Italy to Corfu Greece

 The 12 hour motor sail  - 61 miles from Italy to Greece was without incident and went well with arrival at the Northern Coast of Corfu at Sidari. Next day another northern anchorage - Hmerolia - a delightful Bay just outside Kassiopi. Unfortunately both these anchorages suffered from wash of the 3am fast ferry to Italy with much rolling.

From there it was onto Kommeno, just outside Gouvia marina where we are now. It has taken us four days to get settled.

First day was check in, get our transit log and pay the cruising tax. First stop Port Authority and pay 15Euro. Then Immigration - not required as we were not going outside the shengen area. Then customs, 30Euro for the transit log and 66Euro for two months cruising tax - oh and 39Euro agents fees as we did not have internet to pay online. Then back to Port Authority to complete the transit log. One of the staff at Port Authority is the rudest person I have met. Yelling at me 3 times to show the current insurance certificate - she was looking at the start date of 2022. The expiry was several months from now, but no apology when this was pointed out. During this time I had walked 14000 steps mostly along the Corfu waterfront in 42deg. A day to forget.

Two days to get internet. We had to convince the sales person of exactly what we wanted. Not possible on day one as the system was "not available - but 95% sure avrio" (Tomorrow) And much to our surprise it was. Three dinghy/bus rides to and from town over 3 days was tiring. Double length bendy buses were full and we had to stand. (Actually only the first day - we got smart and went outside the popular hours after the first day.)

We went to George's restaurant for dinner. The best pita gyros in Greece. Raewyn had Moussaka.

Sunrise

Sunset

                                                                      Where we are now
  

                                                            Pita Gyros and Moussaka

                   George looking no older than when I purchased pita gyros for 50drachma in 1995

                          Anchorage at Kommeno - now the home of many large motor yachts 

                                                                    Corfu Markets

                                                                    Our anchorage

                                                               Flying pencil to Albania

Leaving Sicily and motoring/sailing to the heel of Italy - Santa Maria de Leuca

 This part of the journey was mostly making distance as our time in Italy was coming to an end.

We spent one night outside the marina of Rocella Ionica, (Scotsman's Anchorage again) after a distance of 68 miles. From Sicily to the mainland. Then it was on to Le Costella - another 46 miles. All anchorages were nice, quiet and safe. Occasional late night music and at de Castella, plenty of macho men on their very powerful and fast jet skis racing and  using Moondance as a  turning mark.   Cape Rizzuto was a short stop (only 3 miles from de Castella. The wind aroud the Cape was not favorable and we elected to enjoy the quiet beach.

Ciro Marina was our next stop, and we were directed alongside to a part of the wharf which was a challenge to fit into, but served its purpose well and we used the time to restock our supplies which were running low (including diesel which we obtained in plastic cans from the town petrol station.) The wharf superintendent provided transport. One night n the marina was enough. It is very hot in marinas by contrast  to anchoring off where there is generally a breeze. We anchored off the marina ready for a 5am start and the next 62.5 miles to St Maria de Leuca where we spent a very rolly night. The motor sail across was very pleasant, accompanied by dolphins for part of the way. Next day we entered the marina to recover, check out of Italy, fill the water tanks and clean up before our next passage to Corfu Greece.

         

                                                                              Sunrise

                                                                         Ciro Marina

                                                Wall mural looking more Greek than Italian 

                                                  A few of these of the coast of Crotone  

                                                                   de Castella Anchorage

                                                          Overflown by this guy

                                                           Fishermen setting nets

Taormina Again

 This time via Catania for one night as we left Syracuse at 2pm. 

The stay at Taormina was brief, just long enough to visit Giardini Railway Station and ogle some of our neighbours.

   

The Super yacht behind the yacht was called "Prediction" - owned by a hedge fund trader who made a few correct predictions  

And On To Syracuse

                                                                 Mt Etna - as we passed

                                                                 Sunset in Syracuse

                       Even the Guardia de Finanza have their bad days. Being towed home

 We haven't seen many dolphins so far this trip. Raewyn got her phone just as this guwas saying goodbye. One of a small pod of four that played around our bow for a short time.   

Taormina

Taormina -  at the Southern end of the Straits of Messina

A hillside town reached by bus from Naxos, or cable car from the beach below. Rather touristy, but a level walk down the Main St.

                                                                      Mt Etna

                                                       Moondance at anchor below the town

                                                  The restaurant at the End of the Universe

             Many towns have a teatro (theatre) After 3 prior visits we succumbed and paid to get in  

                            View of the beach below where we have anchored in previous years 

                                                                       Naxos Bay

 

Where we have been, and where we are at

Rome to Syracuse