The summer of 2015

"All the single ladies..all the single ladies...."  and .... stop,  that is all I know of that song.

Our visitors this summer have all been single ladies,  (singles being that they all came alone) first Tara, then Kathy and 2 surprise guests Jenna ( daughter of a good friend) and my niece, Naomi; who you all might remember from Spain, she travelled with us for 3+ weeks from Almerimar to Ibiza (sometimes in pirate outfits), ah but that is another, already told story.   No need for rehashing tales yet.

Mount Etna

Donna and Kathy

Kathy, nice eh

Branko and  I enjoyed the company of wonderful women, old and new friends and family.

Jenna, never having been on a boat, nor to Italy/Sicily contacted us and asked to visit.
She stayed a week.

water fountain, Savona

Visitors always get you to see new things, we travelled to Forza Agro, a hilltop town a few  miles from Taromina, beautiful views, well kept town and got invited into a home for coffee.  Then on to Savona, where some Godfather II scenes were shot.  Mainly where young Michael asks his 1st wife's father for her hand.  Another hilltop town, with mummies, castles, valley views and a cat.

Forza

Had coffee here, Forza

Godfather, bar scene

Naomi in Spain

Jenna, Catania Market

Wall art in Catania

Leather cowgirl boots, 2 euros

My niece Naomi arrived later in the month and we got to travel a little in Calabria.  More hilltop towns in Calabria.  Bova (hopefully going to their wine fest in November) and Gerace, fantastic Norman town.  We are amazed at how the Normans not only got around,  but built so much on the tops of precipitous hills, in short timeframes.  

'Seat' of a Greek Goddess, seriously

Gerace, Calabria

Us and Branko's thumb

Bova, Calabria

Naomi, Jenna in Bova

Branko and I were given tickets to hear and see the  Song Symphony at the  Teatro Greco in Taromina.   

The ancient theatre (the teatro greco, or "Greek theatre") is built of brick, and probably of Roman date, though the plan and arrangement are Greek.  The present theatre was rebuilt on the foundations of a theatre from the Greek period. With a diameter of 120 metres (after an expansion in the 2nd century), this theatre is the second largest of its kind in Sicily (after that of Syracuse); it is used, still for concerts. The greater part of the original seats have disappeared, but the wall which surrounded the whole cavea is preserved.

The theatre sits atop a hill, overlooking Naxos Bay.  The stage is positioned so the entire audience gets a view of Mount Etna.  There is no roof.   Your senses are heightened by the natural beauty.

From the cheap seats, see Etna?

Our evening, Song Symphony

The Song Symphony is multifaceted performance.   First you have the Palermo Classical Symphony Orchestra ( mostly young musicians) playing instruments from the harp to the drums.  Every instrument is represented in this entertaining orchestra.   Second is the conductor, lively, young and obviously enjoying himself.  Third, a young American woman Bria Drain who sings old blues songs and hip hop.  Accompanying her at different times is a fantastic trumpet player Fabrizo Bosso and harmonica player Giuseppe Milici.  Excellent concert.

Palermo Classical Symphony Orchestra  takes viewers on a journey from Gershwin to Ray Charles and tapping through the Beatles, the leadership of the orchestra conductor Stefano Nanni , singer Bria Drain, Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet, Giuseppe Milici harmonica, and Raphael Gualazzzi piano.

In addition,  the Sicilian heart throb Raphael Gualazzzi, playing piano and singing.   The ladies, old and young,  loved him.  He did not look the part, but he had charisma and talent.

The unusual blend of these musicians was incredible,  seriously entertained by a wide variety of music and instruments.

Earlier in the summer a few cruiser friends were anchored in Taromina Bay.   We decided to have a girls day. Catania shopping at the everyday market, lunch and dinner.  A long day but wonderful.  The picture below is us at the end of the market day (which is early afternoon. )

Ange, Aylin, Jess, Kim and  ?

 As we were posing, the lady in the colourful dress,  jumped into the photo.  Only in Sicily:-)

My birthday celebration this year was dinner with George, Donna, Jenna and Branko.  We ended up in a restaurant in Naxos, owned by an acquaintance of G and D.  The owner joined us,  gave us champagne, liqueurs, cake and more champagne!  The food was good too:-)

On our way home, George found a Sicilian band who had just stopped playing for the night.  He asked them to play Volare, and asked me to sing...poor band.


Mag 8-)

Donna and George

Jenna

our drinks and Donna

The band

What we've been up to...

Just a few pictures.

Branko's birthday meal

Branko and George, grinning.

Grooming station aka cockpit

Drinks anyone? service on the lido deck

Selfies, Tara and me and food

Really Tara!

Donna's birthday, at Enricos

Likely getting into trouble, these two 8-)

Excuse me...our bathroom

Blowing up the kayak!

Is this knot right?

This rope work is sooo tiring

Train ride around Etna

Swimming in Isla Bella*

Kim at the beach *

The train*

Train ride around Etna*

The big sandwich from Siracusa.



* pictures courtesy of Kim and Sienna on Britican

Maggie.

Happy 5th Anniversary!

Taorimina Bay

As you all know last year at this time Branko and I had a make-over in Tunisia.  OK so Branko got a haircut and I got a new look, that thankfully has toned down, a bit.

Five years ago, July 1st we left Toronto.   Yes yes, I know, its past the 1st but we thought you might still be interested.  It was a busy time this year.  Branko wrangling boats out in the mooring frontier, Tara coming to visit, celebrating her birthday (June 30th), Canada Day (July 1st) and then Branko almost chopping his foot off.  What? is he OK you ask...are you asking?  Anyways, he is fine now, more on that story later including pictures.

Five years.  I cannot believe its been only 5 years but then again sometimes feels like 20; in a good way.  I have been meeting people who are on their second 'around the world' navigation or just finishing up their first. Some completed the journey in 5 years, or 'gulp' less.  That is how long we have been out and we are still in Europe. Sometimes I think we should be getting gone. But yet here I remain and continue to be amazed at the countries, cultures, people, buildings, history that we are exposed to.  Turn a corner and surprise!  Something new and interesting.

What's behind this door?

I realize that we will never see everything here and that soon comes a time, that we must travel on and cross back to the Caribbean.  To visit South America, travel the Pacific, Australia and India.  But not today but soon.  Our blog is titled 'Cruising Around the World' not just around Europe. Thank you, Universe? for the five years I have, selfishly, experienced so far.

Looking over to Etna

Storm drain *

Taorimina Bay from the road *

We have been spending our time in Taorimina Bay.  It is most beautiful here.   Cliffs on one side with old, majestic buildings perched on the hillsides, Taorimina town above us, Mount Etna to our right (or is that the left?) and then the bay of Naxos with its pretty coloured homes.  The water below us is clear, blue and refreshing, perfect for swimming and cooling off.  It has been very hot, baby! Branko is helping out a friend this summer in a mooring field.  It is a unique experience and he embraces it wholeheartedly.

Oh yes how did he chop (almost chop) his foot off?
But first Tara arrived for a week.   Five years she has been either thinking or trying to visit us, and finally here she is, yahoo!  I met her in Catania, and spent the night in a very posh hotel with a pool and a shower and towels, and breakfast. Certainly, its the little things that excite.  Rented a car and traveled across Sicily to visit a special town that was important to her (Tara is a fast driver) and then quickly headed back and spent the night in Marina di Ragusa.  I wanted Tara to see where we had spent so much time in the last year.  Next morning to Siracusa, stayed around the corner from the Duomo, ate the maestros sandwiches, fresh figs, blue cheese and drank wine.   Back to the boat on the 3rd day to relax and swim.  Tara is writing a blog so I am just summarizing the important parts, about the food obviously.

Catania fish market

Yup its good Tara

Happy Birthday Tara!

Good morning Tara

Did you see those kayakers?

Yum Sicily!

Hellooooo

Snuggles with Rosie

Here is where Branko's foot comes into the story.
We arrive at the boat on June 30th, Tara's birthday, all ready to celebrate.  But Branko is extremely busy and needs to pick up trash and people, but not together (never combine the trash and people).  Unknown to Branko there is a broken champagne bottle in one of the bags, he is in a hurry, swings the bag, looks down, notices his leg has a huge gash, crap!  He calls our friend Donna.
Super Donna, who speaks both Italian and English.  She jumps in the dinghy, gets to shore, picks up Branko, get on the scooter (this is Italy and everyone drives a scooter) Branko wants to drive, with his foot dangling he jumps on and putt putts up the hill to the hospital.

Because of the location of the gash, Frankenstein stitches were required. That is what he was told, could have been an Italian emerge doctor having some fun.  But seriously, in laymen terms, the gash was in a part of the leg that moves around, alot and regular stitches would break.

Yup, true that's his foot

Does this hurt? Prod

Administrating tetanus shot

Tara stayed for a week.  We kayaked, took down a paddle boarder, drank, ate, celebrated, talked, walked, swam (Tara got stung by a jellyfish), and scooter ride to the top of the town.  More details in Tara's blog.
I loved having Tara visit, she is a special friend of mine.

Rosie and Tara

Kathy Kuchma arrived next for 2 plus weeks, fun yes!
* pictures, courtesy of Kim on Britican
Maggie