How come everyone is speaking Greek again??

Come early May we itching to get away and set sail with much ado after the Captains birthday.  It was a nice day for a motor and cruising chute run so we made it all the way round to Siracusa where we met up with a lot of the boats from MDR(!). I love Siracusa.  All higgledy piggledy streets and orea atmosphera! Our long running saga with the fridge continues to niggle and we have to take a tour of the back streets to find some refrigerant and a fitting to regas it for the second time in two weeks.  The battle with Weaco to get it fixed permanently continues. 

We are planning on some long days up the east coast of Italy, all the way up to Venice, and then come down the Croatian Dalmatian side this summer.  It is going to involve a few overnight passages and our first sees us arrive in Rocella with 150 refugees.  Quite a shock to see them all lined up on the quayside and only a rickety fishing boat to show for their crossing.  Next we cross the “bay of squirrels” as Wanderlust likes to call it… a rip off says Bramble; never seen any squirrels there but there are plenty of squalls.  Pretty soon we are hooning along just under a fully reefed main to Capo Rizzuto. 

Unfortunately it is here that we realise that Brambles titty lump is growing exponentially so we change plans and leap frog off to Greece from Leuca at the heel of Italy.  It is a fast trip across with a good beam wind and we pull over at Erikoussa and then San Stefanos before bolting down to Corfu Town for a visit to The Animal Clinic.  The taxi driver that take us is lovely and even says a prayer for Bramble before her visit.  Elena and Kiki turn out to be as lovely as they are competent and Bramble undergoes her first of two surgeries with as much dignity as she can muster and then the next one 4 weeks later and recovers marvellously.  Eat your heart out Angelina Jolie.  If you were this tough, hats off to you.  So for 6 weeks we potter around the Corfu area checking various places we have and haven’t been between vet visits. 

 Turns out we like the area a lot and think we might overwinter in Gouvia this year so we can get some work done on the boat etc so it is not all bad news.

Particular favourite places:

Erikoussa – just so laidback
Gaios – relaxing
Kassiopi – despite the thunderstorms that terrorise it occasionally, too cute for words
Dassia – Quiet; we pretty much have it to ourselves and there is a great Chinese restaurant in Ipsos
San Stefanos – Great walking, friendly people, great shelter, good holding, and, and, and
Petriti – peaceful and pretty in our “secret” anchorage

 

and last but not least

 

Corfu Town Anchorage – Always good for a laugh, fabulous butchers and so close to the action

Least favourite place:

The “new” yacht harbour in Corfu Town – what a stink!  You would think they would pipe the sewage out before constructing a new sea wall that keeps it in!!

Finally Bramble is given the all clear by her doting doctor and it is off to Albania we go. 
We can’t thank you enough for the fabulous and professional service provided, Elena.  Bramble is as good as new and raring to go an amazing result particularly at her age.