Barcelona

We are finally back to the MED from an exciting sojurn to Mexico...the Master's was a good tournament with about 250 fish released. We came back with Megan and David, and spent a week touring Barcelona. The marina was the dirtiest place I have ever seen. Not only was it raining Sahara sand, but we were docked next to an incinerator electric plant that also rained God knows what....the guys had to soap every day!!

Barcelona is known for its art and grandiose architectural displays. As you can see from the pictures, the cathedral designed by Gaudi was over the top. We ate and drank as usual, and we found another candidate for a new TIGHTLINE, one that Phil Marks will appreciate. We are off to Valencia, and on our way thru Gibraltar.

The best yet!!! BONIFACIO, CORSICA

May 8, 2008
41.23.1 N 009.08.8 E
Black day!!! I had to fuel the boat up….6,700ltrs (1770 gls)…Even my AMEX groaned!!!! After that horrible ordeal, we made the short 20 mile trip to Bonifacio on the island of Corsica. Reeling from my morning agony, we actually chugged (8 knots) our way through the Magdalena Islands and the Costa Esmeralda….one of the most picturesque areas we have ever seen. Truly unbelievable. We then crossed the Bonifacio Strait (5 miles) to approach, without a doubt , the most breathtaking site we have seen yet, as you can see from the pictures. The harbor is a 1 mile long fjord like harbor, with towering walls and castles on both sides. The village hangs on the precipice overlooking the strait, and welcomes you into the harbor. France is challenging…none of us speaks any French, but it is a hoot trying.


May 9, 2008
Today we toured Bonifacio, and had lunch in the walled city above the harbor. Unfortunately for me, I mis-read the French menu, and ended up with a huge plate of black boar pate…..and I hate pate!!! Oh well, the wine tasted good. Tomorrow we are flying to Barcelona and on to Mexico for the Masters. We really truly hate to leave, but we are coming back on May 22nd with Megan and David for the last charge to Madeira. I will start to update the blog again at that point. Jeremiah’s girlfriend is coming over while we are away. Cory Gillespie, our Madeira mate, will arrive on May 13th, and he and Brian will babysit the boat until we all return. I hope I haven’t bored you all too much with our blog, but there have been some terrific locations to document………

Porto Cervo, Sardinia

May 7, 2008
41.08.19 N 009.32.35 E
Left Ponza at 9:00….flat calm seas, and not a bird or a fish seen for 150 miles!! I don’t know where all the tunas they catch hide out! We approached Porto Cervo in Sardinia about 2:00…..like most of the places we have seen, this is a beautiful harbor. It is, however, very nouveau……lots of new high end condos and shops…kind of looks like Scarsdale, AZ! As nice as this is, we miss the old Italy, so we are cutting our 2 day stop here short and heading over to Corsica, France tomorrow. One bonus, the Porsche Club of Europe is having a big rally with over 300 participants. Wal races Porche, and is in seventh heaven!

The island of PONZA

May 6, 2008
40.53.69 N 012.57.73 E
We have travelled 50 miles to the island of Ponza. As you can see from the pictures, it is a very small island with a nice little commercial fishing fleet. We have stopped here, as it is the closest point to Porto Cervo, Sardinia, where we will go tomorrow. I have finally gotten a wifi, so I can post these entries. Hopefully we will have a connection in Sardinia. No power here, so we are on our generator….good thing as Phil and Myles are gone!!!
Ellen’s hairdressing appt. was a huge success….I think she may want to come back to Amalfi to get her hair done all the time! We are hoping the weather is good tomorrow….150 mile to Sardinia. The boat is running great, and no issues!!!

Back to mainland Itlay....AMALFI

May 4, 2008
We travelled to Amalfi today, a huge trip of about 18 miles…..but, back to the mainland! Now that the holidays are over, the crowds are much less of a problem, and as you can see, we only had one boat in the marina with us. The piazza here is very famous, and has every kind of shop you can imagine. We had dinner in a castle on the bluff overlooking the harbor, under a flat calm sea. We actually had a 64 amp electrical service, so we were styling with power! Phil and Kim leave tomorrow, and Wal and Hedy Jarvis come in.
Ellen is going to get her hair done….she is very anxious….at an Italian hairdresser who speaks no English! She has commandeered Brian to come with her for translating…the pressure is on!!!

Beautiful CAPRI

May 2, 2008
40.33.367N 14.14.758E
Went to Friend’s WIFI this AM and got caught up…thought I lost the VISA, but Kim reminded me that I had left it on the bridge! Left about 10:00 and cruised around Ischia to see St. Angelo from the water, and then on to Capri. Beautiful weather…light SW. Came the easy 18 miles to Capri, and went around the island….unbelievable rock formations and grottos. Came into Marina Grande about 1:30 and had a quick lunch. We only had a 32 amp/400V plug, but Phil came thru again….we can actually get 12 KVA from a 32 amp plug if it is 400 volts (not 220V)….so, again with a trip to the marine store, we got a 32 amp plug and some cable!!! Phil can’t go home!! Quick pizza for dinner (we needed a food break) and an early bed.

May 3, 2008
Still in Capri….sightseeing. Truly a beautiful island filled with beautiful people! Very crowded, but we were still able to get around. We shopped, had a great lunch at a small winery (where else??), and came back to the boat for a well deserved rest.
Jeremiah changed oil in the generators today, and found a bad fuel pump in the stb. gen. He took our spare one, and replaced it….all works great. Tomorrow we are off to Amalfi. You can see from the pictures why Capri is so famous!

NO INTERNET!!!

We are now in Amalfi, and regrettably have not had an internet connection for 3 days. I can not post pictures from this internet cafe.....anyway, I will catch up ASAP. We were in Capri for 2 days, and now in Amalfi for 2 days. Off to the island of Ponza tomorrow, and then on to Sardinia on Wednesday. I will try and post from Ponza tomorrow!! Caio.

A second day in Ischia

May 1, 2008

40.44.701N 13.56.553E
Toured Ischia today…hired a car and driver to show us the island….truly an incredible place…there are 6 villages on this island, which is the size of Nantucket. 60,000 people live year round, with over 6 million visitors per year….see, Nantucket could be worse!!
We had lunch in San Angelo, a beautiful small peninsula which is pictured here. More wine and food….we will have to diet for months after this trip!! Ischia is a huge tourist island, but the charm and warmth have not been lost. Tonight we had fresh local fish, oysters, mussels, shrimp…and of course Grappa!! Tomorrow we are off to Capri…it is only 18 miles away, I think we might make it by mid afternoon…..

The incredible island of ISCHIA

April 30, 2008
I have been admonished by all for the lack of detail and description of our daily voyage…so, thanks to Phil Marks, I will try and be a little more specific. Starting with Lat/Lon….enter into Google Earth and see our locations.
41.44.349N 12.14.576E…..Ostia, near Rome. Left at 0930 for our trip to the Island of Ischia. Followed Caesar’s path down the coast….thru the Gulf of Gaeta in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Passed volcanic islands with commercial draggers throughout. They say no fish, and you can see why! Ischia is a volcanic island, and the harbor we are in is a crater with an extremely small opening……ferries in and out all day from Naples, Capri, Amalfi, and Procida. A great mooring along the quay that must be 100’s of years old…restaurants and bars within a stone’s throw. Phil was able to join 2 32 amp shore plugs to get us the 63 amps we need….The converter is a godsend! We are here for 2 days, and then off to Capri.