Learn, Live And Leave
31 March 2023 | Licata, Sicily
Wednesday 22 March 2023
Saloon and aft stateroom speakers were likely installed when boat was
fresh out of the mold twenty five years ago and showed their age, one
by not working and all by shedding flakes onto the sole. Installed
four new inexpensive Boss units that produce surprisingly good sound.
We've been unable to enjoy boat system music for some time and it's
nice to suckle sundowners with beach tunes, classical or blues. And
speaking of happy hour, since Licata is ginger ale impaired, have
reverted from bourbon to gin with tonic and lime. Fortunately the
locals are well versed in this version of genial mind alteration at
remarkably modest prices.
Thursday, the next one
Learned a couple of things in the last week:
Mobil phone service in Licata is variably crappy. Occasionally not
awful. Odd that service in Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia was
generally better. Upside is that it's cheaper than nearly anywhere.
Jan's iPhone 11 works better than my Xs so expect new phone by next
winter. Ya gets what ya pays fer.
Bourbon. Thought like Champagne it could come from only one place -
Kentucky. Turns out anybody can make the stuff if it is at least fifty
one percent corn, made in US and at least eighty proof. It's a touch
sweeter, darker and richer than a Tennessee sour mash whiskey such as
Jack Daniels. Wild Turkey, Kentucky bourbon, is nectar of the gods.
English is a much more concise language than Italian. Marianna, our
Italian mate on Aussie Anthem, was translating to a physical therapist
information about my, after a week, severe back pain. Preliminary
information in English took about twenty words and they rattled on for
ten minutes. Finally had to explain we hadn't even gotten to the
question of what and where pain was and three possible causes. Finally
after thirty minutes determined he couldn't help, but suggested we go
to emergency room in Agrigento, an hour and a half away with resident
nephrologist. Decided instead to go to local hospital where doctor
took me off opioids that had taken edge off pain, but ultimately made
problem worse and caused significant alimentary distress. Echogram
showed kidney looked OK, so now on intramuscular steroids and Voltaren
for four to six days. Seems a bit better now, so malingering excuse
may lose its potency.
Departure originally planned for Saturday is delayed until at least
next Thursday for freezer work. Tradie can't come until then and unit
barely remains below 0 C running full out. Probably slow leak in
refrigerant.
Friday
Other Anthem leaving also in a few days through the Straight of Messina
into Tyrrhenian Sea and up west coast of Italy as we sail east to
Ionian side of Greece for the month then into Adriatic Croatia - we've
been too still, too long.
Jack & Jan