LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN AGAIN

 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