Cruising Prep

With 40kts of wind blowing outside this is a mandatory indoors day providing time to update the blog while John works on the passage planning for our departure. We have settled back into life on board with some minor adjustments and lifestyle changes. These adjustments include no ultra fast broadband, walking 7 mins to get to the showers/toilets, not flushing toilet paper down the toilets, using the laundromat, using pumps to drain water from the sinks, getting used to our days being planned around the weather and on the really windy days the boat motion of Sabbaticus straining on her mooring lines as she gets pushed around. We are enjoying the water views again which makes a change from seeing Parliament from the front door in Wellington.

Fuel Filter Change

Chain Plate Repairs

After three weeks on board the maintenance task list shows 35 jobs completed and only 7 to go - we are almost ready to start sailing again yahoo! The major job was repairing a leak caused by the chain plate, this was a job that had been unsuccessfully 'repaired' before (by a professional yard), prior to owning the boat. This job took three days, in tight spaces, to get the 12 bolts removed, the chain plate free, cleaned and then reinstalled with silaflex (caulking compound). Of note the hairdryer is used more for boat maintenance tasks in drying various compounds  than Leanne has ever used for drying her hair.  We then waited a couple of days for the real test of our work - the water test - hosing down the chain plate to see if it leaked. We were both relieved to see no water leaking into the salon and the leak successfully repaired at last - although in reality only time will tell if we have been truly successful when we get green water breaking across the deck and the rig is under load. 

After opening the salon windows we also noticed the rubber gaskets had perished. This was a two day job to remove the two large windows and scrape off the old gaskets and then replace with the new seals. Once again we waited several days to conduct the water test which was successful (again waiting for the green water test)!  The range of jobs included several trips for John up the mast to clean the rig and refit a deck light, fuel filter changes, running and testing all the systems, inflating the dinghy, polishing the fibreglass and stainless steel, removing all the mousing lines, fitting the halyards and sheets and then finally rigging the sails. John also spent a couple of days helping some Aussie friends put the rubbing strake back on their boat so it has been a busy but rewarding time.

Over the last few weeks you can see the work tempo increasing as the boats are all being prepared for summer cruising. With 250 boats in the marina there is quite a community of expertise to call upon and activities to participate in. While the skipper does not allow time for the writers group or craft classes we did attend the diesel engine presentation. At least the best mate is allowed time in the morning for pilates on the dock.

The marina is very social and the bi-weekly happy hours are an excellent way to meet fellow sailors, share ideas and learn about the best places to anchor and travel to.  Plus having an electrical engineer as a close neighbour helps when we have technical questions!  Our neighbourhood is very international with Americans, Italians, Brits, Swiss and Irish as our immediate neighbour's.

A happy skipper - phew!

As always the loggie tasks must be achieved, with the inventory updated and replenished. With many choices in the beer section, the mate brought back a selection to be scored each night to ensure the right beers are stocked before we depart - not surprisingly this course of action meet with the skippers approval! We have been enjoying listening to the local radio station which is a blast from the past with 80s music predominately played - surprisingly most of the songs are in English so we are able to sing along quite happily.

With our departure looming in the next week we are now taking a few days 'off work' and have a hired a car to sight see around the local area.

A few days in Rome

Infamous Trevi Fountain (1732)

Before we knew it our five months working in NZ was completed, having spent time with family and friends and with summer ending it was time to pack our bags to return 'home' to Sabbaticus in Sicily.  With our flights to Sicily being via Rome, and 20yrs since we had last visited, we decided on a short break to enjoy Rome.

Climbing into the airport bus in Rome we saw two vaguely familiar looking faces. After a tentative hello we realised it was the owners (from Auckland) of the only other NZ boat berthed in the same marina and pier as Sabbaticus - such a small world! The bus arrived at Roma Termini, the single largest train station in Europe with 600,000 passengers daily, 29 platforms, shopping centre and art gallery - impressive even when jet lagged. From there it was a short walk to our B&B, a shower (no combat nap allowed otherwise we would never have got up again) then out for a local pizza (what else!) before crashing out.

Oldest Roman Temple - 2 BC

With 2,500 years of history Rome has an ancient core that reflects its long history - the ancient times, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and Modern Era which makes it a city of contrasts and absolutely fascinating with history reverberating all round you. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the largest, wealthiest, most powerful city in the Western world, with dominance over most of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Unfortunately today, possibly as a result of the economic climate, it looks run down, with broken footpaths and rubbish in almost every street.

The Colosseum

Rome's greatest amphitheater, the Colosseum was started in 72AD and built in only 8yrs! With 80 arched entrances allowing easy access for 55,000 spectators the deadly gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights were staged free of charge by the Emperor for public viewing. The tour guide advised the Colosseum was designed to allow spectators to be seated within 15mins of arriving at the Colosseum.  We also learned about the 'recycling' (aka plundering) of marble and stone during the Renaissance that was used to build several palaces, bridges and parts of St Peter's. 

Forum Ruins

Visiting the Roman Forum allowed us to stand in the political, legal and religious centre of the whole Roman Empire and attempt to visualise the power and glory of ancient Rome. Here we visited the site were Julius Caesar's body had been cremated, with a Temple erected in 29BC in his honour. In Palatine Hill we saw ancient Rome's most exclusive neighbourhood, covered in ruins from the 1st century Imperial Palaces. 

With more churches in Rome than there are days in the year there were plenty to view as we strolled around. The city of Rome surrounds the Vatican City which is the  world's smallest sovereign state and is home to the Pope and

Gruesome scenes

Interior St Peter's

St Peters Basilica, Italy's biggest and most spectacular church is located in Vatican City. The dome at 136m, designed by Michelangelo is the tallest in the world. With one of the world's greatest art collections in the Vatican Museum's it was stunning to see the statutes, massive tapestries and art depicting scenes from the times.  One of the highlights was the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo spent 4 yrs (1508) decorating the entire 800 sq mtr ceiling with episodes from the book of Genesis. His grand finale was returning 22yrs later painting the Last Judgement on a 200 sq mtr wall - this is still powerful, vibrant and awe inspiring today. 

While Leanne could have spent another few days soaking up the atmosphere, John was keen to get going on our final flight to Sicily and return to Sabbaticus. 

Below are a few more photos from sightseeing in Rome.

Interior of the Colosseum

The Forum

St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

 Vittorio Emanuele II (1885) and tomb of the unknown solider