We have been in Europe, living on a boat, for three months and few days. I am ready to go home. I am finished with the salty air, am tired of making water, sick of constantly checking the weather, done with worrying about the “state of charge,” over being concerned if we can get fuel at the next marina…the list goes on. Yes, it is beautiful, it is not a cake walk, and you pay a price.

I miss my kids, my friends, my lunch dates, my house, and pedicures. I need a facial. I miss walking around the corner to Sarah’s Home, chatting, getting an iced coffee, and a new puzzle. I want to help Katie with wedding plans…

Rich and I have a bet over haircuts. I desperately need a cut (short hair requires a cut about every three weeks to keep it looking sharp, at least to me) so I am VERY overdue! If I do not get my hair cut before we go home, my prize is a necklace from Tendenza Jewelry, NYC. If I find a haircut girl, as Annie says, and get cut it, Rich wins. Wins what? Perhaps money to fix all the things he broke on the boat!! Either way, I do believe I will be earning the necklace since I have been such an exemplary first mate!

Rich’s brother Tim and his girlfriend, Angela, are on their way to Santorini, Greece to meet us. Our concerns now are the Greek Meltemi winds coming our way. These winds blow north to south and can be severe. In France, there are Mistrial winds. Starting in Germany, these winds blow south through the Rhone River valley into the Med just west of Marseilles. We encountered these last year. The United States gets the Nor’easter winds.

While sailing, we search for protected bays to anchor, and go from there. We have stopped in Poros and then, after two days of sailing hell, in Mykonos. We did not go into Mykonos proper. The amount of mega cruise ships (three plus and counting) in the bay and the commotion on the dock, made us rethink the thought of getting into that crazed mix. Besides, a local dinner is always better and never disappoints!

Since we have been in Europe, the weather has been on the incline temperature wise. It was hard to remember just how cold we were when we first arrived! Now, the temperatures are in the mid eighties with dry air and no humidity. The water is on the cooler side. I have been in the water three times for probably a total of four minutes! I would like to swim more but it is just too cold for me. Funny, the cooler water does not seem to be bothersome for everyone else. They enjoy all of the activities the water and beaches have to offer.

We have also found that everyone wants to practice speaking English so it is not imperative to speak the country’s native language. Too, depending on the region of the country you are in, dialects differ slightly. We know a few phrases to get by but know nothing in Greek. I am not sure how children even learn to write the language let alone speak it. I finally fully understand the expression “it is Greek to me!”