Well, my posts have become sparse as I expected they would at when nearing the end of this yachting season. The time between posts has increased due to fatigue, workload, and intermittent internet availability. There may be a dash of laziness and apathy thrown in there too. Don't worry, I haven't given up! I am not homesick, but am longing for independence, and a visit with family and friends. I have vowed to make the most of my two weeks or so remaining in Europe. Guests trips are over (last one ended on Sunday) and all that is left to do is prepare for loading onto a transport ship that will take the yacht back to the New World.
Recap, last entry was about Croatia. Amazing place, got to see more of it Torgir, and Split. Next, the yacht went South to Kotor, Montenegro. Kotor is thought of as the best preserved citadel in Europe, basically since it avoided devastation that war brought upon most of the others. After just one day and night there, we moved Southwest back through the strait of Messina for the fifth time to Viareggio, Italy. It was there that we spent the week getting the yacht ready for the arrival of our last 10 guests. Viareggio has a great beach (it was too cold to enjoy the beach) and amazing pizza. It is the yacht building capital of Italy. We found the Italians there to be extremely friendly. It was at times frustrating to plan around the workers extensive mid day siesta, but one has to admire the passion and resolve for which they enjoy coffee, long lunches (up to four hours) and large, late dinners. Italy was a highlight of eating for me (and most of the crew), and a four course dinner at an Italian restaurant with no written menu was the pinnacle of the gastro-experience. The chef there came to the table and verbally conveyed the evenings choices, and used a combination of expressions and body language to clarify that we were in his care, and all would be "malta Bene".
Our final guests for the season arrived, and we whisked them away on an eight day trip through the Ligurian Coast of Italy, and the Cote'D'Azure of France and finishing in Antibes. We did nearly one destination a day, including Portovenere, Imperia, Portofino, Monaco, Cap Farat Villefranche, Antibes, St. Tropez, and ending back in Antibes close to the Nice Airport. You may be inclined to "ooh, and ahh" at the itinerary that I have just laid out, but its not so for crew. I hardly stepped off the yacht in any of these places.
Battery is dead, and still no Euro plug. Au Voir!
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