Rome

We left Hammamet at noon on one of the hottest days we can remember. The temperature in the mid 40's with no wind at the dock. We needed to put fuel onboard, which at 80 cents a liter Canadian is a great deal compared to Europe where it is about $2.35 Can. After this we needed to check out of the country with Port police and Customs which all took time. Once away we picked up a light breeze and sailed for the next 12 hours then motored across the Sicilian Straits at night through all the east west shipping. We must have crossed at least 50 ships so it kept us busy for the night. Just after dawn we arrived at Isola Favignana and dropped anchor in lovely clear and calm waters in Cala Rossa Bay. Went for a swim then a short nap. We stayed here for a day and a half and left in the evening just before sunset for Rome. We sailed north for the next 24 hours then lost our winds and powered into Rome arriving the next afternoon some 350 from Hammamet miles later.

We are at the Porto Turistico di Roma about 17 k into the center of the city. Our feet are worn out from all the walking thru this most interesting city. Some of the sights are St Peter's the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican with all the Michelangelo paintings etc. Then another day seeing the Forum and wandering around the many other famous landmarks of the city.

Tomorrow we plan to sail up to Isle Giannutri then up to Elba the next day. We had some rain and wind here a couple of days ago that has lowered the temperatures as well as washed some of the Saharan dirt off the masts and other hard to wash areas of the boat. We should be in the French Riviera later this week.

Sahara Desert

You sure need a hat out here!!

For the last week we have been in Tunisia and took a short drive 1800k (over a thousand miles) through the desert. It is south of where we are and very hot. The temps were around 45C so did not do much walking about. Glad the car ran ok and the a/c worked well! Ships of the Desert
Red hot chili peppers

Some of the sights, other than the sand dunes, that were memorable were the little roadside BBQ,s where the sheep or goat were tethered waiting the next customer. You can tell what they are cooking by the carcase hanging out front. At least you know that the meat is fresh, really fresh!!!! Other sights were all the red chili peppers strung up along the way. I do like hot stuff so this was a welcome sight to me. We stayed a night in what we would describe as a Flintstone enclave. It is actually an old Bedouin town that has been abandoned and some Berbers are trying to fix parts of it up as a hotel. The night we stayed we were the only people there on top of this mountain with no office or lighting or anything!! Interesting experience!! We did spent a couple of nights in good hotels and enjoyed the pools and a cold beer.

Our hotel!! An old Berber town

Desert encroaching on the oasis
Dates just about ready for harvest

Ramadan started the first of Sept so the Muslims do not eat or drink during the daylight hours. This lasts a month and moves back approximately three weeks every year. So during the day all the local restaurants are closed and nothing much happens. We cannot imagine not drinking any water all day in these temperatures. We asked and were told that most, discretely, do manage something during the day but would not make it obvious.

Tomorrow we leave for Sicily then up to Rome and hope to be there by Tuesday.