Last year a nose job and this year a trip to the Med.....

Last year,  on September 14th (my birthday) Branko gave me a nose job :-)

You should see the other guy....

Yoshi and Fumi.

But this year he really went overboard (so to speak) and gave me a trip to the Med.    The trip itself was exciting, and  I hope to expand on the present and travel around Europe for awhile :-)   He also made a wonderful dinner, of Croatian cole slaw, potatoe salad and Elsie's favorite,  gibob-chi-cha.

Our friends Yoshi and Fumi spent the day with us,  helping to cook and making us laugh.   Fumi's birthday is Sept 11th,  so Fumi and I celebrated together.

Thanks Branko!

On a Separate Note:
A 'special' friend of mine,  sent an email recently requesting a picture or two of me, on the blog.  She  wondered  why only Branko, Anne and Sophie  were showcased - guess who has control of the pictures? So not to disappoint I added the below  - which just happens to be one of the pictures my 'special' friend took of me,

Gerri-girl saved this pic until I crossed the ocean and then sent it..:-)

Great to be another year older and living a life that each day brings new adventures, scenery and people.  

Mag. 

Our New Home In The Mediterrenean

Almeriamar - on the dock

We arrived yesterday at our wintering spot in Almerimar Marina - our stop for the next six months or so.  Foxglove is with us and they will also haul out here while they return to Japan to visit friends and family.

Grafitti -on the pier 

This part of Spain, still in Andalucia, boasts the world's largest nudest beach and Europe's only desert.  In fact, this is where Sergio Leone filmed the famous "Spaghetti Westerns" with Clint Eastwood.

Maggie and I look forward to visits from friends and to touring Spain and Portugal over the winter.  We are really excited about living in Europe with all its history, diverse cultures, and beautiful sites.

All for now, it's time for a swim ;)

Branko

P.S. beach pictures  to come....

Sophia is also happy in Spain.

On The Way To Almerimar

After a very nice, 12-day stay in Alcaidesa Marina, La Linea, Spain, the winds favored a departure for our next port of call. La Linea exceeded our expectations. The town of La Linea has its charms, foremost of which is that it is not a tourist town.

Plaza, where we drank cafe, daily.

 There is a oldish section which boasts many pedestrian thoroughfares, plazas and cafes, but the people there live there and that is what we liked. The marina is brand new and not yet completed, but the facilities are good, the price is inexpensive and it is within walking distance to Gibraltar. Our view from the boat was spectacular.

View of Gibraltor, from our dock in La Linea

The trip eastward is only 135 nm., so it is an over-nighter. The forecast was good but there was a good chance we would have to motor some of the way. If we did not take the opportunity, we might have to wait another week in La Linea, and we felt the itch to move on. At the time of writing, the engine is on and I am on watch just after midnight.

Europa Point

Shortly after rounding Europa Point (I love the sound of that!) and entering the Med, several porpoises joined us and played under the bow. I was impressed that they stayed with us for as long as they did to enjoy playing in the pressure wave, and I felt that that was the best dolphin encounter yet. Several hours later that was surpassed by a long shot.

In the distance, Maggie noticed several dolphins jumping and we soon realised that there were several dozens which then turned to likely more than a hundred that surrounded us for hundreds of yards. Usually the dolphins you see rarely leap out of the water as these ones were doing. Many of them executed a peculiar jump whereby they would leap out of the water, but, before their tail would exit the water, they would flick it which resulted in a twist of their body and a sort of sideways body flop and splash. A couple I saw, leaped 4 or 5 feet out of the water and gracefully re-entered again. One saucy fellow right beside our boat did 6 upside down jumps out of the water in quick succession. Others played beside or in front of the boat, coursing through the water and jumping out of it. This was going on around us for a far as we could see; it was amazing.

The 6th  jump....my camera is slow

I vaguely recall a documentary I saw about how dolphins work in a team to round up small fish in a cluster near the surface where they would be easy to catch. Perhaps this was a massive joint effort of several dolphin pods to feed in this manner. Whether it was for this purpose or for the sheer joy of it that they performed as they did, we felt honored to witness to the event. It was one of those occasions when I realise how lucky I am to be cruising.

Branko

One minute Spanish, and next British.... ahhh Europe

Tarifa, Spain - as we turned left

Our time in La Linea,  just on the out skirts of Gibraltor were fab (very British, eh!)  When we left Barbate in Spain,  we sailed (motored) past Tarifa into the Straits of Gibraltor; with Spain on one side and Africa on the other.   Yes, how awesome is that,  look right and there is Africa (yes Africa) and look left and wow, there is Spain.   We were all so pumped and excited.  Our arrival in La Linea was also fantastic,  as it was a milestone for us, leaving the Atlantic and entering the Med.   I still get a little flutter in my tummy at the thought, but also,  the history. Gibraltor, Spain, the Straits... Phoenicians, Romans, Portuguese, Spanish; 1300 years of history and peoples sailing and living in this area....fantastic.

Salsa lessons with Branko

 La Linea, as Branko has mentioned was great,  really enjoyed our time in the marina and the town.  Branko teaching Yoshi how to Salsa dance,  on the dock,  as funny as it sounds it was just as funny to watch.  The marina provided, views of the rock and fantastic sunsets over the hills of Algeciras, at no extra cost.

But, my blog is  about Gibraltor.  

Gibraltor town, look way up to see us.

It was decided that we (Yoshi, Fumi, Branko and I) would scale the rock,  to the top,  by foot.    What views.  What sights.  What apes. (hey how many people can say that..apes that is.)  First we walked through the main town of Gibraltor,  and then began the climb.

 We were told " just follow the stone stairs", which we did.   Up, up, and up until we got to the fort, where we had to pay some money to continue our ascent.   We passed by the gardeners home and caves and tunnels used in the World Wars and "discussions" with Spain... until we reached the Barbary apes.  

Barbary Ape, no tails

The town of Gibraltor looks after the Apes,  by feeding them and building areas for them to live.   They are a curious bunch but not aggressive - seems they have been living with people both visiting and staring at them all their lives.   Still,  I was a little apprehensive when they came near.  Branko on the other hand had no problem.

Bay of Gibraltor 

We climbed steep stone steps(that Branko found) until we finally reached the top;  Fumi (who is much shorter than all of us) decided that she would lead the pack up the stairs,  otherwise she felt she would be left behind.  I, for one was happy with this arrangement,  due to her taking a few breaks now and again.   Fantastic views from this height,  both of the Med and Gibraltor Bay.

Top of Gibraltor

We walked along the top for a bit,  and discovered the cable car - funny,  but  its quite expensive to travel UP but free to travel DOWN.   We took advantage and rode the car to the bottom.

 But,  before we left the top,  Branko and two apes, had a moment.    How you ask?   The cable car area seems to attract a few apes (Barbary ones) and Branko was in the right place.   A large, older guy who looked a little shabby sat beside Branko allowing him (Branko) to scratch and pet him...a younger ape (quite nimble) jumped into the action and took over,  checking the old guys (the ape, not Branko) hair for bugs.  Branko, just stayed where he was and waited.   The younger ape suddenly jumped up and sat on Branko's head.   There was a hat between the ape and Branko's head...but still he just sat there.  What a picture,  but alas we were too slow and the ape left as quickly as he came.

Gibraltor tourism website.

Mom with her baby

http://www.gibraltar.gi/tourism/?category=1&item=2
The Apes are a species of tailless monkeys called Barbary Macaques. These Macaques can be found in Morocco and Algeria, with those in Gibraltar being the only free-living monkeys in Europe today.

La Linea is a 15 minute walk to Gibraltor.  Customs and Immigration are easy and before you know it you have crossed the border.   Before you reach the main town, everyone must either drive or walk across the airport tarmac -

Yes, those are people crossing the tarmac

seriously,  the tarmac for the airport runs across the main road into Gibraltor.   Its like you are waiting for a train to pass,  but its a plane, or two.  Yes,  obviously I found that exciting...is my brain shrinking?  Don't answer that :-)

Mag

Kite surfing, La Linea playa

Anne

Anne arrived in Bermuda on June 14th,  never having met Branko, Sophie or me in person.   Our only relationship/conversations were via email - we liken it to internet dating although none of us has tried it, yet.   At first it was just Anne and I conversing, and well the 'love' began to bloom.

Arrival in Bermuda

Fixing the wind vane

Changing the headsail

Cutting onions, with goggles....

Ah,  the artist

Washing the floor, Sophie helping

A picture says so much

Getting directions

Portimao arrival

Anne had a number of options to choose from,  one was a research vessel sailing north, past the NWT and hopefully to Alaska by mid-summer, others not so challenging, east coast of the U.S., Toronto to Lake Huron  .....;  she finally decided upon H2OBO and crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Having spent the last 4 years sailing the English Channel and area, she felt ready to tackle the ocean, like us, it was to be her first trip.

Anne could have jumped ship at anytime - our 'friends' continually showed her their boats, saying things like "you will have your own room and head" or "fresh baked bread everyday",  she was quite popular and very well liked.   Happily for us,  she is a loyal friend and had no intention of leaving us :-) regardless of all the luxuries offered.  Her bed (when not on passage) was behind the curtain in the salon, and she not only shared the head but cleaned it as well.

James Bond, 007 pic, Flores

She loves to sail, loves the ocean and prefers to be on the water, out of sight of land.  Always in a good mood, and ready, able and willing to do any kind of boat work.   During the first gale our fishing line got caught in the wind vane (don't ask) and we needed to take the vane down (in very rolly seas,) cut out the line,  and then reattach the blades - Anne was first up, nimbly climbing the stainless and attaching wires while holding on to the boat with her legs.  Her only comment was " I love problems, figuring out how to sort them and then fixing them.."    Her personality never changed,  happy, content,  interested and interesting.

Getting into the dingy, after a drink or two

Ferry to Cadiz

Beach day, with Fumi and Yoshi

Drinking in Pico, Azores

A great conversationalist.   Each morning she and Branko had coffee and cake while watching the sun come up.  I would be off watch and wake up to them laughing and talking in the cockpit - what a nice way to greet the day. We all enjoyed our time with Anne - including Sophie, who fell in love with her after just a few days.

Anne left us on Friday,   returning to a life on land - at least for a little while :-)

See you soon Anne.
XXXXOOOO
Love Maggie, Branko and Sophie

P.S. I would have more pictures of Anne doing feats of daring-do but we were pretty busy during those times and unfortunately :-) have only ones of Anne drinking, cleaning or acting like herself.