Monday March 9, 2020 – At Sea on route to Fuerte Amador / Panama City, Panama
We missed the Curaçao port lecture, but enjoyed the Richard Wainio talk on the Panama Canal. This was another in his series and I should mention that his family have lived in and been associated with the Canal and Panama since the 1800’s. He, an American, and his wife had a first row seat to history as he held one of the senior posts in the Canal operations and his father and father-in-law held senior posts in the Panamanian Government and knew personally Torijos, Noriega and other leaders and was involved in the negotiations over the years. So it was fascinating hearing from him. See the Panama Canal entry which will include all this information.
After the lecture we had signed up for a special lunch in the Verandah Restautant, hosted by the head sommelier. Our sommelier, Baiba had asked us on various occasions to attend, so we could not refuse her again. We enjoyed a terrific meal and 8 glasses of wine. A long afternoon siesta ensued!!!
The lunch featuring Italian wines were:-
⁃ Amuse Bouche of shrimp in corn sauce accompanied by Sparkling Prosecco Special Cuvée, Zonin (very tasty)
⁃ Atlantic Monkfish Filet wrapped in Serrano Ham with sweet Roasted tomato sauce, Herb couscous and Petit pois à la Française accompanied by 2 white wines, both excellent. Arneis, Cantonese Giacoppo Ascheri, Piedmont AND Rigialla, La Tunella, Friulu Colli Orientali.
⁃ Breast of Guniea Fowl in Madeira Cream Sauce with baked Tartiflette potatoes accompanied by 2 red wines – Taurasi, Feudi di San Gregorio, Campania AND Passopisciaro, Andrea Franchetti, IGT Sicily
⁃ Beef Filet with buttered fondant potato, Caramelized shallots, bone marrow crumb and whiskey sauce accompanied by 2 red wines – La Grola, Allegrini, Veneto AND the one we liked the least, Chianti Rufina Fattoria di Basciano
⁃ Duo of Ricotta Cheese Cake and Bartlett Pear Crumble accompanied by a white Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Fratelli Antonio e Raimondo
A terrific meal and great wines, but after a couple of walking rounds of the ship, a long siesta was called for.
The evening entertainment was Nathaniel Rankin – The Award-Winning Magician and circus artist with a show he has performed over 5,000 times all around the world.
Roger & Anne Travels 