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"There's always a plan, but unexpected things happen and we just go with the flow. Though I do believe that fate and destiny often play their part"
sailing blog
After two rather hot n' sticky weeks enjoying the absolute delights of Cartagena, we decided it really was time to move on again. Untying our ropes was tinged with a little sadness, but Ibiza is firmly in our sights. To get there still requires a few long sails along the Spanish coast, before the long crossing over to the island itself.
The journey yesterday was plotted as an eight hour sail to Torrevieja, with a forecast predicting breezy North Easterly winds. Not ideal for our planned route as unfortunately this would give us wind bang on the nose for the first half of the journey. Of bigger concern was the sea state. Winds from an easterly direction can mean "choppy". My word choppy is what we got. Thank you very much Mr Neptune. The first couple of hours to Pta de la Espada, a major headland where we turned north east, was very rolly-poly. From there to Cabo de Palos was like being at Alton Towers, the sea was that rough. Both Nicki and Comino coped extremely well despite the fact that waves frequently came over the decks. Once round the cape, we headed due north with the wind now on our starboard bow, meaning the sails could go up in all their glory. We flew to Torrevieja, averaging 6.5 knots and with this spurt of speed our journey time was cut down to under seven hours. It was extremely hot when we arrived late afternoon at Marina Salinas in Torrevieja. To our delight, what do you think was the first thing we saw when we tied up on the waiting pontoon? - a swimming pool!! After completing the check-in paperwork at the office, I asked if our fee included use of the pool - "Yes sir" came the reply. To be honest, we were a bit too cream crackered to take a dip straight away, but the decision to stay for the weekend was made there and then. Sun-loungers and speedos here we come. That evening we took a stroll into the town for a quick nosey and to get a few essential supplies (a bottle of vino). OMG...me thinks this place is like no other. An upmarket Blackpool would be one way to describe it, only three times the size. Tonight (Saturday) we're going to put on our best glad rags and go exploring some more. What I can tell you already is that because this is a Spanish holiday resort, they don't have endless fish and chip shops...oh no...they have endless kebab shops instead. I think I'm going to like this place! However, before I post pictures of Torrevieja-On-Sea, as I call it, enjoy a few more shots of our previous home in Cartegena. I fear the next picture gallery will be somewhat more wacky.
1 Comment
Jackie Harvey
30/6/2013 02:50:20 am
After hearing from Nikki, and your blog comments, really looking forward to the next batch of photos. Send some of that lovely blue sky back home! Safe journey to Ibiza :)
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A FEW PICS OF COMINOClick a photo to enlarge and use side arrows to scroll through.
COMINO IS CURRENTLY HEREDID SOMEONE SAY SEAFOODOn our journey from Portugal to Greece we enjoyed amazing seafood almost everywhere we stopped. Finding the local fish market was always a priority because seafood was so plentiful and so reasonably priced. And, the displays were a feast for your eyes.
Locating a market sometimes meant pounding the pavements in searing heat, but if you kept your eyes peeled, you often came across a little clue. The pic below was a rather less than subtle advert for a fish market - it was eight feet tall.
Freshly cooked onboard, a plateful of giant prawns, baked in wine and garlic, washed down with a few glasses of local vino, was like heaven. Watching the sunset on the boat eating a meal like that was the epitome of "living the dream".
Now we're in Greece we've another favourite to savour. I'm talking about fried Calamari. It's usually good, but every now and then it's off-the-scale fantastic. At Natalie's Taverna on Kontokali Beach in Corfu, it was nothing short of epic.
We're based in Lefkas now and It's been a bit of a mission to find somewhere just as good. And we have. Rakias is a mere ten minute walk from the marina and this little fish market, with its very own taverna attached, is quite sensational.
Oh...and it's also worth mentioning that, on occasions, a bit of barbequed Octopus is on the menu at some of the tavernas we frequent. Can I resist....no. SUNSETS AND DRAMATIC SKIESNo filters, or any other monkey business, have been used to enhance these images.
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