We have been in Salerno longer than anticipated but are finally off, meandering further south down the coast of Italy.

Our weather has been favorable, the days continue to get longer and warmer, and we have had bouts of wind enabling us to sail, not just noisily motor sail. We are traveling between five to nine hours a day, anchoring at day’s end in the more favorable anchorages of sand. These anchorages are usually close to the shoreline or land. At anchor we have listened to the sounds of trains, cars, motor boats, helicopters, airplanes, emergency vehicles, roosters, sheep, saxophone players, nightclub music, and good old banter and squealing! With sailing days being as dull as dish water, anticipating what crazy sounds you will hear at night gives you something to think about. Thank goodness for books, exercises, and crafts to help pass the time!

(06/11) We are anchored opposite the city of Messina, known for being Sicily’s capital city and considered the door of Sicily. Messina is home to two of the oldest sanctuaries in Italy, Greek inspired ruins, and Roman monuments. It was founded in the 8th century by the Greeks and is also the city in which the Plague (Black Death) entered Europe on Genoese ships from Caffa.

Here are photos along the way. If you look in the middle of the photo of Cetrano, the strip is an elevator to the beach club! Hard to see, but wild.

As said before, the hilly like mountains are abundant with vegetation. The landscape is also more horizontal than vertical, if that makes any sense. The countryside has almost a pastoral feel like that depicted in the landscapes painted by the Old Masters. I am not a big fan of that type of painting, but now can appreciate the different hues of green, a slash of yellow, all against the snowy clouds and light blue skies. I much prefer the vividness of Van Gogh’s landscapes!

The subdued colors of St. Tropez and the colorful homes of Cinque Terre are long gone. Instead, the homes hugging the shoreline now are white with red barrel clay tile roofs or known in the USA as Mission roof tiles.

Beach clubs are heavily sprinkled along the coast, although they are not in full use. In fact, lots of clubs are still preparing for the throng of sun seekers who will appear in July and August. The locals, though, sure do enjoy the water and beaches just as they are!