Ibiza and Formentera, Spain, April 2007

After leaving Barcelona, this was our first meal ashore the day we arrived in Ibiza.  We were all very happy to be back to cruising again.

This was a local full grown cat.  We figure little Hobie will look like this one day, although he seems to be keeping his petite stature so far.

A beautiful sunset in Cala Vadella.

Happy to be cruising again, and using the "family station wagon" to get around.

Zia,  in Cala Vadella.

The water was cold, but not too cold for Cassie and Juliana. 

All of us got a good look at the dead whale on the beach in Espalmador.

Cassie, showing her freer side!

This is the mooring field in Espalmador.  Apparently in July and August it is wall to wall boats.  We enjoyed our April visit.

Mallorca and Isla de Cabrera, Spain, April - May 2007

Our train ride up to Soller, Mallorca, on one of the original 100 year old trains.

The orange and lemon trees were loaded with spring fruit.

Cassie standing on the outside platform of the train while going through one of the 13 tunnels.

The Soller Cathedral, designed by one of the modernista artists from Barcelona.

Blowing a few minutes while waiting for our return train.

The restaurant we ate in had these mirrors on the ceilings.  We spent 10 minutes trying to get a good picture of us at the table.  This was the best of the lot.

Hiking up to the castle on Isla de Cabrera.

Another occasion where we were one of a few boats in a normally chocker block anchorage.

Zia framed nicely by one of the notches in the castle wall.

Alghero, Sardegna, Italy May 2007

The walled city of Alghero, our home for nearly two weeks.  Luckily, it was beautiful with lots of good restaurants.

The kids loved being able to go down to the beach outside the wall and scavenge for sea glass. 

They must have a build-a-boat contest here.  We suspect these are the two winning efforts.

Sifting through their finds.

The street names are written in Catalan and Italian.  Too funny.

An Italian friend from my Spanish class introduced us to a friend of his who lives in Alghero.  He set us up with reservations at a very lovely seafood restaurant.  The owners have two brothers who are fishermen.  They serve up dishes based upon what is brought in that day.  No menu selections but lots of good seafood.  The girls particularly "liked" the black squid ink pasta!

Hobie likes to hang out under the window in the salon.  When he isn't hurling on a rug, that is!

Getting to know the neighbors, Andy and Sarah on Santé. Our girls and theirs were doubtless off having a water balloon fight on the dock.

Alice managed to net a fish from the back of the boat with a little melon bait.

A fashion show after dinner.

A farewell dinner on Zia. 

Around the corner from Alghero in Porto Conte.

This is the very same beach that was literally inundated with jellyfish the next morning.

Cassie is out proving that she can row the dinghy upwind, as test we imposed as a condition of being able to take the dinghy on her own (for short trips within our sight, mom.)

A would-be lovely shot if it hadn't been for the smudge on our camera lens.

Can you see how he earned his nick-name "Attack Kitty?"  Here he is in full attack mode.

He has expanded his territory to the dinghy while it is hanging under the davits behind the boat.  We just hope he doesn't misjudge the jump one day while we are underway. 

Larson and Gav on the morning of their arrival.

The city dock where Zia learned we could tie up for free for five days.  Hard to beat that!

Cassie and Juliana made French Toast for the lads the next morning.

When forced to turn around and go back to anchor instead of sailing overnight to Corsica, be broke out the beers and the Rummikub set and made the most of it!

Exploring the countryside between Alghero and Porto Conte.  Beautiful.

We walked for hours and made it to the Nuraghe Primavera before heading back to Zia for dinner.

Joe is always inventing funny games to keep us all entertained.  He couldn't quite get the old rusty tire to roll straight, though.

Hobie having fun attacking Cassie's hair.

There is a huge colony of well fed cats just outside the marina in Alghero.  We kept an ever watchful eye on Hobie to make sure he didn't get off the boat and turn into a nice little snack for one of these brutes.

Build your own sandwich lunch before heading to the beach for a few hours.

One of the things we asked Larson to bring us was a new Olympus waterproof camera.  Our Pentax, that just passed its year warranty, up and died on us.  We took the Sylus 770SW on its first durability test to the beach with us.  We were all very disappointed when it died.  Joe took it back to the boat with him and opened it up to see water dripping out of the battery compartment.  We sent the carcass back with Larson and are VERY anxious to see what Olympus has to say.

Enjoying a little reading on the bow as we take off for Corsica later that day.

On the back steps I filleted the mackerel Larson reeled in before sunset.

Sunrise over Corsica.

Gav was a quick study with the knife.  His first carcass wasn't so pretty but look at the fine job he did with the second tuna!

The picturesque town of Girolata.

Catching up with Claude and Rike on Cenou after an eight month absence.

The girls had more important things to do than sit around chatting.

Girolata from above.

You can see Cenou (left) and Zia rafted up together in the middle of this photo.

Another fish in the net, this time using bread.

Nothing like finding the perfect spot to build a fort on the beach.

Cenou seen against the coast around Cap Rossu. 

Sunset in Cargese.

One of many meals we enjoyed with Cenou.  We took turns hosting.

You can't really pick out all of the beautiful hidden caves, nooks and crannies until you are literally on top of them.  Endless hours of exploration.

My favorite picture of "the lads."

Hobie has also discovered the mainsail as a veritable playground for the curious cat.

Larson never quite got his balance on the unstable windsurfer in the very light wind conditions.  Next time!

The adults left the girls onboard while we went ashore for dinner.  We brought a radio with us and were able to tell them when it was bedtime and don't forget to brush your teeth!

My fashion king.

Hiking up to the town of Cargese the next morning.

Getting our internet fix at a local hotel lobby.

Returning to our favorite anchorage near Cap Russo.

The rock that gives Cap Russo its name.  We eyeballed a little trail that led up to the main hiking path that took us all the way to the top.

Cenou and Zia rafted up and seen from the trail.

Can you still see the two little boats down there?

The last part of the hike was the hardest.  It started going up pretty steeply at this point.

The climb up the other side requires a bit more equipment than we had!

That is Larson jumping off the cliff at their first chosen location.

Cliff jumping is hard work!

Larson went for the full cruising experience, giving himself a haircut with our clippers.

Wow!  Gav tackles the high jump. 

Gav and Larson took me to a baby jump for my first attempt.

Larson and Gav jump together.

Joe and I both jumped off this level, about 25 feet.  Larson and Gav both jumped off the high rock you see behind us, but admitted to being a little weak in the knees while doing it.

Exploring the caves afterward was more sedate but perhaps more awe inspiring as you contemplated the process that went into making them.

This is the way most people have to see them.

One of the famous little European cars that are so practical with gas at 5 euros a liter.

Claude cleaning his catch of sea urchins. 

Zia approaching the entrance to Bonifacio just after sunup.

Cappuccino and pain au chocolat for breakfast.

We all admired this beautiful restored sailboat tied up in Bonifacio.

The white limestone cliffs of Bonifacio are an anomaly in the otherwise red granite landscape of Corsica.

For our final Rummikub game we teamed up so we could all play.  Allow me to introduce Joesty:

and Carson........

and Gaviana!