Monday 20 March 2023

Today we welcome the first day of spring (vernal equinox) except, however, for Jan's family in Canada where this event is typically a cruel hoax. Careful study shows they have about three weeks of spring around June or July, two weeks of insufferably hot and humid weather, then a few weeks of fall before winter returns. These are just approximations by a tropics oriented observer and may vary slightly.

Here in southern Sicily, most days have been partly cloudy or clear with chilly nights, but relatively balmy days. Expect to leave for Greece first April trying to avoid winter Jugo & Bura winds and summer Mistrals. Also to be watched are Siroccos from Africa. There are, as previously mentioned, at least three dozen named air currents in the Med, but these are the more common in Ionian and Adriatic Seas. Not to belabor the point, but Mediterranean sailing is often in winds that are either too light or too strong from the wrong direction.

In a continuing effort to portray Licata: it has two predominant types of restaurant: cafes that serve coffee, pastry, gelato & alcohol and pizza parlors with beer. Spent most of early afternoon in favorite of first type updating various electronic devices as it has wifi that actually works as opposed to marina. There are two chandleries that have a surprising variety of items. The one at the marina, which is operated by Andrea, a lovely fellow who can order most anything one wants at reasonable prices, is small, but quite good. This is a nice improvement from Didim.

Disclaimer: Although no facts are knowingly incorrect, obviously cheeky descriptions expressing subjective characterizations can be susceptible to modest variances from strict reality. You may have noticed a couple of examples above.

Jack & Jan