Before arriving in Corfu, we had to overnight at a very tiny Greek island to break up the trip. I guess it was irrational exuberance that propelled Rodney and Leo to jump in the crystal clear water. Leo lasted about 20 seconds where as Rodney stayed in and scraped gunk off the bottom of the boat. Chilly water aside, we're all excited to be in Greece. Leaving Italy feels like we're shedding our winter coats.
Corfu is just like the brochure! The mountainous island is green and lush the sun is shining! The marina is bustling w/ British workers getting hundreds of charter boats ready for the Easter holiday. Chanderlies and stores are stocked up, people are friendly and work hard. Most people speak English which helps tremendously. We're kind of kicking ourselves for not coming here sooner. We're enjoying the useful, big marina for a couple of days before the masses arrive.
While it is easy living here, there was officialdom to deal with on our first day. We thought when entering the EU in the Azores the paperwork was done, but we've had to get a separate transit log for Italy and now Greece. Normally the Corfu marina assists with the process, but we're early in the season, so we were on our own. It was a half day adventure of taking busses, finding customs, port authority and police to check us in. Each office had a hand written entry book using blue carbon copy pages that are carefully placed in and out by hand. Stamping the many pages of official documents is their favorite thing to do. If the procedures didn't take so long, they could be entertaining.
We're in boat project mode before the town shuts down for the most celebrated Greek holiday - Easter. We're looking forward to the festivities and the candy.
(And great news- my brother Den, born on Easter 53 years ago, is awake and on the mend!)
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Once again we are waiting out a bit of weather. We are in the town of Santa Maria di Leuca on the edge of the heel of Italy. Motoring here took 12 long hours, but we had some dolphins for company along the way. While we didn't anticipate staying here, it's an interesting place. The Pope's visit a few years ago must have contributed to the well maintained and clean environment. The steep steps from the harbor are called "The Gateway to Italy." They were commissioned by Mussolini, the former fascist dictator who joined w/ Hitler. His name is conspicuously absent from everything. We're learning history, catching up on homeschool and hanging out with our friends on "Katjulla." Today it is cold and rainy. However, I'm certain when we cross the Adriatic Sea tomorrow and arrive in Greece it will be sunny and warm - just like in the brochure:)
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We are now at the base of the foot of Italy in Crotone. The wind around here is crazy. Over the last couple of days we have had wind from every direction and speeds from 0-35 knots. Yesterday as we got close to the port, the wind picked up to 25 or so making it challenging to dock the boat. The wind was hitting us broadside and it took six people over an hour to tie off our bucking bronco. Today we're sitting out huge winds in the squeaky, creaky, wavey port - the wind started from the southeast at 30 knots and by this afternoon they have shifted to the northwest at over 35 knots! Traveling with us toward Corfu is a lovely English couple on the boat Kajtulla which makes for welcome commiserating. It looks like we have to wait two days before we start the journey to the heal of Italy. On a different note, we received upsetting news from WI as my brother Dennis is in the hospital w/ 2nd/3rd degree burns on neck/face/lungs/esophagus after a fire in his backyard got out of control. Please send positive thoughts that way.
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Cruised through the Straits of Messina today (3.5 knots current with us!) the narrow passage b/w Italy and Sicily. We are now at the tip of the boot of Italy. The mooring is the ugliest concrete, commercial port and also the most expensive to date ($80 euro for the night.) But it's the only port around. It felt great to leave the dock and start making our way towards Greece. We'll be harbor hopping for the next week or so as weather permits.
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We've been back at the boat in southern Italy waking her up after months of rest. Other yachties are also returning to the med for the season so we have company trickling in on the docks. Fortunately another family boat, "Tara" , from Canada found our blog and us by searching for info on Stromboli. We met up at the marina where the kids quickly connected and stayed occupied for days. While the kids played, the grown ups got caught up on all the best places to go/avoid as we're continuing on in opposite paths. Now, we've scrubbed the boat, assembled the bimini, planned our course and paid the marina bill. Setting sail to Greece is next!
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Here is the gang in Germany. We miss them! WE're back on the boat in Italy - getting it all gussied up to start heading toward Greece.
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