Another great year has come to an end
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Achab Yacht Club is a small Marina where Cadiz will spend her 8 months high and dry up the Tiber River 20 kms from Rome in the company of 100s of boats in other marinas. The Yacht Club Restaurant has the reputation of being one of the best in Rome, so for Gail's last night we have Spaghetti Vongole, Scampi and Tiramisu. You only hope that the fish is imported as the River is so very dirty. Gail and I manage a day trip around Rome jumping queues and ending up in one queue we thought was to visit the dome of Saint Peters only to find ourselves looking at the past Pope's crypt.
The weather is now gorgeous and as we have 10 days till our departure we will adventure away from the yacht to fill in our time. The Monaco Boat Show is on and an over night train seems like a good idea! Boats, boats and more boats.
A sleeper cabin seems a good idea, but the only ticket available is to share with 2 others. Ian hoping for two glamour's, the 'others' turn out to be suspicious looking guys. Ian sleeps with one eye open and I have my arm through my bag and stay fully clothed. We do survive and are met by George Villata and stay at his beautiful holiday villa at Roquebrune Cap Martin bordering Monaco. George is our Italian friend Luca's father. Luca does the opposite to us. He spends summer in Australia and New Zealand on his yacht
and comes back to his house in Torino for the European summer.
The Luxury Super Boat show is the world leader in prestigious yachting exhibitions with 93 super yachts. Ian makes sure I don't get any big ideas and I am fascinated by all the designer shoes left on the wharf while the prospective buyers view the boats. Great to see many NZ and Australians promoting their talents. Passing through we enjoyed a drink with Alan and Gail Warwick from NZ.
Our trip back to Rome is first class and we have a cabin to ourselves, the only way to go in the future.
To Ian's surprise a little bit of history is sitting here in the marina. Gunboat Rangiriri, a Bruce Farr half tonner from NZ which won the World Half Ton up in Sydney in the 70s. Bringing back many memories, we owned her predecessor Titus Canby and crossed Cook Strait in a gale. Looking at the 30 footer I must have been completely in love or just stupid.
Near the marina on the Tiber River are the Roman ruins of the Ancient Port to Rome called Ostia Antica. Once a thriving metropolitan port of 100,000 inhabitants in the 4th Century BC but silted up over the centuries to form a new coast line 2 kms away.
Spanning 34 hectares excavations began in the 15 Hundreds at the time of the Pope Pius V11. Today you can walk down the original stone roads passing through Temples, the Theatre, houses of Charioteers, bath houses, latrines, and the marble meat market. Walk over mosaics tiles and past remains of paintings and marble statues.
what remains is mind blowing and you almost get the feeling you are intruding. This is a community as it was then and such a privilege to see. Next time in Rome this is must, we actually spent hours here which is not normal.
We are now out on dry land after a little apprehension when she seemed too heavy one end. I think that's the cellar end, one has to leave a little for next year. I have just read where the French have not sold 18% of the wine they produced this year, such a relief that we didn't drink enough.
Three seasons in the Mediterranean, 8000 nautical miles, 11 countries and lots of friends.
Thankyou everyone, for being with us all the way. Look forward to catching up over summer back in Australia while we continue our endless summer.