Italy

It All Started with a Glass of Wine

It All Started with a Glass of Wine

Tuscany, Italy When we decided to sell Berkeley East and end our cruising life, we went to the beach and made a long list of “next best things” to do.  We tried to incorporate projects, activities and life experiences that would be fun, exciting, physically challenging, educational, interactive, character building, and memorable. One action we took early […]

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Our ship came in!

Our ship came in!

Genoa, Italy This phrase typically refers to becoming wealthy or successful, so it might seem strange, in a declining economy during a pandemic, that “our ship came in” but it literally did. The BBC Scandanavia docked in Genoa just for us, or more specifically, for Berkeley East. Most people would naturally assume that when we […]

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The Final Farewell

The Final Farewell

Italy Berkeley East and crew have said “arrivederci” to Italy more times than we can recall. Sometimes out of necessity, often in search of a different country, or new adventure. But throughout the past 11 years, BE continually returned to wonderful Italia. And this year was no exception. While the season was brief due to […]

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Mary and Larry’s “Excellent Adventure” Tour

Mary and Larry’s “Excellent Adventure” Tour

Italy Back on mainland Italy; back in Gaeta, Berkeley East’s winter marina for two consecutive years. We never imagined a return to our beloved Italia, but COVID thought otherwise, which presented us with an opportunity to revisit some of our favorite places in Italy. And a visit from Chris and Donna gave us the chance […]

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Donkeys, and other jackasses

Donkeys, and other jackasses

Sardinia, Italy We made the 150-mile crossing from Menorca to Sardinia in calm conditions, under the guidance of a full moon. Rather than barreling into darkness (as is often the case with moving at night) Berkeley East bobbed along steadily, the only sounds being the hum of BE’s engine, and the squawk from the VHF […]

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Follow the checklist

Follow the checklist

Caprera, Italy We have been very disciplined about flying the drone over the last five years and have completed more than 250 flights without incident. While the drone is not overly complicated, there are a lot of moving parts that need to be in sync. To manage this, we have a preflight checklist, just like […]

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Out of Africa

Out of Africa

Sardinia, Italy After a stormy night in Pantelleria, we pulled the dock lines just as the sky began to brighten, and inched Berkeley East, as quietly as possible, out of the small harbor. While we had dodged any controversy concerning BE’s VAT (Value Added Tax) clock with the local authorities, we didn’t want to give […]

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Storm Watch

Storm Watch

Pantelleria, Italy Sitting at anchor in the Edagi Islands, Sicily, we had been looking at the undesirable weather forecast, weighing our options. We still had an urgent need to get Berkeley East out of the European Union, and back again, before the 15th, so the clock was ticking. There were several possibilities. We could sit […]

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Chasing the internet, and insurance

Chasing the internet, and insurance

Favignana, Italy When we first began cruising, 12 years ago, we had to put our computers in watertight bags and take them to shore to access the internet at a local coffee shop, or bar. Boat to boat communication was done via VHF or SSB radio; calls were made with a satellite phone, or more […]

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The farewell tour

The farewell tour

Vulcano, Italy One evening during our winter in North Carolina, when it was snowing outside, and there were holes in our house, we had the brilliant idea to book Berkeley East into Barcelona’s Port Vell for her next winter break. While we typically only commit to a winter berth about halfway through the cruising season, […]

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