Three weeks after arrival in Crotone, Calabria, Italy we have settled in nicely aboard our comfy Simple Abundance. We are enjoying the warm spring temperatures and the outdoor markets abundant with local produce of strawberries, melon, fennel, zucchini, lemon and pears. Today we biked to the nearby (5km) mall and hardware store for a few incidentals and a cafeteria-style lunch that would put any fast food outlet to shame.
Our flight from Toronto to Zurich was long but uneventful with good service and remarkably good food. It was Good Friday of the Easter long weekend and our friends Sonja and Chez picked us up at the Zurich airport. We were able to nap a few hours only to be awaken to the aroma of fresh coffee. Sonja once again out did herself with the delicious home made selection......apple, cheese and chocolate, no one can eat just one piece.
On Easter Sunday we flew into Lamezia Terme and checked in at the pre-booked hotel; modern with small rooms and even smaller beds with extra large extravagant bathroom. Can't win them all. Since this is still considered "low season" we had the entire dining room to ourselves.
Considering our luggage situation, we decided against our original plan of travelling the rest of of our journey by train and bus, we splurged on a taxi. Excellent choice and worth every "cent" of E120.....door to door 1 1/2 hours.
After 8 months of abandonment perched high in a cradle overlooking the crowded boatyard, SA greeted us with a simple sigh of relief after a quick wash and welcomed airing out. Since then our daily chores consist of getting her ready to go back into the water. One black coat of anti-fouling left over from last year. Scrubbing the deck, and canvas, reattaching the sails, sewing the zipper of the sail bag, polishing the chrome etc. always something just like a house only on a smaller scale.
The forecast for the next 2 days calls for rain. Indoor activities might include spending lots of time online, Corfu and Greek Island research, taking inventory of first aid kit, creating meal plans for 4 people, organizing ship documentation....OK maybe a little reading and scrabble playing too.
We hope to be lifted into the water by the end of this week, so hopefully things will get a little more interesting as soon as we leave the heel of Italy and cross the Otranto Strait to Corfu only 70 nm away where we will pick up my brother-in-law and nephew for a 10 day Greek Island tour. Before our guests are due to arrive we will meet up with our cruising friends Gaby and Gerald on Vivamare.
