| Things went swimmingly well with our clean up task in Lefkas, perfect day for washing down the sails, and deck washing etc. And in the morning yet another sunny day to wake up to in the late 20’s. I had to make a visit to the Port Police to sign off the Taits, and, yes you guessed it, another hitch, nearly. My first encounter was suggesting to me that we had to go back to the issuing office which was Nidri. Oh no I do not, was my repeated response, and fortunately his companion extricated himself from the phone, and could clear the situation up in haste. All the Port Police offices seem to have a different story, and they usually look blankly at us in panic when we appear at all looking like they have absolutely no idea what is the procedure. Actually speaking to many Brits since being at Preveza Marine we believe it is better to stay well clear of them. We think that next year that will be our tack. So back to the boat, and by 11.40 we were untied and heading up the canal to be at the bridge on the hour when it opened up. I get quite a buzz out of the whole canal and bridge opening event, all marching up in procession and hovering in wait. On the other side we were blessed with a lovely breeze to have a splendid sail for our second to last day on the water. In fact we sailed all the way around to Vonista, getting a bit slow at times, but peaceful and nice. We needed that extra sail area of a Hanse this day. Vonista had a few boats in the bay, but a lot less than last time which is a rather lonely feeling meaning the end of the season is nigh. The original plan was to walk over the quaint bridge and into the village for a bite to eat, but plans are made to be broken or changed, and a slap up snack of very little was presented on board instead. Our last morning to wake to on board was predictably sunny, we always have a very heavy dew. We made a small stop in Preveza the town, it really is a good place for finding all sorts of things, and at 1pm we were lifted out of the water. The bottom of Wrighteau was in very good nick, which was pleasing. We are in the Preveza Marine, there are 3 side by side, and we have tripped on the best one we believe. The staff are very friendly and very efficient. The facilities are excellent and the other boating people we have met are great and helpful also. We got to with our putting her to bed, as we thought we only had 1 ½ days to complete the task. We were going to have to have a night in Athens as the bus would not connect with the plane to Milan. However it transpired that the marina would organise a taxi which would prove to be the most adventure sporting event we have partaken in. So on with the task of bedding down our boat. We found ourselves copying other examples, and doing much more than we did with Slaven. We covered winches, using mouse cord lifted halyards up to the top of the mast, and wrapped them all in a sail back and strapping them up. Sails off of course, which we do anyway, and by the time we left on Thursday morning nearly in the dark it was a very denuded and sad and sorry looking sight. Then the journey to Italy, oh boy. First of all the taxi was running late, this was an ominous beginning. 20 minutes late he arrived, madly squashed in the luggage, and we set off happily with two other people in the car, a lovely lady speaking impeccable English who owns a few clothes stores. For some reason we stopped at Vonista, it turned out to be because our taxi who had slept in finally caught up with us, and we were transferred. The luggage was clearly not going to fit in, so the boot was tied down with rope, another stop had packs of meat sitting on the boot, untied, while we drove gently around a few corners to pick up more stuff. So the boot was tied down again, just a little more open. Then the journey began, driving like a mad thing, we flew past his friend, the original taxi. Like the tortoise and the hare, we stopped at the halfway spot for coffee, where his comrade also joined us. They set off again before us, and again we shot past them at pace, he would roar up behind people and I constantly had my foot firmly on the brakes. Drivers are very good here at keeping over to the side, and a two lane highway is in effect a 4 lane highway. Mind you if I saw us looming up at such a rate I also would be getting to the side pretty smartly. By the time we hit the 4 lane motorway we were zapping along at 150 to 160 km. Suddenly we came to a stop, I thought it must have been a traffic cop, but it transpired that his friend was involved in an accident with another taxi who fled the scene without stopping. This just resulted in our pace lifting to 170 km as we tried to catch up to the culprit. We didn’t catch him, but there was no doubt we were going to catch our plane in time, he got us to the airport about in about 4 hours. The flight went to plan, and every connection from Milan airport to Lake Como went smoothly. Actually the first one was a bit lucky. We met a nice man at the carousel living in Milan who warned us about travel and directions in Italy, it is not always as it seems, he said. We found some helpful information staff, tickets bought we gaily set off to the train, and sitting waiting, this same man arrived down but he felt it was the wrong place. We confidently sat in wait, but from the sitting train on the other side they waived frantically and we just made it into the correct train. The connecting train at Sarrono followed in a few moments, and we had just moments to wait for the ferry to Bellagio. When we arrived at Bellagio we fell instantly in love with it, the people all so friendly, and just beautiful. Our apartment at Residenza Antico Pozzo is a bit extravagant maybe, but right in the hub, up a tiny street, quiet clean and spacious. It was a joy to go out to an Italian restaurant and have some wonderful Italian food. A gastronomic delight, perhaps I can feel an inch or two to be gained around the girth here. |
