Atur ulang pencarian
Doteyboaty
  • Margaret Meade
  • Ronan O'Driscoll
  • Ruby O'Driscoll
Sedang bepergian
Jul 2021 – Sep 2025

Doteyboaty

Family sailing around Europe Baca selengkapnya
+1
IkutiRingkasanKalenderBagikanBagikanDaftar bucket
Terlama lebih dulu
  • Doteyboaty
    Dinner in town on first night
    Walk after dinnerWalk on the fifthAldo walk on the fifthAlso walk on the fifth

    Los Abuelos in Ibiza town

    3 Mei 2022, Spanyol ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    3/5/2022 Tuesday

    Today at one o’clock Ronan and I [Colm] went to the airport to collect Margaret and Donal.
    We had a piece of cake at a cafe while we waited for them.

    Near the hour of two they came out of the terminal.
    After many hugs and kisses we got a taxi back to the port. I was really happy to see them, it had been five months since we last met in Cartagena.

    After a cuppa tea on board we walked into Ibiza town.

    After a nice walk and drink all of us went to a lovely restaurant that was recommended by the guide book.

    Initially we were dissatisfied by the restaurant.The seats were cramped and the music was loud ,but the staff were delicious and the food was very nice. I had shepherds pie.


    We had a nice walk back to the port from town then the Régal crew went back to their sleeping quarters while Nana and Grandad went to their beachside Hotel.

     4/5/2022 Wednesday

    Today was very rainy. At ten in the morning Nana and Grandad come to our humble abode in the port. We played cards and ukulele until two in the afternoon (5mins of pukulele and 3.55 hours of cards)

    We and the visitors checked into their new apartment.

    Around four we all went on a big walk to Ibiza Cathedral way up on the hill. There were lots of really cool tunnels and the cathedral was spectacular. Although we could not go in to see the interior of the mind blowing building.

    After a walk on the beach we had dinner(apples and oranges by my dearest mother)with Nana and Grandad in their new apartment.

                   5/5/2022 Thursday
    This morning Nana and Grandad helped us with our boat jobs .Ruby and I went to Nana and Grandads apartment with our swimming gear,With a blissful swim in Nana in the pristine pool in mind.
    When we got to the pool clad in our swimming togs ,goggles and hats the Grumpy Caretaker said we could not go swimming because it was closed even though it looked perfect to us.

    Nana ,Mom and I went into town to go to a few shops. One of the shops we went to was a Pacha nightclub store where I bought a notebook and Mom got a t-shirt.

    After that we met the others for a drink. Then we went to a Tapas restaurant for dinner. The waiters came around to the tables with plates of hot pinchos to choose from and we also ordered a few thing’s from the menu.

    Ruby and I were staying for the night in Magaret and Donald’s apartment.
    Ronan and Margaret went back to Régal.
    We played cards and then we went to bed at 22:45.

    This blog was written by Colm :^)    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    The lighthouse on Cap De Barbaria
    Our car!!Fishermans huts at Es CaloThe church of Capella Siglo XIVJeff the lizard2Dinner out on the 31st!

    A Formentera road trip

    1 Mei 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Leaving Espalmador on the 31st, we went over to a little bay nearby to Formenteras port town. We launched our dingy for the first time this season, and went in to the town for a little evening visit. The town, called La Savina, is the main port for all the ferrys, but not the actual “Capital” of the island. We has a lovely dinner ashore and did a spot of shopping.
    On the first day of summer we sped in to La Savina bright and early. On our little inflatable punt, we went up through the shallow channel, into the almost-landlocked bay where all the fishing boats are kept.
    Once in the town, Mom and Dad set about trying to negociate a car rental for the day. We went to several different dealerships before settling on a Suzuki Jimini. It was a jeep-style convertible, with openings where the back window would be, and one about the drivers head. It had only two doors and an extremely small boot, but it was just the car for what we had in mind.
    After a quick coffee, we all hopped in the car and sped off. Cruising down the road with the radio blasting, passing fields filled with goats or sheep, solitary trees and wild rosemary was certainly an experience, and not one we will soon forget.
    Our first stop was Sahona, where we spent the night a week beforehand. It was lovely to see the place from a different angle, and when we saw the swell rocking a boat there, we were more than happy not to be in their position!
    The second place on our whistle-stop tour of the island was a lighthouse on the southwestern-most point of Cap De Barbaria. It stood in the middle of a grassy sea, with the wind whispering through it and tiny lizards basking in the sun. You couldn’t go inside the lighthouse, only walk around it, so we went for a little ramble through the fields. The grass, rosemary, and flowers ended abruptly at red cliffs plunging into the sea. Seagulls wheeled overhead whilst the waves crashed against the rocks far, far below.
    I got to walk along the cliffside, while the others piled into the car and drove the roundabout way to the third location, which was an old round tower. The “Torre” (In Spanish) was similar to a Mortello tower, except that it was smaller and slightly reddish.
    After a quick snack back at the car, it was in again all the way to Playa es Arenals, a beach on the south side of Formentera. Dad and i shared a snooze on the sand, before we all went in for a swim!
    Then we went to a small town on the opposite side of the island as Arenals called Es Calo. We had lunch at a lovely cafe, which was next to a small cove that fishermen used to house their boats. The water was beautiful, and there were several boats anchored offshore. Every now and then, a man from one of the other restaurants would walk down to the small pier, hop into his RIB, and speed off to one of the boats. He would return with a crowd onboard, see them up to his workplace, and then hop in again to repeat the whole thing!
    We then went to a town on the more southeasterly point of the island. The town was called El Pilar De La Mola, and is famous (At least on Formentera) for hosting the hippie market! We had a good look around, but the market only really sold artwork and jewellery.
    There was a beautiful viewing point a little back the way, and that was where we went to next. After a walk through the gorgeous pine woods, we arrived at a little rocky outcrop with a view that you’d think could only be seen from a plane! It was amazing to see all of the island from way up high, pointing out the places we had just been to. What’s more, is that here were some extremely curious lizard on the rocks! If you could sit still for a short while, they would nearly try to climb up onto you!
    Our final stop was a church, but not just any old one. This was Capella Siglo XIV, one of the final remaining fortified churches in the world! As by now we were all quite tired, it was a drowsy drive back to the port to return the car. We went from the car rental to the dingy, and then back to the boat for an early night. It had been a great day, and certainly a memorable first of May!

     Notes: This chapter was written by Ruby ^_^    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    The days neighbour.
    Dad enjoying a treat while working on a project!Us all out for some morning exercise.The cupcakes!

    Deja vu in Espalmador

    27 April 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Our second round of days spend in Espalmador passed us all by in a blissful haze. The weather was somewhat mixed, but a damp boat did not dampen our spirts!
    We had multiple different neighbours over the course of our stay, ranging from music-blasting giants to day tripping RIBs. A Scottish yacht by the name of Aphrodite had drinks on the beach with us one night, and as the adults talked, the kids made ludicrous sand-based constructions.
    There was plenty of cooking done during our stay, with us making white yeast bread, blue-iced cupcakes and a delicious chickpea tart one night for dinner. (Courtesy of Margaret)
    We swam daily, sometimes with and sometimes without wetsuits. In the middle of the day, when the temperature was at its max, you could have stayed in for hours! The water was beautifully clear, and just splendid to muck around in.
    On our first stay, about a week beforehand, the beach was white and sparkling as far as the eye could see. However, this was not the case this time around! The rough weather that we hid from in Ibiza marina had not been absent here. About two thirds of the beach was now covered in a layer of dead sea grass! When you walked through it, up to your knees would be covered without your foot even touching the ground.

    Notes: This chapter was written by ruby ^_^    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    The fish here were eager to be fed!

    Sweet Soana

    25 April 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    On Monday the 25th, we left Ibiza town.
    This is something easier said then done, as the morning consisted of shopping, tank-filling and rope removal to no small degree. With hope in our hearts and plans on our mind, we sped out the harbour that we had gladly rushed into only a few days prior.
    Our plan of action revolved around a quiet anchoring harbour named ‘Cala Soana’. It was a beautiful place, with rust-red cliffs and deep, clear water. There was a small beach where the cliffs met; forming a right angle, but a large white hotel dominating it put a stop to any thoughts of further exploration. Soana was truly a beautiful place to spend the evening watching the sun go down.
    The morning came with clear skies….. and high seas. Any water-based activities would not have been the most pleasant, and as that was pretty much the plan, our anchor came up and we left with calmer locations in mind.

    Notes: This chapter was written by Ruby. =]    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Outside Pacha night club
    The new passerelleThe long walk homeA typical Saturday ashore

    Ibiza town

    22 April 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    It’s very exciting being at Ibiza marina with Regal tied up opposite ‘Below Decks’ style superyachts. The commercial units next to the marina office are full of Louis Vuitton, Tag Heuer and Bvlgari. We are in the ‘steerage’ part of the marina - Pontoon ‘L’ beyond the boat storage unit, a 15 minute walk to the office. They keep the likes of us, who hang their laundry above deck and go shopping with granny trolleys, well hidden. Ronan enquires from the marina office about laundry facilities and they direct him to the concierge service. 6 euros to launder a t-shirt they tell him - We don’t even try to calculate how much 2 black bags full would cost.
    There are plenty of ordinary people in Ibiza too as well as a nice sprinkling of the quirky and crusty. So we don’t feel out of place here and and it’s enjoyable to watch the ‘beautiful’ people in their lovely clothes, cars and boats.

    The island is just waking up after winter - the nightclubs don’t open for another week. It will be interesting to see if the dynamic changes once it is open season.

    The town is very pretty, its skyline dominated by the old walls surrounding the upper town with its cathedral perched on top. We go through the gates and walk up into the narrow streets of the old town and enjoy tapas for dinner. Prices are expensive, a soft drink is 3.50 and a homemade lemonade is six euro - of course Ruby and Colm opted for the homemade lemonade!
    The lower part of town at the waterfront is also lovely to walk around with pretty squares, funky shops and cafes as well as high street brands we are delighted to peruse.
    In all honesty we spend very little time touristing over the 4 days we are here. Regal needs attention for a myriad of reasons - the regular chores needing our time; shopping, laundry and little repairs but what dominates these days is minding our dotey boaty in this weather. The wind is strong and changeable and our lines ashore need to be changed around a few times. We are stern-to with one mooring line at the bow. One day she being blown onto the marina and we have to pull her out to prevent her bashing into it. The next day the wind is blowing her off so much that its nearly impossible to reach the pontoon safely. The homemade passerelle we had constructed in Cartagena is not up for the task. We go straight to the nearby industrial estate and walk back carrying a new 2 meter ladder - this is not the image I had in mind when I dreamed of sailing in Ibiza.
    We copy a design for gang planks we had seen on other boats; plastic decking screwed into the ladder and then a rope with a snatch block to raise and lower it. It proves very effective and we can now get on and off the boat again.
    The wind is very strong for these few days and the boat rocks and pulls constantly no matter how many lines and snubbers we have ashore. The pontoon we are on is very exposed to the swell, the wash from the ferries and the wind. We have disturbed sleep every night and on the worst night of wind everyone on the pontoon is up at 4am. We are sleep deprived and in this sense at least we are having the real Ibiza experience.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty

    Horsed into Ibiza Town

    20 April 2022, Spanyol ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Hard to know what else to call this day, what started out as a short 5nm motor to Ibiza Town turned into a crazy mornings weather.
    We knew the wind was forecast to be circa 15kts SW, gusting 20 or so...hugging the coastline we are just over a mile from the harbour entrance as the wind keeps picking up.
    20 kts... 25 kts... 30 kts.. 35.....
    White horses coming at us, our speed is dropping and the wind increasing, 1 mile now to the harbor mouth.
    Increase the revs, again, but speed still dropping, lee shore is only 500m away.
    50 kts gust comes through, her bow won't stay straight, feels like she's being smacked to port and starboard, it's half a mile to the entrance and then we can turn away from the weather.
    An alarm starts sounding, we can't figure out what it is, might be a DSC alarm from a nearby yacht, lots of traffic on the VHF.
    Turn off the VHF but still the alarm continues.
    Could be an engine overheating alarm, throttle back but alarm continues.. Can't slow down or could end up thrown onto the breakwater.
    Around us high speed ferries passing all the time. Meanwhile the alarm continues, Margaret goes on the helm while I try and hunt it down.
    No smoke from the engine room so that seems alright, but every time I look at the engine alarm panel the sound is louder..
    We clear the breakwater and turn into the harbour, now we can throttle back, still the alarm continues... Its loudest back where Margaret is at the helm, adjacent to the engine control panel. Suddenly we discover its AIS proximity alarms on Margarets and Ruby's phones ....no time to think about that, have to concentrate on finding our way into the marina, wind is 25kts plus and gusting, ferries passing each side of us.
    Directed to a berth but after two abortive passes decide we should try another option.
    Turn away to get into an upwind berth, start our approach and discover bow thruster has stopped working, maybe circuit breaker has tripped after the previous berthing efforts.
    Too late to turn back, committed now, have to go for it.
    Marinerios on the dock and in a rib are a welcome hand, plus the concerned neighbours we are trying to come in next to - Patpicha a boat who also wintered in Cartagena.
    Just as we get the dock lines on we see another Cartagena boat 'Kaoz' approaching the marina. They too encountered the 50 kt gusts and have a blown out headsail, plus the skippers wife has sustained a hand injury while trying to control the run away sail. On the radio they are requesting assistance, so the marinerios leave us and head over to them in their RIB.
    Makes us glad to be in and safe.
    We do a little tidy up and sit down for a snack and a drink, relief is certainly the sweetest emotion!
    The ibiza night clubs will have to wait... 24 hours anyway.. 😁
    The next morning we take a walk down to nearby Talamanca beach, just next to the port entrance. There we see the sad sight of two yachts which have been blown up onto the beach. Judging by their otherwise fresh appearance, it's probably fair to say the same storm accounted for them too..    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Cliff top mansion in Ibiza1Colm's chocolate and nut delights

    5 anchor spots

    18 April 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    After our first night at anchor under the mansion-lined cliffs of Ibiza we spend a lovely sunny morning getting back into the groove of anchor living. We inflat the old and the new SUP and take them for a little turn about the bay, we have a wetsuit swim and then take turns trying out the solar shower which is hanging from the boom.
    The wind and swell start to move more southerly and the boat yaws a little from side to side. Since the weather is to stay like this we up anchor and head south to the island of Formentera. We have a great sail with Ruby at the helm and anchor in a sheltered bay on the north of the Island.
    We up anchor in the morning and drop it again an hour later in beautiful Espalmador - a long low-lying sand island. The sun is shining down on the crystal clear turquoise water and Ruby and Colm see a ray swim by as we enter the bay.
    This is as perfect as it gets - There are only two houses on the island and there is no one home. The long stretch of beach has grassy sand dunes behind it and a little woods beyond that. When we go ashore later we see tiny pink flecks in the sand.

    It’s Easter Sunday and there are a few other yachts at anchor here and some charter traffic, mainly big fancy speed boats on day trips from Ibiza. Many of them play loud music - sometimes loud enough so that their guests can still hear it when they have been dropped ashore. Most of the charters only spend an hour or two here and so there is still plenty of serenity to be had.
    We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. We spend our time swimming, snorkelling, supping and diving into the big bag of Easter chocolate our Galway cousins had sent out to us.
    First thing on Monday morning the warden pays us a visit in his rib and asks us to move our anchor spot. His main job is to protect the Posidonia (sea grass) and we had been careful not to anchor near it but he says we are too close to the beach.
    While I go for a swim, Colm helms Regal to another spot and Ronan drops anchor. I feel so happy and proud that the kids are becoming such competent crew. The boat is now further away from where I started my swim and as I haul ass back towards her I realise how vulnerable I am and just how dispensable I am becoming. Note to self - be nice.
    After a bit of homework and baking we take advantage of our new anchor spot close to a little rocky island. The four of us swim and snorkel over and there is lots to see in and around the rocks, sea grass and coral. There are sea cucumbers, rainbow wrasse, sprat and some little brown fish whose names I didn’t catch. When we get back to the boat there are more fish- a shoal of fifty or so of our old friends from Cartagena marina; the Saddled Sea Bream - They are always around and so easy to spot with their single black spot. Their cousins are visiting today too; the Striped Sea Bream. There are hundreds of them furiously feeding on the sea bed right under the boat. Maybe they found the crumbs of our lunch washed down the drain.
    We have three fantastic days at Espalmador but on the third day, as evening approaches, we leave to get ahead of the weather. We motor to Cala Longa, a narrow and rocky bay on the south eastern side of Ibiza. Entering at dusk we can smell the pine from the woods on cliffs above us and we see a few hotels and a nice looking beach tucked inside the bay. We plan to stay here for a few nights to wait out the first spell of wind and rain and the move to a marina on Friday before Saturday’s gale.
    We drop anchor and the night rolls in and unfortunately so does the swell. We weren’t expecting this and we have a broken night listening to the clanks and groans of the anchor and rigging. We feel Regal roll about without any predictable rhythm. The next morning we are tired and become frustrated and a little alarmed trying to reserve a marina for Friday’s bad weather. The marinas won’t allow us to book in advance and with a gale forecast we most definitely don’t want to be caught out with nowhere to go. We bite the bullet and book a spot in Ibiza marina from today and through the weekend - we up anchor for the last time for a while.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Well heeledThe shipping laneNetflix- the best cure for seasicknessIbiza here we comeCalm evening

    We're going to Ibiza😊

    15 April 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We've had Ibiza on our minds with quite a while.
    Back in February '20 we were 6 weeks away from leaving Ireland - and well, we all know how that worked out.
    So now, writing this on the eve of departure from mainland Spain, it feels like another big moment for us.
    It will hopefully mark the start of a slow cruise through the Balerics and Corsica, Sardinia and who knows where....
    But first there's the little matter of getting there... What had seemed to be the prospect of a galloping beam reach has now changed to a close hauled bash..if the forecast is to be believed....will just have to wait and see how it goes
    After anchoring in Calpe on Tuesday night we moved into the marina for two nights to avoid the strong northerly winds. It's a pleasant stop before we transit the 60nm of the Canal de Ibiza.
    Hopefully tomorrow the winds will have eased to 15 kts or so, all going well we could have a good sail with the wind on the beam.
    And here's the live update :
    We leave port at 9am and already it seems less than charming.
    Rounding the headland we have 20 - 25 knots plus dirty gusts coming down from the Rock.
    With two reefs in the main and only a scrap of headsail, there is a 1.5 - 2m swell on the nose with grey skies and seas. Plus a lesser crossing swell from abaft the beam, just to make it interesting.
    Regal is banging into the swell, and worse, only making 4 knots or so. It's going to be a long 60 miles at this rate. With her starboard rail in the water and the scuppers full, I consoled myself by seeing the last of the Saharan dust being washed off.
    Nobody is enjoying this.
    I considered turning back, like another sailor had said to me recently "its supposed to be about enjoyment not endurance".
    I decided to give it an hour and see how it goes. There is a shipping lane coming up, which helps with the decision to carry on, once we enter that we won't want to turn around half way through.
    Margaret plays a blinder rallying the troops with songs and games, it's a great distraction and helps to lift the mood.
    By 12.00 we're in the shipping lane, calling up the cargo ship MSC Carmen who is passing close by, he obligingly alters course to go astern of us.
    At 14.00 the wind starts to back and we shake out the reefs, our speed increases, while helming became easier. Finally we are getting the beam reach we had hoped for.
    By 16.00 we are doing 7kts + with 21nm to go, all good. But shortly after this the wind veers again and we're back reefing - we've certainly shaken off the Cartegna cobwebs now!
    At least the larger swell is moderating now as we start to come into the lee of Ibiza, we're all glad to have an end to the crash and bang.
    By 18.30 we're close under the high coastline, the wind and seas drop and we start the engine. An hour later we're at anchor, tired, relived but very happy to have reached Ibiza.
    It's a lovely landfall and we go to bed happy, looking forward to the promise of a calm and sunny morning.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty

    Calpe

    13 April 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    For our first night in Calpe we are anchored outside the harbour with a great view of the rocky hill of Penon de Ifach. It is the perfect spot to have a sundowner and enjoy the quiet while being so close to twinkling lights of town’s skyline and Benidorm’s metropolis far off in the distance. I am surprised Calpe gets a bad write up in several publications - it looks so pretty to me.
    The next morning we take up residence at the marina is anticipation of rain later and strong wind on the morrow. We stroll into the town along the beach-lined promenade with its many high-rises. Just behind the apartments we find another pretty feature of Calpe; a salt water lagoon dotted with pink flamingos. We have a late lunch in one of beside restaurants - phew that is dinner taken care of too - late lunches are the best.
    Colm and I are eating out again the following day, this time for a late breakfast. We are enjoying our full English when Colm spots someone familiar. He approaches the table and confirms that it is indeed Cathal, his friend and neighbour from Glanmire. He and his parents are as surprised as we are to meet someone they know. They have been coming to Calpe for years and rarely hear an Irish accent.
    Cathal comes back to the boat with us, helping with the shopping on the way. Colm has a great afternoon catching up with Cathal and playing football down by the beach. We join his parents for a drink and they come down to see the boat. They have brought us an Easter Egg which is a lovely surprise as we don’t expect Easter Bunny this year.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    89 nm
    Leaving CartagenaFirst watchGuess who's reading Harry PotterA welcome visitor to break up the dayA new favourite - 'Bedsit toast'Anchor down!

    Restarting sailing - Cartagena to Calpe

    12 April 2022, Western Mediterranean ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    In the last few weeks you could feel a change in the air, with new yachts purposefully passing through Cartagena, the days getting longer and more sailors returning to boats which had been uninhabited over the winter.
    We too have been looking forward to new destinations and lazy days at anchor.
    The Balearic Islands are close by - as near as the Isles of Scilly are to Cork. We hope to spend a slow couple of months there before the busy season of July and August.
    Unfortunately though the weather hasn't been playing ball, after a very mild winter the last few weeks have seen Saharan dust storms and lots of unfavourable wind (cold northerlies).
    Finally we decided to take advantage of a 24 hour weather window and make some ground up the coast. A long day's passage here would put us within 12 hours of Ibiza, so at 5.30 this morning we left our berth and Cartagena. It reminds me of departing A Coruña before dawn - another large commercial harbour with high hills alongside,
    We've spent over six months here now and it certainly feels a bit strange to be leaving.

    It's grey and rolly and feels like it's going to be a long dull day! Thankfully we make good time, a freshly antifouled hull and 2200 RPM both helping. We have the headsail in and out as the day passes by.
    We hope to get as far as Calpe before nightfall, a distance of almost 90 miles, so we need to crack on... So skipping the long tedious bit in the middle... We're here!
    14 hours later we're anchored under the spectacular Penon de Ilfrach. It's a stunning vista, while around us rowing crews are being put through their paces.
    Time to relax with a beer and a sandwich, tired but happy now with the day, and looking forward to the coming season.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty

    Semana Santa

    8 April 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Holy Week celebrations start the Friday before Good Friday in Cartagena. It is a bank holiday and the first procession is at 3am on Friday morning. We don’t attend but the drumming does interrupt our night’s sleep.
    Semana Santa is very big deal here and there is a busy calendar of events for the week including a procession almost daily.
    We go the evening processsion on the first Friday; it is massive and runs for an hour and a half. There are well over a thousand participants with elaborate and immaculate costumes. The costumes are shocking because the hoods remind us of the Ku Klux Klan. As more and more hooded people file past us we acclimatise to this Spanish religious tradition.
    There is a wonderful sense community here and many of the participating groups are intergenerational which is so lovely to see.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Ruby
    ColmMargaretBaking with James on Alchemy

    Gearing up

    5 April 2022, Spanyol ⋅ 🌧 11 °C

    Regal has been docked in Cartagena now for six months. All of us are ready to leave but we are not ready to leave… There is outstanding work yet to be finished on the boat and there is bad weather about.
    A storm comes in for two days on the 4th and 5th of April bringing torrential rain, howling wind and cold weather. The noise of the wind doesn’t stop for two days and I finally understand how the wind gets to people during the wild winters of West Cork. The four of us are down below most of the time and the boat never felt so small. It is challenge for everyone’s patience. Colm gets some respite on board his friend’s James boat. It is a gorgeous 70 motor vessel and they don’t feel the bad weather and even do some baking.
    James and his family had been away for a number of months over winter but since their return we see James everyday and have enjoyed a few get-together’s with his parents.
    We have made connections with several live-a-boards here on the marina and some boats are beginning to leave. We hope our paths will cross again when we are out on the water.
    We are waiting for Juan Pedro to fix the generator and finish wiring up the solar panels so in the meantime we keep going with our own jobs.
    We do ‘The big shop’ several times and load up the bilges with stores - We reckon Ruby could live for at least a month on the cereal and UHT milk stored in her bedroom floor. The hope is that when we are at anchor we will only need to buy fresh food which is easy to transport by dingy.
    We all have go in the bosun’s chair being hoisted up the mast to clean it after the winter and the mucky rain and to double check everything up there is still intact.
    Saturday’s weather is beautiful so we decide to go on a trial sail to check everything is working. It takes ages to make the boat ready for sailing because things that have been thrown down everywhere while we are docked - now they have to be stowed or tied down in advance of the boat heeling over.
    In glorious sunshine we take a two hour trip down the coast and pick up a mooring in a little cove. We swim and snorkel in wetsuits and dry off in the sun. We are getting very excited now about leaving Cartagena and heading out into the wide blue yonder.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    1Joan in the skate park
    The roman amphitheatreThis little fellow was on the apartment door for the duration of their stayLa MangaFancy dinner for two

    Grace Joan

    18 Maret 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    My Mum and Niece come to visit over Patrick’s weekend for four days.
    They are staying in a lovely big apartment in the centre of town. It turns out we all end all up spending a lot of time in the apartment because the weather is so unsettled.
    This January was the driest on record in Cartagena and it turns out that this March is one of the wettest ever recorded.
    Grace and Joan arrive late on the first evening and it is wellies weather the next day. The crew of Regal don full wet gear for the 10 minute walk from the boat to the apartment. We stay put and have a lovely time catching up and playing board games. We have a quick stroll nearby during a dry spell but after 24 hours in Cartagena our visitors haven’t even seen our boat. Later in the evening we hear Irish music coming up from the street which reminds us that it’s St Patrick’s day. Ronan and Joan follow the sound of the fiddles and find their way to a pub where Spaniards have gathered to play trad and celebrate our national day.
    The weather is kinder to us and on the second day we show off Regal and visit several of the main tourist attractions in city. Joan’s enthusiasm is incredible and we all enjoy her marvelling at the wonderful culture, history, geography, nature, workmanship, art, ingenuity and fashion we see as we make our way around Cartagena. She really does take the time to stop and smell the flowers; it is good for us all to be around her and to do as she does.
    The following day there is more marvelling when we drive out to La Manga to see the Mar Menor and the Mediterranean. We find a perfect picnic spot near the water and we see Flamingos in the distance.
    When we get back to Cartagena we make a stop at the skate park so Colm can show us some of his tricks. He often comes up here and hangs out with some local kids as well as a few other boat kids.
    Mum and I go to dinner in a lovely restaurant while the others go to Burger King and Ruby and Colm have (another) sleep over in the apartment. They are a great help packing up the next morning and it turns out most of bags are coming out of the apartment actually belong to Regal - Wet Gear, Laundry, Pots, Board games and food. We really did move in for the few days.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Sweeping up after a sand fall.A cruise ship arrives in covered in sandLa Algameca fisherman's villageThe truck strike

    Crazy Weather

    14 Maret 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Looking outside from the shop window, I think the glass is tinted yellow - but when we go outside the sky is actually orange. My weather forecast says that the air is hazardous.This is Saharan sand and it stays around for days, some times landing as as sand and sometimes as mucky rain. It covers everything and trying to clean up after it is no fun.
    Our decks had been gleaming after a big effort from Ronan and now they are the dirtiest they have ever been. The muck rain especially has stained every rope on board, the sails have lines of brown on them and there is even dirt gathered in the zips of the cockpit covers. It takes several days with our new power hose to get the worse of it out and we hope that time will get rid of the remainder of it.
    In other news - local truck drivers are on strike and as well as blocking the roads and the port their beeping horns are a constant background noise.
    We have a visit from Hilary and Graham, the lovely neighbours we connected with when we were staying in Plym’s lovehomeswap in Andalusia. They are on their way north to their son’s place in Aragon and decided to stop in and catch up with us and see the city of Cartagena. They bring us avocados, lemons and daffodils from their garden. They tell us about a fisherman’s shantytown they visited just over the hill from here so a few days later when we have a rental car we drive over and have a look.
    A few days later we have a rental car so drive over to see it for ourselves. The ‘town’ of Algameca - has been there for nearly a hundred years so even though the houses are rough and ready with no planning or electricity, it is here to stay and it has a charm all of its own.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    2The noise and smoke of day time fireworks

    May in March

    2 Maret 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    The boat is relaunched just in time for my niece May’s arrival. She spends two nights on board Regal and her cousins give her the highlights tour of Cartagena. She is here for a week so we do a little road trip to Valencia where we have booked a love home swap for three nights.
    We are staying in Nacho’s place and he and his family stayed in our house in Cork a few years ago. His apartment is the perfect location for exploring Valencia because its in the city centre. On our first evening we have a great walk around the city and have dinner in the Mercado Colon.
    The next morning we hire bikes for the day and cycle through the city down to the old dry river bed, which is far more beautiful than it sounds. It has been turned into a wonderful park all along the city and we cycle through it as far as the Ciudad de las Artes y Las Ciencias.
    Our jaws drop when we see the white and glass buildings here. It is like something from a Star Wars or a science fiction movie. We cycle in between the buildings, under huge arches and pass several man-made expanses of water, some even have little row boats for hire.
    We continue on our cycle and find our way to the marina and beaches of Valencia. We soak up the Saturday atmosphere as people are out walking, cycling, rollerblading and having their hen nights (days) here. One hen group have a brass band accompanying them as they walk and dance along the promenade.
    After a lovely brunch at a beachside restaurant we cycle back to the Science park to visit the Aquarium. It is huge and we spend 4 hours there moving from the Pacific to the Mediterranean, the Mangroves the Atlantic and the Artic. We love seeing all the amazing fish; Sharks, Jellyfish, clown fish, Rays, barracudas, angel fish. We experience a mix of emotions when we see the Beluga Whales and the Dolphins. At the dolphin show we see them do incredible jumps and tricks and the Belugas too move to the trainers cues. On the one hand it is amazing to see these animals so close up and on the other hand we feel its cruel and feel bad because we are watching. We are happy to leave the show halfway through as a kind of a protest but also just because we have to cycle back to the city and its getting dark.
    The cycle lanes in Valencia are fantastic and they lead us all the way back to the rental shop.
    We get empanadas to take away and have them back at the apartment for dinner.
    This weekend is the beginning of Valencia’s most famous festival; Las Fallas - which will run for the next two weeks and culminates in the burning of lots of huge Papier Mache characters. We won’t be here for that but this evening we will get to see giant figures as they are paraded through the city.
    After a delicious breakfast, of Irish sausages, rashers and pudding, thanks to May, we walk to the plaza del Ayuntamiento.
    We join the thousands of people who have gathered here for the Fallas day time fireworks display. We aren’t sure what to expect. The crowd is full of glee despite the increasingly rain. We are pretty wet by the time the first bang goes off but it was worth waiting for. There isn’t a whole lot to see besides smoke and flashes of light. This show is all about hearing and feeling the fireworks. For ten minutes the noise is so loud it goes right through us. Hundreds if not thousands of bangs reverberate through our bodies and for some reason this makes everyone laugh and clap. As we walk back through the streets adults and children are throwing their own fire crackers and bangers.
    Our ears are ringing and we are wet through so we return to the apartment. The rain continues to get heavier all afternoon and we find out that the parade has been postponed because of the weather.
    It is still raining the next morning when we do a final walk around Valencia to see the Mercado and a some fancy clothes shops.
    We hop in the car and head to our next love home sway in Cullera, a beach resort 40 minutes south of the city. The house is a fabulous American style house up in the hills overlooking the coast. It has a pool, hot tub, gym and a gas fire and an enormous telly. For the next two days max out on all these luxuries and enjoy our time with May.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Burial of the Sardine parade
    One of many sword shopsThe altar in the CathedralRuby wants to live on the other side of the RiverA lovely landmark as we navigate our way back to the carHere comes the Sardine

    Toledo

    28 Februari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    We drive from Granja towards Toledo, passing through the outskirts of Madrid. When I see the Spanish capital from this perspective I realise how enormous it is . There are lots of skyscrapers, none of which we saw when we were there a few days ago.
    An hour later we see the city of Toledo, perched on hill overlooking the river Tagus, the same river Tagus flows out into the Atlantic from Lisbon. We park at the foot of the hill by the bus station and taxi the rest of the way to our accommodation in centre. The taxi beeps the pedestrians out of the way and speeds up and down narrow streets following a complicated one way system. I’m so glad I’m not driving.

    We climb the spiral stairs and take a moment to settle into the apartment. Though tired, we summon the last shard of energy and go back out to get a feel for the town. We join the crowds in the streets below and hear music and it is coming our way. We have accidentally arrived at the right place and at the right time because here comes a parade full of music, dancing, costumes and a big papier-mâché fish! We have happened on the ‘burial of the Sardine’ and this parade is it’s funeral procession complete with mourners dressed up in black. This tradition is celebrated in lots of towns and city’s in Spain and it usual marks the end of Carnival and the beginning of Lent. The crowds follow after the parade and everyone is here for a good time. Long after we have returned to the apartment we hear the singing, music and fire works.
    Toledo Cathedral is so close to our apartment we can see it from the bedroom window. This is our first stop the next morning. We don’t take the audioguides as they have far too many details for our appetite. We just google our way around. My favourite bite-sized piece of the history is about the fire that burned down the market next door to the Cathedral. In the late 14th century the Bishop wanted to build an extension for a cloister. He was in negotiations with the stall holders to buy the Market site but they were reluctant to sell. A mysterious fire broke out and the stalls were destroyed. The bishop bought the site for very little and built the cloister he had always dreamed of . Funnily enough from that day to this no order of monks have ever been in residence there.
    At our next church stop, I decide to double check that we are in the right place before we go in so at the entrance I ask if there are some of El Greco’s paintings inside. The ticket clerk laughs and scoffs and says ‘El Greco painting?!!, This is his masterpiece - ‘the burial of Count of Orgaz’. Once inside it is easy to find because there are so many people standing below it and staring up in admiration. We join them.
    Later my ignorance induces more scoffing at a sword shop. I ask the shop keeper a question that has been on my mind since we arrived in Toledo- ‘ Why are there so many sword shops here’. He looks up from his glasses and tells me that Toledo steel is world famous- well I never knew … I decide to dig some more and ask him how recently this is. ‘Roman times’ he says as he shakes his head. I quickly buy a pen knife with ‘Toledo’ printed on it, thank him and go.
    We continue on my uninformed tour of Toledo and by the end of the day we think we have visited San Martin’s bridge, the Alcazar and the Jewish quarter, but I can’t be sure.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Spanish Killarney
    Happy hotel time

    Granja

    27 Februari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C

    With only a half-baked plan, we arrive into the town of Granja at 6pm following our busy day in Segovia. I park right outside the Posh Parador hotel and feeling lucky go in and ask for a room. They have availability but only for 2 people and being so fancy, don’t do camp beds. A suite is all they offer our little party of three and the price is eye-watering. I go back out to the car, take a breath and begin searching for accommodation online and by phone. 40 minutes later the windows are steamed-up, mirroring my stress level. I let the children know we may have to drive back to Madrid for a bed even though we are exhausted.
    Aware that I am red-faced and flustered I figure that now might actually be the perfect time to chance my arm and twist the arm of the Parador Receptionist. I ham up my panicked state petition her to turn a blind eye to the fact that there are three of us. After some whispering to her colleagues in the back she returns with a smile and proceeds to check us in to a double room. Our three delighted souls scurry through the lobby and dive into our fancy room. Everything in it is big and luxurious and we are here to make the most of it. The bath is run, strawberries and chocolate are smuggled in and Netflix is locked and loaded.
    Although we are 3 abreast in the bed, it is still luxurious and we sleep soundly. My children have inherited my love of buffet breakfasts and they can not hide their excitement. They beam happiness every time they arrive back to the table with another leaning tower of assorted goodies. Love is in the air and they thank me so many times. Ruby even gives me her Mother’s Day card and present a whole month early.
    We are in the perfect mood to enjoy the gardens at the Palacio Real de Granja de San Ildefonso. The Versailles inspired fountains have brought us here and they are beautiful and numerous but they are also empty or not running. In fact these wonderful fountains are off more often than on because they use so much water. They are still very impressive and we would love to return sometime to see them in all their glory. There are only 3 days in every year when they are running simultaneously - the tickets must be like gold dust.
    We spend a lovely few hours walking from one fountain to the other, through formal gardens, along avenues and woods. When we get to the large reservoir lake it feels like we are in Killarney. This is the closest we have come to an Irish landscape in Spain.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty

    The Roman Aqueduct

    26 Februari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    Ronan is still in the boatyard and won’t be launching the boat for another few days. Since the current living conditions on Regal are sub-standard we decide to convert our trip to Madrid into a road trip.
    I am more than a little apprehensive as I drive the rental car out of Estacion de Atocha in the city centre of Madrid. I worry that I will get us rightly lost in this gigantic city. Ruby is promptly promoted to the front seat to help navigate and the google maps lady is on hand. I do what I am told and without much ado we are shortly on the right road and are on our way to see the Aqueduct in Segovia.
    I park outside the town because experience has taught me that Spanish towns can have such warren-like narrow streets to induce palpitations and profuse sweating. As luck would have it, we have parked just by the very top of the Roman Aqueduct. Here it is only hip height and we can see the narrow duct that carried the water nearly 2000 years ago. We have the pleasure of walking along side its walls all the way down the hill into the town. As we decease, the Aqueduct grows so that the duct on top maintains its level. When we reach the town below the duct is now 30 metres high above us. It is incredible. We continue to walk alongside it, marvelling at its 166 Arches until we are at the top of it on the other side.
    Here we have arrived up into the old quarter of Segovia. We wander down along the narrow streets, stopping beside other tourists to admire the impressive Cathedral. We continue on the tourist trail to the Alcazar which is a fairytale castle perched on the edge of the town and overlooking the valley below. It was apparently the inspiration for the Disneyland Castle in Orlando and that is certainly what it looks like with its many towers and turrets.
    As we walk back towards town there are panoramic views over the valley and beyond it to snow-capped mountains.
    In the lower part of the town there are people sitting outside cafes enjoying a drink and a wonderful view of the Aqueduct. We marvel at it once more and then trace its walls all the way back up to the car.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Late nights in MadridColm's covert photo of Guernica - No photos allowedMuseo Reina Sofia

    A Visual Feast

    25 Februari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    We avail of the free entry after 6pm to the Museo Reina Sofia to see Picasso’s ‘Guernica”. It is a huge painting but we have to wait for a gap in the crowd to get an uninterrupted view. It is amazing to see it in real life and we get a better understanding of it because so many of Picasso’s preparatory painting are also on display. We see how his ideas for the painting developed over time.
    There are several floors in the museum all full of incredible paintings and the building itself is a work of art. There is a covered atrium 4 or 5 storey high. We walk in the open space at just under the roof and the lights from night time Madrid make it magical.
    The next morning after a feed of french toast in a lovely cafe, we are ready for more Art appreciation. The Prado museum is next on our hit-list. It is raining heavily when we arrive and there is a queue the length of the building. We are not made of the same tough stuff as these tourists and can’t countenance joining. We approach a steward at the top of the queue and ask about the possibility of free entry in the evening. She kindly opens the barrier and lets us through to the ticket booth to pick up free passes for 6pm. We duck out of the rain and into a second hand shop. While Ruby and Colm entertained themselves dressing up I try to book tickets online for the highly rated illusion museum. The only tickets left for the entire weekend is for 9pm this evening so I book- unsure whether we will have the energy or appetite for it by that late hour!
    We have an afternoon siesta and have a quick walk in the Parc del Retiro to energise before of 6pm booking.
    The Prado museum is home to so many works of art, its impossible to see them all. We skip whole rooms full of masterpieces. The fact that we didn’t queue or pay to get in, gives us a lovely carefree disposition and we enjoy all we see. We take in works by Goya, El Greco, Caravaggio, Bosch, Rubens, Durer, Raphael and Velazquez and others. It is especially nice to see ‘Las Meninas’ because we had seen so many of Picasso’s studies of this painting in the his museum in Barcelona. Some of paintings we see by Velazquez and Goya are of particular interest to us as they feature in ‘Blood and Gold’ a BBC documentary about Spanish history we have recently watched. Ruby was especially good at spotting them in the museum.
    Our feet and eyes are tired when we emerge from Museo Prado and bed is on our minds. We make our way slowly towards our next tourist attraction, filling up on food and fizzy drinks on the way. When we come to the first photo opportunity in the illusion museum a wave of energy hits us and we pose, photograph and laugh our way around for the hour. We are full up with so many visual feasts that when we finally get to bed it feels so nice to close our eyes and go to sleep.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    The Royal Palace
    Mercado de San MiguelBuying Holy BiscuitsThe Palace ArmouryThe palace stairsJewelery Makers heaven

    Madrid

    24 Februari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    While Ronan and Regal settle into their new surroundings of the boatyard, Ruby, Colm and I take the train to Madrid.
    We arrive into the city centre station after dark and do our best to soak up the big city atmosphere while we walk the 20 minutes to our accommodation carrying our bags.
    Our apartment is in the centre of the old town and we start off the next morning, luggage free, on walking route suggested in ‘The Rough guide to Spain’. It brings us to different churches and plazas and we find the convent it mentions that sells biscuits. The biscuits are dry and a bit of a rip off at 10 euros but the experience is worth it. The nuns in the Convento de los Carboneras are an enclosed order and so we do the whole transaction through a rotating wooden shelf and never catch a glimpse of them. This mystery instills in us a momentary religious fervor and we spend the next 20 minutes in Religious shop. The shopkeeper is surprised at our interest in the Priests vestments, church statutes and mass paraphernalia and very kindly shows us the contents of several tiny portable mass kits.
    We continue ramble through Madrid and arrive at the enormous Palacio Real. Once inside we decide to go straight to the Armoury which is incredible - the Armour they have on display is more elaborate than anything we have seen or read about in fact or fiction. It is hard to imagine people moving in the suits not to mind doing battle in them.
    We continue into the main palace and are blown away by one amazing room after another - So many chandeliers, ceramics, gold, silk covered walls, tapestries, carpets, woodwork and plasterwork. Some of the rooms took years to complete. Photography is prohibited which turns out to be a blessing as I would have taken hundreds of pictures.
    We have a lovely Chinese meal and go to a Chinese jewellery making shop before returning to the apartment- we have more touristy things to do later this evening so we watch a few episodes of Brooklyn 99 and have a few chalky convent biscuits to renew our sightseeing strength.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Taberas desert
    The desertSobrasPoor living conditions in LorcaHaulout

    Home for Haul out

    23 Februari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We spend two more nights in Plym’s house after Tom’s departure and reconnect with the lovely neighbours Hilary and Graham.
    On our way back to Cartagena we take a different route in order to travel through the Tabernas desert. The landscape is evocative of the Wild West and there are tourist parks built around abandoned movie sets. The good the bad and the Ugly’ was filmed here or as it translates in spanish - ‘The good, the ugly and the bad’. We find the theme tune on Spotify and listen to it as we drive through the arid terrain. When we stop for a picnic it is dusty everywhere so we eat out of the back of the car. Every time a car drives past us, it throws up a tail of dust. We conclude that this landscape is best enjoyed indoors preferably on a TV screen.
    We stop for coffee in a pretty little town called Sobras, which is built on a height overlooking a dry but verdant river bed. After a wander around we still have an appetite for more sightseeing and decide to drive on to Lorca. It is a city we have driven by several times on our way to and from Anadalusia and we want to explore it, especially the picturesque hilltop fort we have seen from the car so many times. We park downtown which has some lovely old buildings and a pretty square complete with Irish pub. The Castle looks very impressive high on the hill overlooking the city and we start our steep climb through the narrow streets. The steps towards the castle becomes progressively dirtier and more broken up. We find we are a kind of a slum where children play between rubbish and rubble right outside their crumbling houses. We are surprised to find such poor living conditions in Spain. Our enthusiasm for the hike to the castle has waned and so we turn on our heel and return to the car and head home to Cartagena.
    The following day we queue at the abandoned Eroski shopping centre, now a mass vaccination centre and receive our final Covid jabs.

    Our next job is to Haul out the boat so her bottom can be cleaned and anti-fouled. All on board, we motor over to the boatyard to be lifted. The crane raises Regal out of the water just enough for the four of us to step ashore at the bow. We watch as she is lifted out entirely and then parked in the boatyard. She will remain here for a few days and though we are allowed stay onboard three of the four of us opt not to. Ronan volunteers to stay behind and get a push on with some boat jobs. The conditions onboard are borderline grim. It’s cold and dusty with an unsteady climb up and down to the boat, sometimes while carrying the ‘sink’ bucket or the ‘jacks’ bucket. There are a few other hardy bucks who are staying onboard boats in the yard and their good company is a pleasant diversion from the unpleasant living conditions.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    Almond trees

    Tom continued

    9 Februari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    The local area in Lecrin is such a pleasure to walk around because its so quiet and has lots of orange, lemon, olive and almond trees.
    The almond trees are in full bloom with beautiful pink flowers and many still have nuts hanging from them. After any walk, little pockets are always full of fruit and nuts that have been picked along the way.
    Inspired by a book called ‘Driving over Lemons’ the two families drive to Orgiva. This town features in the book written by an English man who bought a farm here. We wind our way up into the mountains and stop off at a fantastic ruined fort in Lanjaron overlooking the valley.
    We have a gorgeous lunch in Orgiva and stroll around the town. There is an unusual mixture of locals and ex-pat hippies in the town. One young British hippie, complete with dreadlocks, backpack and a dog on a string asks us for money. We think this might be West Cork of Spain.
    On another day the two cars travel together to the Science Museum in Granada. It is so big that even though the crew of Regal have been here before, we see completely different things this time. The Robot exhibition, The butterfly house, The human body exhibition, The puzzles in the garden, the Bird of Prey display and the Health and Safety room. The last room is the kids absolute favourite and I have a hard time getting them out of there. They climb scaffolding with their hard hats on, experience a simulated earthquake and write ‘Margaret is a poo’ on several different ergonomic keyboards - there is nothing funnier.

    It is great to have such a lovely house to return to after our outings. We enjoy meals together around the big kitchen table and Ronan always has a gorgeous fire lighting in the evening in the sitting room.
    The piano in the sitting room is beautifully played by my brother Tom and he inspires Ruby and Colm to play. They want to ditch the Ukulele and start to learn the Piano. It’s is so much easier, they tell me - I remind them that I after nearly 10 years of lessons, I still can’t play!    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty

    Tom and Co

    6 Februari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Tom, Orla, Tom, Fionn and Lena fly out to see us and we spend their first two nights in Cartagena. The kids all have a go sleeping on the boat while Tom and Orla stay in an apartment nearby. We all do the highlights tour of Cartagena which we have discovered can be covered in a day.
    The next day we drive to Andalusia to Plym’s house in the valley of Lecrin where the four us had spent a week in November. The house, which is over three floors is perfect for the two families. The kids sleep on the basement floor which has access to the garden. They set up their playroom there and build camps and make lots of paper airplanes.
    A major attraction is all ripe oranges and lemons in the garden and surrounding countryside. A juicing station is set up in the kitchen and there is a flow of children from the orange trees to the juicer. They make it, drink it and spill it and make some more. In the five days they consume their annual recommended dose of vitamin C.
    Although the young cousins are very happy just hanging around and playing together, we have an outing most days. One day Tom and Orla go into Granada city and later I drive the boys in the other car and we meet up in the Sierra Nevada ski resort for tobogganing. We bring our own shovel sledges and also rent better quality two person sledges from the enterprising African street vendors at the bottom of the ski run. We have a great time and after a meal drive down the mountain and are back in Plym’s house in just over an hour.
    …more of Tom’s trip on the next footprint…    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    View of the AlhambraAuroraView from our bedroomMalagaA plastic landscape we pass on our journey

    Aurora in Granada

    21 Januari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    We are in the 9 seater van with the McDonnell’s negotiating the narrow one way streets in the old town of Granada. We finally arrive to the car park at the central Mercado just near the Cathedral and find our amazing top floor apartment which has a big terrace with a view of the Cathedral, the Alhambra the the mountains we have just come down from.
    Tara, Tony and Joanne are so excited because Aurora is here - the au pair they had for the first 7 years of their life. It is lovely to see what a special relationship she has with the McDonnells.
    We have two great days exploring Granada ; highlights included strolling around the Albaicin, going to a trad session in an Irish pub and eating freshly cooked seafood paella from the market on the sunny roof terrace of our apartment.
    We drop the Longfordians to the airport in Malaga and have a wander around the old town before we drive back to Cartagena. One by one we start to feel unwell and after positive antigen tests we are confined to the boat for the following week.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • Doteyboaty
    111

    A visit from Longford

    17 Januari 2022, Spanyol ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    We are delighted to welcome our Longford cousins to Cartagena. Tara, Joanne and Tony bunk in with Ruby and Colm while Jane and Donagh stay a hotel 5 minutes away. We do a highlights tour of the city over a day and a half and then pack up the 9 seater rental van and head for the ski slopes in Sierra Nevada.
    We arrive at dusk and have a quick go zooming down the ski slope on our little shovel sledges. The kids are all exhausted when we are out at dinner so they go home a bit earlier. When we get back to the apartment they have a surprise party ready to celebrate Donagh’s birthday.
    First thing the next morning everyone is up and ready, this is Tara, Tony and Joanne’s first time skiing and they have lesson at 10am. I am not skiing because I twisted my ankle rollerblading down a hill the day before our visitors arrived. I am limping around with crutches so the only thing for me is to be the chalet girl. I cook and clean and bring picnics up the mountain for all the athletes
    They are all really enjoying the skiing and with such a big group different people pair up at different times. Donagh and Colm make a perfect pair and the two of them fly down numerous slopes together. Ruby decides to try out snowboarding, so she hangs out with her cousins on the green slopes.
    At least I get to join in for the apres ski while the kids happily expend their last bit of energy sledging before the sun goes down.
    We have 3 wonderful days in the mountains with the McDonnells.    Baca selengkapnya

    Lihat terjemahan
  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Beranda
  • Tentang kami
  • Penelusuran Kelompok
  • Pers
  • Ketentuan
  • Privasi & Cookies
  • Pusat Bantuan
  • Jejak