We have arrived in sunny Biograd on the Dalmatian Coast. Thankfully Familia does in fact exist although we are all dealing with a bit of post cognitive dissonance after such a long build up. We are doing a spring clean and inventory and trying to organise some upgrades so we can then take a week or so to head off to Italy in the car while the work gets done.
Ah YES THAT IS THE EUMPHAMISTIC OPTIMIST Watson at work as the reality is that we have flown all this way to spend 4 to 5 hours straight up daily in CLEANING the boat because the previous owner left everything on board bar his undies. Our daily schedule so far is supervising the kids in Boring Homework, arguing, waiting about for stuff to happen and having me use a corrosive glove stripping substance to strip the gunk off the ceiling which would be ok if it didn’t involve lying on your back in cramped half metre spaces with limited ventilation only to have do it all again with water and then a teatowel SO Yes Boigrad is sunny and lovely but 5 days into it and we still haven’t left the dock.
What is striking and ubiquitous amongst the locals is the epidemic addiction to smoking: a meal replacement but especially for breakfast as we discovered at our brief stay at a B+ B where we met Marieka , the real life equivalent of Marge’s chainsmoking sisters from the Simpsons. the place was a bit odd with fox pelts on the floors, cruxifixes on the wall and a key for every door but the 30 sec boiled egg for breakfast that oozed all over the plate when cut really threw us. In a stomach turning way. Not to worry though as the hostess scooped them up and returned 15 minutes later with some thoroughly boiled egg. The boys hung on determinedly with a vision of hot chocolate which never appeared, though Steve + I did get our instant coffee to enjoy whilst Marieke sipped the real deal, chain smoked and hunkered down in a brooding horror flick sort of way.....actually the mashed in dog poo on the carpet next to the table really made the boys eyes pop. I take it as a personal credit that their upbringing has turned this experience into a side cracking yarn.
Hmmmmm.
Steve's Post note: 500ml beers are AUD$1. Whoohoo!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Through the ash cloud
We were up at 4 AM to fly out but at that time the connecting flight was still cancelled: what to do?
With no fixed abode we decided that we may as well be stranded in Hong Kong as Sydney so we jumped in the car (late) and headed to the aiport. Thanks to Pep for meeting us there and sorting out the bag and car headaches.
We arrived in Hong Kong still without an ongoing flight, but trusting in fate we enjoyed dinner in town. Unlike thousands of other travellers the gods smiled on us and despite having to lug the absurdly heavy "carry on" (read "drag on") bags through 4 airports we arrived in Zurich as per schedule: but then how else is one expected to carry 12 months worth of supplies and maintain the 22kg limit?:
Zurich is a beautiful, gracious, and well mannered city: a study in how a (partly) medieval town can appear historical, clean, minimal and efficient all at once. We have a hotel in the old part of town, the grey cobblestone streets weave through this area with many shops that are artisan focussed ranging from stationery, delicatessens with counters weighted down with dried fruits, chocolates, preserves, teas +coffees and specialty clothes stores, hole in the wall bars and restaurants. Coffee, chocolate (hot), and a new Omega watch for Steve all featured prominently.
The Churches are the revelation being minimum 500 years old and stunning. Who could imagine even Finbar quietening down long enough to be interested?
With no fixed abode we decided that we may as well be stranded in Hong Kong as Sydney so we jumped in the car (late) and headed to the aiport. Thanks to Pep for meeting us there and sorting out the bag and car headaches.
We arrived in Hong Kong still without an ongoing flight, but trusting in fate we enjoyed dinner in town. Unlike thousands of other travellers the gods smiled on us and despite having to lug the absurdly heavy "carry on" (read "drag on") bags through 4 airports we arrived in Zurich as per schedule: but then how else is one expected to carry 12 months worth of supplies and maintain the 22kg limit?:
Zurich is a beautiful, gracious, and well mannered city: a study in how a (partly) medieval town can appear historical, clean, minimal and efficient all at once. We have a hotel in the old part of town, the grey cobblestone streets weave through this area with many shops that are artisan focussed ranging from stationery, delicatessens with counters weighted down with dried fruits, chocolates, preserves, teas +coffees and specialty clothes stores, hole in the wall bars and restaurants. Coffee, chocolate (hot), and a new Omega watch for Steve all featured prominently.
The Churches are the revelation being minimum 500 years old and stunning. Who could imagine even Finbar quietening down long enough to be interested?
Monday, April 5, 2010
2 weeks to go
Well it's only two and a bit weeks to go before April 22nd when we jump on a plane to Zurich to start the big adventure. So many details still to resolve but most of the big ones have fallen (or been muscled, coaxed or cajoled) into place. Finishing the home renovations (go Cathe - war may be hell but the reno comes a close second), renting the house, handing over to the new guard at work, buying the boat, etc etc.
At this time the plan is to drive from Zurich to Biograd, Croatia and finally see our new home. We bought "Familia", a 2003 Beneteau 423, sight unseen (hopefully she actually exists...) The idea then is to cruise the Mediterranean from east to west and then chase the sun across the "pond"with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) once the summer has done it's dash. From there we plan to spin out the rest of our 12 months in the Caribbean, maybe Central America, who knows: our plans are loose apart from having to be back April 2011.
All of us living in such close proximity will be "interesting"; as will digging into the giant box of school material and playing at schoolteachers.
The goodwill from friends and colleagues has been fantastic, everyone has been seemingly as excited as we are. Special thanks to GG and all the good folk at SWP, whose good will in permitting the leave of absence has made the trip possible.
Finbar (10) and Sholto (6) are cautiously excited as the reality sinks in. A year is a bit long to really wrap your head around at their age.
As Cathe says "you have one life that you know about" so lets get on with the first day of the rest of it!
Steve, Cathe, Finbar and Sholto.
At this time the plan is to drive from Zurich to Biograd, Croatia and finally see our new home. We bought "Familia", a 2003 Beneteau 423, sight unseen (hopefully she actually exists...) The idea then is to cruise the Mediterranean from east to west and then chase the sun across the "pond"with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) once the summer has done it's dash. From there we plan to spin out the rest of our 12 months in the Caribbean, maybe Central America, who knows: our plans are loose apart from having to be back April 2011.
All of us living in such close proximity will be "interesting"; as will digging into the giant box of school material and playing at schoolteachers.
The goodwill from friends and colleagues has been fantastic, everyone has been seemingly as excited as we are. Special thanks to GG and all the good folk at SWP, whose good will in permitting the leave of absence has made the trip possible.
Finbar (10) and Sholto (6) are cautiously excited as the reality sinks in. A year is a bit long to really wrap your head around at their age.
As Cathe says "you have one life that you know about" so lets get on with the first day of the rest of it!
Steve, Cathe, Finbar and Sholto.
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