Sea Change

We left “stinky jellyfish island” we named for the sulphur health baths and Kate’s jellyfish sting the next morning and headed for Isola Salina, another of the Aeolian Islands, which promised no sulphur and being more open hopefully less jellyfish. After Sarah had carefully inspected the water by snorkel Kate bravely got back in the water and we spent the afternoon kayaking swimming and Sarah and Clare dingyed the kids into the village for a look around.

There was an electrical storm forecast overnight but it was difficult for us to believe it as we had seen very little rain so far in the Med. However it arrived with great force, with torrents of rain, lightening filling the sky and bolts just like a cartoon going from the heavens to the water. The kids slept right through it but the adults weren’t so lucky, counting the seconds between lightening and thunder to ascertain how close….. tall masts seemed a bit of a liability then. The next morning, with the wind building and changing direction, our preferred marina on the next island Lipari couldn’t get boats into it because of the storm so we moved onto the marina nearby. We nosed into a small space not realising as more boats limped in during the morning how much they shoe horn them into impossibly tight spaces. We were pleased to be in though as the waves built and were soon crashing over the 8 metre outer harbour wall. It was a charming place though, the tourist tatt being of a significantly higher standard than usual and having good bars and restaurants and of course an excellent gelateria for daily ice creams.

The next day we headed off in search of sun to Milazzo back on Sicily. We ended up on a small marina on the outskirts as we couldn’t get into the main one. However after we were tied up Clare read in her guide book that though the centre of Milazzo is a little dull the older section 50 minutes walk north is the most interesting with restaurants, beaches and markets. Exactly where we were. It certainly was a great place and we just stayed as there were clouds behind us and in front of us but only blue sky above.

Great memories of holidaying with Sarah and Clare and the kids, Kate’s excitement snorkelling and seeing all the fish, and her first dinghy driving lesson; Georgie swimming towards me for ages as I walked backwards (apparently my children tell me this traumatised them but they are all now excellent swimmers); Georgie getting the handle of kayaking at 5, Alex setting the table for a dinner, cutlery random but flowers a requirement, Alex spending a day in hot clothes perfecting his spy look in the mirror, but after watching via the internet with us all as Pat played on TV1 thinking perhaps a rock star could also be a possibility; mid ocean swims a first for them all; kids clambering all over the boat but never looking like falling, kids sitting up with us driving the boat.

Next year we hope they will be holidaying with us in Greece.