to our room to hang out and get a break from the sun.

For dinner we had a reservation at the hibachi restaurant. It was really good food (and no migraine triggers). After dinner, it was Carnaval night so there was a parade and dancing. We’re having a really fun relaxing time. On Sunday, we have a catamaran ride planned. 

First Day in Curaçao

 This weekend I’m in Curaçao with my friend Nicole and some of her friends to celebrate her upcoming birthday. 

Friday morning, I got picked up at 3am for the airport and we took a 5:25 am flight to Miami. I met Nicole, Jasmin, & Jen at Logan airport. When we got to Miami, we met Shawna (who came from Cincinnati) and Andrea (who came from Chicago). After another 3 hour flight we arrived at the Curaçao. It took us a while to settle into the resort so we didn’t do too much on Friday. We did get upgraded to the sun club which gives us a different breakfast and a separate beach area and pool. 

For dinner, we went to the Italian restaurant. I had a caprese, seafood over pasta with red sauce, and a tiramisu cup. The food here is ok, but the beach is beautiful. 

Arrivederci Sicilia

Cathedral in Monreale

Monreale Cookie

Palermo Cathedral

Fontana Pretoria

Street food - panelle & croquettes

Spleen sandwich

Accidental run in with Natasha

Gelato

Shrimp with Basil Sauce

Grilled vegetables

Sea Bass

Seared Tuna

split a giant canolo 

Saturday morning after breakfast, we met our guide and driver in the lobby and took the car to Monreale which is just outside Palermo. Monreale has this amazing cathedral that has so many gold leaf mosaics. It was gorgeous. Our guide Maria took us through the various building additions and explained the symbolism of the different mosaics or design motifs. After the cathedral, we went into the cloisters and she pointed out more symbolism and designs in the columns around the courtyard. Everything was so well preserved. It was amazing to see. We stopped for a cookie that’s typical for Monreale and took in the view of Palermo from the top of the hill. 

After Monreale, we had a walking tour of Palermo. You could see the mix of Norman, Arab and Spanish architecture. We went into the cathedral which was great but not as impressive as Monreale. We walked through a street that was lined with book sellers which was really cool. Then when we stopped at a very old caffe for a street food tasting. We had arancini, chickpea fritters, croquettes and tried spleen sandwiches. It was a bit of an early lunch and we were so full. We got to walk through the Capo market which was chaotic but interesting to see different produce. We got a ride back towards our hotel and stopped for a small cannolo.

After regrouping at the hotel we went out to shop and walk around the city. When we took a break at a caffe for a drink and ran into Natasha, our housemate from the cooking school. I think we got almost everything we set out for. 

We finished shopping and headed to dinner at Trattoria Carpaccio. It was so good but we couldn’t finish our fish courses. We split a cannolo for good measure. 

Travel to Palermo

Melon with Prosciutto

Seafood with pasta

Swordfish rolls

Cannolo

Granita

Teatro Politeama

Teatro Massimo (Opera House)

Ricotta and sundried tomatoes

Calamari

Mixed vegetables

Gelato

 On Friday, we had breakfast as a group one last time before departing the cooking school. It was a great group of people.  I hope we stay in touch. Our driver picked us up and took us to our next hotel in Palermo. 

When we got to Palermo, our room wasn’t ready yet so we went out to explore the neighborhood and got lunch. At the cooking school, we pretty much only had water, tea or coffee, and wine to drink so I was excited to have sparkling water back. 

After settling into our hotel, we ventured back out to do some shopping and also decided to take a tour of the Opera House assuming our tour guide won’t take us there Saturday.  It was really stunning. While we were there an orchestra was rehearsing so we got to hear some music. We did some shopping before dinner and dropped everything off at our room. 

For dinner, we had a reservation and arrived to find the restaurant VERY closed so we went back to the area where we had lunch and chose another restaurant. It was really good. I was joking the worst thing I’ve eaten was the potato on a grilled vegetable plate that I thought was something else. We decided to forgo dessert at the restaurant and find the gelato place we had heard about from our cooking school group. The gelato was SO good. 

On Saturday, we have a tour in the morning and then some unplanned time in Palermo before dinner. We fly out SO early on Sunday.