The plan was to cast off on or about September 26, 2022….but then Ian came along.
We stopped long enough to see and hear what the path of Hurricane Ian would be, and how it would effect the first part of our journey from Fire Island Inlet , NY to Barnagat Bay Inlet, NJ. While it stopped us from casting off and put a damper on our plans, nothing can compare to the devastation Ian wreaked on the west coast of Florida….our hearts go out to all that have lost homes, boats and livelihoods to this awful weather event.
And in New York, a Nor’easter decided that it was time to show up. It’s been cold and raining for days. Very discouraging….even because the days are getting shorter and the temperature is getting colder. However, the next good weather window is coming up this Thursday October 6th, and we intend to take full advantage of it!
Il piano era di partire intorno al 26 settembre 2022 … ma poi è arrivato Ian.
Ci siamo fermati abbastanza a lungo per vedere e sentire quale sarebbe stato il track dell’uragano Ian e come avrebbe influenzato la prima parte del nostro viaggio da Fire Island Inlet, New York fino a Barnagat Bay Inlet, New Jersey. Mentre ci ha impedito di partire e ha messo un freno ai nostri piani, nulla può essere paragonato alla devastazione che Ian ha causato sulla Florida…. i nostri cuori vanno a tutti coloro che hanno perso case, barche e vite umane a causa di questo terribile evento meteorologico.
E a New York, un severo fronte freddo ha deciso che era ora di presentarsi. Fa freddo e piove da giorni. Molto scoraggiante…. anche perché le giornate si accorciano e la temperatura scende. Tuttavia, la prossima finestra di bel tempo è in arrivo questo giovedì 6 ottobre e intendiamo trarne vantaggio!
November 21,2024
I am scheduled to fly back home next Monday, November 25th. I have been in Rome 10 days by myself as Claudio was called back to the States to consult on a project. It’s been a lot of fun catching up with family and friends, but I’m ready to come home. Here are some highlights…
Keep readingOctober 25, 2024
Our flight was at 4:00 pm. out of Catania Airport. The stress of air travel is getting to me….getting to the airport 3 hours early so we can drop off the rental car, drag our luggage to the airline, check-in the luggage (which always brings on a fight between Claudio and I because inevitably his…
Keep readingOctober 24,2024
It was time to say goodbye (and thank you) to our hosts for their hospitality and generosity. We headed to see Mount Etna….the largest volcano in Europe and one of the most active in the world. ***Unfortunately, the below pictures were free images available online because that day Etna was enveloped in fog 😦 But…
Keep readingOctober 23, 2024
Breakfast with Giovanna and her husband….and we’re off to see the Valley of the Temples. I’m excited. The drive to the temples was short but the walk along the great wall was long (called the Via Sacra… the Sacred Way). Agrigento seen from the Via Sacra. Olive trees line the entire walk…. Trees that are…
Keep readingOctober 22, 2024
The decision was made to see The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Rather than take the highway, we took roads along the coastline. It was interesting to see how the scenery changed. First we passed Ispica then Modica, both centers of organic farming, especially for zucchini, tomatoes, olives and vineyards. Then we arrived at…
Keep readingOctober 21, 2024
One of the towns we wanted to see was Noto near Siracusa. The town was founded around 260 B.C. as a mountain town and had a rich history through the centuries. However, in 1693 a catastrophic earthquake struck the area and the town was razed to the ground. More than half the population was lost…
Keep readingOctober 20, 2024
Woke up early this morning, had a good breakfast and left for the archeological park of Siracusa. What a difference a day makes….sunshine and 72 degrees! It’s a beautiful morning but the volcano, Mount Etna, is snow capped! Greek theatre Spring water Scenes from the archeological park How old do you think this magnolia tree…
Keep readingOctober 19, 2024
This morning, I woke up to the sound of rainfall .. strong rainfall We proceeded to check out the boat with the charter personnel and disembarked this morning at 9:30 a.m. The driver came to take us to Catania Airport to pick up our rental car. It should have taken an hour and fifteen minutes…
Keep readingOctober 18, 2024
Left Vulcano in a drizzle of rain and with many dark clouds in the sky. We have been extremely lucky throughout this trip. This is the only day in two weeks that was not full of sunshine and in the upper 70’s! But alas, all good things must come to an end. The highlight of…
Keep readingOctober 17, 2024
Good morning Lipari Weather is changing and rain is coming Today we make our way back to Vulcano…then to Portorosa home base tomorrow. There are several hydrofoil ferries that travel in and out of the islands….it always feels like they’re in our way! Then we dinghy into town past this huge ferry! Yellow rocks everywhere….sulfur…
Keep readingOctober 16, 2024
When we got into Lipari, we asked the harbormaster where we could rent a scooter. He pointed to the top of the hill behind the marina and suggested the Apinnata Hotel. We proceeded to enter in a cave-like opening at the bottom of the hill. And there we found an elevator! Who knew? At the…
Keep readingOctober 15, 2024
When we visit a series of islands, we stay one day where there is little interest (like Filicudi and Alicudi) and two days in others (like Salina). At the end of this visit, we pick one island that we think is worth a closer look and a longer stay. This trip we chose to revisit…
Keep readingOctober 14, 2024
Welcome to Alicudi, the farthest and last island on our trip. On the way to Alicudi (with laundry hanging off the stern!) As soon as we pulled up the dinghy, ready to go ashore, a dragon fly landed on Claudio’s hand. We believe he was tired and placed himself on the first thing he could…
Keep readingOctober 13, 2024
Leaving Salina Amazing rock formation It’s amazing to me how something so rugged, so jagged, so burly and rough could be so beautiful! Filicudi is the 6th of 7 islands in this archipelago. This group of islands extends westward from the Sicilian shore and each island seems to get smaller and smaller. The human population…
Keep readingOctober 12, 2024
Today we rented a scooter and went exploring. There are 4 towns on Salina. The roads wind around the now dormant volcano island and make for some breathtaking views! On our way to Malfi Scenes from Malfi Scenes from Pollara Welcome….Here we protect nature Shrine of the Madonna of Terzito Bells toll at noon…which signals…
Keep readingOctober 11, 2024
I woke up early this morning and put a pot of coffee on the burner. As I walked out onto the cockpit, this is what I saw! There was enough ash on the table to scribble my name into! We decided to go into the Salina port. They call it Med Mooring! Scenes from Salina…
Keep readingOctober 10, 2024
Good morning from under Mount Stromboli, or as the locals call him, IDDU. The word IDDU means ‘HE’… “IDDU fuma” meand “HE is puffing” – “IDDU erutta” means “HE is errupting” Walking around, looking for a place to have breakfast Found a place to have breakfast Scenes from Stromboli The prickly pear is the native…
Keep readingOctober 9, 2024
Panarea reminds me of those pictures you see of Santorini and the Greek islands. It has beautiful white painted homes, with blue doors and bougainvillea plants everywhere. Breakfast at Panarea Scenes from Panarea Leaving Panarea on our way to Stromboli Smoking Volcano views Approach to Stromboli Volcano views up close as sun sets Anchorage by…
Keep readingOctober 8, 2024
This morning, we spent the day at the Archeological Museum at the castle. We walked up an enormous number of steep steps to get to the entrance of the museum (I didn’t realize how out of shape I was …. I need to stop tasting all the local delicacies …. but not until AFTER this…
Keep readingOctober 7, 2024
Welcome to Lipari Lipari’s history…. Excavations in and around Lipari have uncovered cities of ‘huts’ that go back to the Neolithic era around 4,000 B.C. – This means that the first settlers to these islands date back 6,000 years! They were attracted by the abundance of black obsidian, a black glass-like volcanic rock useful for…
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Floriana 