In our port of call Citavecchia we met our very buff boxing Italian driver Dario who took us to visit the catacombs in Tarquinia. They were discovered in the 1960's and are from the Etruscan civilization of 500-400BC. My favourite was the Leopardi catacomb. We then went to the old city centre to visit the museum which had on display gorgeous Etruscan vases. After dining on authentic Etruscan cuisine ordered by Dario, we gazed upon a breathtaking vista of the countryside. Dario then surprised us by taking us to see a true miracle, Our Lady Of Tears otherwise known as the Weeping Madonna or "The Madonnina of Citavecchia" at the Parish of St Augustine. From the 2nd of February to the 15th of March 15th in 1995, the statue wept tears of human blood fourteen times. Pilgrimages visit from all over the world.
We finished the tour with gelato of course!
Mom & Dad had arranged for us a Galley tour which included a chef's table food & wine pairing where we were treated like kings! Travis was very impressed with the huge Galley and the way it was organized. This was our menu: blue crab leg martini salad, panko crusted black tiger shrimp lollipop, escargot on puff pastry, caviar on hashbrown, champagne, all served in the Galley. We then proceeded to the dining room to a beautiful table where they presented each dish with style. We were served: prosecco risotto, Bloody Mary granite with Grey Goose vodka poured on top, the biggest lobster tail I have ever seen, diver scallops, beef filet mignon & lamb rib chops, vegetables, roasted potatoes, baked brie tartlet, soft-center chocolate fallen cake with ice cream on a sugar plate. RIDICULOUS! The Executive Chef was from Sicily and the food was divine. When coffee was served a waiter from the Philippines serenaded us with his guitar and we all sang along to the Beatles. The maître d'hôtel presented the ladies with roses, they gave us a photo of our table as well as a beautiful cookbook. What a special night!
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