Wheels Up To Roma (Rome) 19 April 2023
After four years
Sailing with Moondance 2023
We left Auckland 19 April and arrived at Rome via a
shortened stopover in Dubai. The flight went well. For the 17 hours to Dubai we
had 3 seats each which gave plenty of room to lie down and get some sleep.
However, it still took 4 days to recover fully from jet lag.
My first experience of new immigration exit in New Zealand. Put your
passport in the reader, look at the facial reader. Cap and glasses off. Too
late, go out and start again. This time, get the carryon bag into the read
area. Done and through. Next, x-ray – failed so an extensive “pat down” from
the guy with the wand.
I was not made for easy immigration transition. The
process was not helped by the lady in the queue behind me. “Do you have to take
your glasses off for facial recognition?“ I asked to no none in particular. “Of
course you do” she replied in the sort of voice that added a silent “stupid.
Know it all.
Fortunately Raewyn breezed through without a problem.
Leaving NZ
Arrival in Rome went well and we found our hotel
transfer area easily and on time. No transfer car, another transferee phoned
the hotel and had to explain that there was no car waiting. We had missed it
although on time. The car/van turned up and a rather annoyed driver sped through
the crowded streets.
The hotel was convenient. Near to the airport and
Moondance. We stayed for the two nights we had booked and spent most of the
time other than a short walk to the marina, recovering.
Due to the large number of tourists travelling, we could
not extend our stay, so took the last unit available in a sort of air bnb
nearer marina. We got the honeymoon suite. Two rooms, kitchen, two double beds
and two singles. Who goes on honeymoon with that configuration? Two couples?
Parents? The whole family?
A short trip by transfer car and train to Rome Central
saw our internet sorted at Vodafone directly opposite the train platform. Too
easy.
The weather has been stunning. Blue sky days cool
(9deg) at night 20deg during the day. It gets hot while working.
Approaching Rome
Moondance
After a 2 hour handover the previous day, we moved on
to Moondance and started the process of everything. Raewyn did the usual
supermarket shop with the aid of the transfer car driver. As the items needed
were in Italian it took ages. “Reading” every label. I was able to sort out
quite a lot of “stuff” on the yacht which has enough spares to build another
yacht and open a dive store. Air conditioning and watermaker, neither with
which I am familiar.
We have been here 2 nights. Tuesday was Liberation day
and many had Monday off too.
The Honeymoon Suite
First Night In An Italian Restaurant. 29 Euros including 1litre of wine
Moondance At The Marina
Marina Restaurant
Going to the Chandlery
Going to the marina office we
checked in without any proof of who we were. No checking passports, Bill of
Sale etc. We were given the option of
staying unti 15 May free – the period paid for by the previous owner. Cheapest
accomodation in Rome.
Next stop was the chandlery
recommended by the marina. 7000 steps later we found it. However, it had very
little of what we wanted. Had lunch at a café and decided the walk back was too
much. A bus stop outside the café was too good an opportunity so we took the
first bus that arrived. The driver did not want the 5E offered and the bus
route took us to within 200 meters of the marina. Luck without being Irish! We expected to end up in Fiumacino or
Ostia.
Stuck In Roma
I thought about checking in with authorities AND that requires Yacht and Insurance Certificate. In a blue file. No blue file. It never flew. So, an urgent courier requested for a replacement from NZ. This will not be couriered until 1 May. So pleased we are not paying marina fees Mea Culpa Mea Culpa
