the Festival of Sant’Efisio
Officially our contract ended today but following routine engine checks a couple of days ago we noted an oil leak coming from our port side engine very close to the oil cooler. As a result we've extended our stay by one week and have spent the last few days stripping the engine instead of provisioning ready for our departure. :-(
The culprit was a loose 'flared' pipe fitting from the oil cooler that needed tightening which is impossible to do without removing the heat exchanger. At least it gave us the opportunity to clean and check the oil cooler, heat exchanger and thermostat plus replace all the washers and seals in between. Having performed this same task a couple of years ago on the starboard engine we were much quicker this time and no parts were left over - always a good thing!
On to more 'fun' things... May 1st to May 4th is the greatest religious festival in Sardinia, involving the whole island as they commemorate Sant'Efisio, a soldier who rid the city of plague back in 1656. Since saving the city some 361 years ago, the locals pledged to carry a statue of the saint annually through the streets of Cagliari to Nora, 40km along the coast and back which has been met ever since. The celebration also coincides with an even older tradition of 'thanksgiving' whereby the people thank God for the spring harvest. The two events merged to become what is now the greatest celebration in Sardinia.
Chris and Carolyn off 'Splice' and our American friend, George off 'Calm' joined us as we gathered with the crowds of people all lined up around the side streets near the city hall to watch a series of ox-drawn carts highly decorated with flowers pass by to celebrate the harvest.
The villagers followed all dressed in traditional costumes some singing songs accompanied by the playing of pipes before over 200 horsemen paraded along the streets (before you ask we didn't count them - they had tags on).
Shortly afterwards the streets were strewn with flower petals ready for the anticipated arrival of the saint who passed by in a golden carriage as horns sounded and crowds cheered before he continued on his way to Nora.
The culprit was a loose 'flared' pipe fitting from the oil cooler that needed tightening which is impossible to do without removing the heat exchanger. At least it gave us the opportunity to clean and check the oil cooler, heat exchanger and thermostat plus replace all the washers and seals in between. Having performed this same task a couple of years ago on the starboard engine we were much quicker this time and no parts were left over - always a good thing!
On to more 'fun' things... May 1st to May 4th is the greatest religious festival in Sardinia, involving the whole island as they commemorate Sant'Efisio, a soldier who rid the city of plague back in 1656. Since saving the city some 361 years ago, the locals pledged to carry a statue of the saint annually through the streets of Cagliari to Nora, 40km along the coast and back which has been met ever since. The celebration also coincides with an even older tradition of 'thanksgiving' whereby the people thank God for the spring harvest. The two events merged to become what is now the greatest celebration in Sardinia.
Chris and Carolyn off 'Splice' and our American friend, George off 'Calm' joined us as we gathered with the crowds of people all lined up around the side streets near the city hall to watch a series of ox-drawn carts highly decorated with flowers pass by to celebrate the harvest.
The villagers followed all dressed in traditional costumes some singing songs accompanied by the playing of pipes before over 200 horsemen paraded along the streets (before you ask we didn't count them - they had tags on).
Shortly afterwards the streets were strewn with flower petals ready for the anticipated arrival of the saint who passed by in a golden carriage as horns sounded and crowds cheered before he continued on his way to Nora.
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