We have had
the luxury of doing lots of odd jobs at a leisurely pace without the pressure
to move or incurring extra cost. The weather has been mixed. Cool on arrival
with some wet days, but mostly the Mediterranean summer of clear blue skies and
it is getting warmer.
We have two neighbours moored outside of us. Enrico
and Thomatso. Thomatso is the European representative for Zespri and travels to
Tauranga NZ (pre covid) 5 times a year. Now less frequently but still has a
very strong connection to NZ. Small world indeed. 
Some of the
issues we have had.
Two
sparrows thought the mast was a great place for their spring assignation. We
had to terminate their rental with minimal notice. We did give them warning by
playing Barry Manilow music, but did not resort to sprinklers. The mast also
had a wrap with the genoa at the top. Riggers sorted that and the sparrows. The
sparrows in the boom succumbed to sprinklers. Nests only were disturbed and
last we heard, the tenants had taken up residence in a better suburb to raise
their young.
Some of the
running rigging also needed replacing. Raewyn showed her feminine side by
replacing most of the kitchen utensils -
pots and pans etc with new and we had field day at the markets. Run by
Bangla Deshi’s on Thursday in the same manner as Turkey with everything on sale
for cash only. We bought heaps of “stuff”. We stumbled upon the markets by
mistake as we had caught the bus in to town (Fiumicino) when it passed the
markets. Travelling experience gave recognition instantly to the existence of
the structures as markets.
Checking The Rig
Drivers. It is essential for Truck, Bus and taxi
drivers to be on their phones. Optional for everyone else. However, No Road
Cones in Sight. It is not an industry here. There are very few Electric Vehicles including
Hybrid. Maybe Elon does not speak Italian or Italy has no emission
controls?
Bureaucracy
day.
Checking in
at Guardia Costeria. (Coastguard) I had made a note to print the insurance
documents before going to the authorities, but had not found a print shop. I
turned up at Coastguard with all the documents. A group discussion started on
how to deal with what I wanted. Doors opened and closed, people were consulted
and eventually a man knew what to do. He spotted the original name on the
insurance documents immediately. A correct copy in emails on my phone was not
sufficient and he wanted to see a hard copy. I went to Vodafone to renew our
internet and asked if they could print some documents. Madam Lash insisted they
could not, when an English speaking Angel (presumably the manager) appeared and
was more than happy to print for me. She also sold me a 3 month contract for
unlimited wifi 100E) I returned to the Coastguard just before closing at mid
day and the process was completed within an hour. I had my Constituto.
A day out
at Ostia Antica
A blue sky
day we walked across the Ostia bridge and along the motorway to the admission
gate. 5000+ steps and 18E each. The ruins were extensive and interesting. To
imagine life on the Tiber more than 2000 years ago. We had lunch at a restaurant at the gate and
got a bus home. Part of exploration is the realisation that there is often an
easier way.
Antica Ostia
Restaurant. Full of statues
Doric Ionic or?
The Whole World’s A Stage
Arrivederci Roma
We are due
to leave Rome on Monday. We have had a great experience with lots of help, luck
and fortune. Rather tired of waiting for a bus, or in one instance -
taking the wrong bus.
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