The Aeolian Islands, Italy, July 2007

The sun rising behind the smoking island of Stromboli

The grown ups got to act like kids, playing in the mud baths on the island of Vulcano.

We climbed up the volcano that is still active.  This rest stop was only about a tenth of the way to the top.  Surprisingly, everyone made it the whole way.

Taking a short break in the shade.

Investigating the fumaroles that emit strong sulfur smells and very hot steam.

The view to the north from the top of Vulcano, with Lipari and the twin peaks on Salina.

Another nice sunset.

The small streets and alleyways of Lipari were a delight to explore, with lovely potted gardens decorating their sides.

How old does Cassie look here?

The tour group.  It is so much easier when the girls have their friends with them to share the misery!

They often find fun diversions like turning the sides of the steps into a slide and holding races to see who can descend the fastest.

Juliana opening her first present on the morning of her 8th birthday.

Juliana takes the first whack at her homemade piñata.

Joe ran the show at the piñata part of the party.

The girls also made the carrot cakes, complete with homemade marzipan flowers and all sorts of interesting colors of food dye.  We even had blue mashed potatoes to go with our steaks for dinner.

Juliana didn't mind the Christmas theme wrapping paper on her presents. 

The sparklers that Cenou provided were a wonderful surprise to finish off the evening.

We saw the local fish shop processing the morning's catch, a 205 kilo swordfish.  Wow!

The girls playing behind the breakwater in Lingua, Salina, with Zia anchored in the background.

The famous "da Alfredo" restaurant that serves up these special types of pizza and homemade granitas, reputed to be the best in Italy. 

David and Tamsin from Twice Eleven joined us for dinner at AJ's home in Salina. 

The ladies all helped skewer up the chicken and vegetables for the grill. 

Sicily, Italy

The magnificent cathedral in Cefalú. 

Exploring the old town, with Zia just visible at anchor in the background.

Hot days and calm waters make for many anchorages.

The old spring in the heart of the city which had been used until recently as a communal laundry mat of sorts.

Mom and Dad hiked up La Rocca in the morning and left the kids to make themselves breakfast on the boat.  We checked in frequently via VHF radio.

Enjoying a bowl of ice cream (Fior di Latte) and the sunset.

They held some water aerobics classes at the Aqua Verde waterpark.  I'm there in my yellow hat, giving it my all!

We dinghied into Porticello and had to check out what the crowd around the fishing boats were doing.  Buying up the fresh catch of the afternoon.  The girls were fascinated by the live squids of all different shapes and sizes.

The harbor in Porticello was full of rubbish and not very convenient for dinghies, but we found a place to leave ours for a few hours while we checked out town and did a quick shop.

The coat of arms from the Vanni-Calvello family, in the Castello di Solanto.

The coat of arms from the Mantegna-Gangi family.

The old church building, next to the tonnara of Solanto.  Naturally, blessing the catch and other religious ceremony was a big part of the lives of the fishermen.

The kids favorite part of the castle was the pool.

Vincenzo found an old "menu" from the year 1927 for certain services from Madam Margherita.  "Simple, Double, 1/4 hour, 1/2 hour or a full hour."

A wonderful lunch of typical Sicilian dishes.

The girls had a ball on the boat after lunch.

Ignacio enjoying the view from the bow seat on Zia.

Vincenzo looked right at home on the boat as well!

Paola preferred the reclining seats.

Cassie and Gloria, preparing for their show after dinner.

The Zia crew, riding up the mountainside from Trapani to Erice.

The rooftops of Erice, seen from the belltower.

The river that flows into the sea in Mazara del Vallo.

Zia and Cenou at anchor in Mazara del Vallo.

Cenou sailing by on our way to Selinunte.  Right after our photo session, the wind went from 20 knots to nothing.  At least we got some good shots.

Juliana, Celine and Anouk: always ready for a swim.

The Greek temple, just visible from Zia anchored off the beach in Selinunte.

We tied our dinghies off the stern of a fishing boat while we walked up to check out the ruins.  Everyone has been super nice in Italy, helping us out in any way they can.  We even got a ride to the huge CarreFour supermarket from the man we asked for directions.  He said it was an impossible walk with no sidewalks in the scorching heat and offered to drive us.  I know it is a huge help to be able to speak the language.  Otherwise, it is just awkward for everyone because you can't understand each other.  I'm a little nervous about Croatia and beyond.....

We opted for the 25 Euro cart ride between the sites in Selinunte rather than the long walk in the 90 degree heat.

Hoping to catch a nice shot of the boats with the ruins in the foreground, I climbed up this pillar but this was the best shot we got.  The boats were just out of range.

Another day, another temple.  This one in Agrigento.

The dinghy dock in the wonderful city of Siracusa.

Visiting the cathedral in Siracusa.

Checking out the relics on display.

The piazza in front of the Duomo was a wonderful place to have an ice cream or a coffee in the afternoon as the city began to cool down from another hot summer day.

There weren't many sand beaches in Siracusa but that didn't stop the locals from enjoying the sun and the sea.

The ancient spring was still running much as it did in the old days.  Papyrus trees grow in the middle of the pool that empties out into the sea on the other side of the wall.  We found the best granitas yet (sorry Alfredo) at a little shop just up the street from here.  The tangerine flavor was unanimously the favorite.

Watching and waiting for Hobie to wake up after his operation. 

The Greek theater in Siracusa is the largest in Sicily and still well preserved.

Water from the aqueduct flowing through a niche above the theater.

The girls posing with their ferocious faces next to the knights in armor in the castello in Taormina.

The city of Taormina spread out behind the stage of the ancient Greek theater.

From this terrace overlooking the sea, you could see down to where Zia lay at anchor.  We snagged some tourist to take the picture of us!

This time, our neighbors at the Wunderbar offered to snap a shot of all of us before the concert.

I don't know what Joe was doing to make the girls giggle so but I love their expressions.

Looking out over the windy harbor in Otranto.  Zia is docked at the very end of the seawall .

The old town of Otranto.

Hobie is NOT allowed up on the desk or nav station, as we call it, and is certainly not allowed to lounge on top of the computer!

Zia is tied up to the public quay in downtown Brindisi.  We found the closest pizzeria just across the street.