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Patrik Naindenel
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Oct 19 2019
A trip to a war zone or?
Our holiday is over since a while back now and we both are back to reality again.
As normal it is hard to come back specially as nowadays your mailbox are filled with a few hundreds of email which will be needed to plough through. The good is that 50% of all emails is direct for the waste bin.
Anyway I had time to stay approximate two weeks in the office and to get everything back in order then I had to head out for Turkey.
It was planed as a simple four days trip together with a service technician from our German office whom I would help. I needed at the same time to meet the customers project team.
The service technician was planned or booked to stay for two weeks. This to be able to finish up everything and hand over the system to the customer.
The first four days became five days for me which was OK, I came back home Saturday instead as the planned Friday. So no big deal really.
The problem started first Monday morning when I was back at office. And approximately 07:30 when a call from the customer came telling me. Your service technician is leaving with the first available flight!. This as the customer understood due to the war between Turkey and Syria. We were after all in Istanbul and more than 800 km north from any war zone so no danger.
I realised a really busy/chaos Monday would start! The start was calling the technician. He explained that his department boss in Germany had ordered him home with first available flight. When I asked why? He explained there was a German warning for travel to Turkey! I told him that the warning is only at the boarder zone. Between Turkey and Syria and this warning counts for most countries! No problem really. In the end we decided it would be best if I called his boss.
I called his boss which was the biggest waste of time in my life as he thought the bombs was flying over his service technicians head. No point wasting time with him, better prepare plan B.
In the end as no available technicians was around plan B went in the wast bin too. The solution was, I had to go back once more which was plan C.
So when arriving on the shipyard again. The customer was really happy and welcomed me back as the big saviour of the day. A few jokes was told as well about my travel back and forward. As well about our german branch office and the policy they have.
In the end I stayed the whole week. Travel back on the Friday and was back home approx. five o’clock. Everything went as planned and we managed to finalise what I should.
When I arrived home Diana together with friends from Luxembourg was waiting. Restaurant was booked already I came home perfect in time to say hello and have a quick shower and off we went to dinner.
Sep 21 2019
Over night sailing from Loano to Rosignano and our visit to Naples
Our over night sailing between Loano to Rosignano and our visit to Naples.
This is a short movie from our first post on or holiday inclusive arriving Cala de’ Medici shipyard in Rosignano and our visit Naples.
Aug 17 2019
We hope for the best but plan for the worst.
It start to come close to our holiday and the planing start to become real … and. …. Hhmmm soon some stress might come in as well.
It is me as so called skippers to write a post. Even though Diana is as much skipper and have the same education. Anyway it is quite an easy post only to show preliminary planed routes (fit to me perfect). Weather is will decide in the end and we are only human and have to follow suit and cannot do much more.
As Diana wrote some weeks ago we will leave home Saturday morning early (05:00): This to be able to arrive Loano before lunch. In Loano just take onboard all our gear and leave (OK we have a few small stuff to do before).
As we have seen it seems to be perfect winds and weather during our crossing of Gulf of Genoa. Winds between 10 and 15 knot with a temperature around. 25°C. We keep our fingers crossed that it stay like this. It would be wonderful to go under sail the complete voyage.
A overnight sailing is what we miss both Diana and I. It is hard to explain the feeling when you reach your goal one ore two days later. …
When Luna Azzurra is in Rosignano on the shipyard we will do some other traveling but this Diana will write about later on.
This is the preliminary route the we plan to sail.
We start of course in Loano and cross Gulf of Genoa to Rosignano. from there when Luna Azzurra is ready we will sail further south to the island of Elba where Napoleon was in prison during some years.
Our first leg from Rosignano will be approximately 37 NM to the bay of Procchio. this will take 5 -6 hours. Then finally we can jump in the warm Mediterranean sea for a nice swim in the late afternoon.
Second leg will be just around the corner to a city named Porto Ferrano if we can get some space in the marina. That might be hard as it is a tiny marina.
If no space we can sail a few nautical miles longer for an anchorage or we stay in the bay of Porto Ferrano and anchor there. We do have a dingy to drive in to town.
Third leg is to Porto Azzurro which was strongly recommended by Dianas brother. here we will for sure stay in the marina.
Next is over to a bay named marina di campo for a night on the hook and a swim in the bay. This is planned to be the last stop at Elba.
Next stop is planned to be on a little island named Capraia Island. Which is placed north west of Elba and east of the most northern part of Corse.
From Capraia we will head for Corse itself. Maybe for an anchorage on the east top of Corse. Or we sail all the way to Port Saint Florent. Depending of weather as usual.
Then comes the last Corse jump over to a village named Calvi where we will fill up diesel and water. Maybe enjoy a night or two before heading home. The last leg is the 97 NM crossing of the Ligurian Sea. This will be the second over night sailing. The first was the 105 NM crossing off Gulf of Genoa.
This route is approximately 400 Nautical miles in total. With two long legs of 100 NM each. The rest will be only a few hours jumps where we can just enjoy.
This is as everyone with some experience of the sea a preliminary planning. For those who follow us knows how we had it September 2018. Anyhow In the end the weather might force us to sail close to the cost of the Italian mainland home. Even so it will be a great holiday.
You should always think positive and enjoy life. Not be negative…. there is enough of those people around already.
We hope for the best but plan for the worst.
Jun 29 2019
A summer day in Zurich.
When I was in Sweden beginning of June I received information that my passport had arrived at the Swedish Embassy in Bern. As it would take a few day before it arrived the Consulate of Sweden in Zurich it was no stress really.
The week after I came back from Sweden I had a lot of work to do and no time either to pickup the passport.
Anyhow the day came and it was a wonderful day with approx. 30°C when I left with the train to Zürich Stadelhofen train station which is close to Lake Zürich and maybe 200 meter away from the Consulate.
As it was really warm outside with no wind or any cooling effect at all It was nice when coming inside the consulate which is laying really beautiful on a green inner yard.
It was quite forward to get the new documents. Only hand over the old one for destruction and then sign that you have received the new once, of course pay some handling fee😉. All in all it took 10 minutes and cost me CHF 17.
When I had received my documents I took a short stroll down to the Lake of Zürich which is 100 meter away from the Consulate.
When I was down there I took some pictures as you can see in the post.
Of course as everyone else I have an ice-cream as well.
Jun 08 2019
Running out of senior high school (gymnasium)
As my godson was ending senior high school I was up for the event in Helsingborg, Sweden. Running out of gymnasium as it is called (freely translated). This is a really big event in Sweden it is a must to one day in life. So if anyone have the chance and are in Sweden beginning of June I recommend to take a look.
Anyhow Diana drove me to the train-station Tuesday morning and left me there, as she could not take off from work due to colleagues who had holiday. I had to go alone this time. So I went by train to Zurich airport which takes me 25 minutes. Everything went smoothly concerning the trip including security and flight.
It was first when I was waiting for my luggage in Copenhagen it stopped a little. This must be one of the slowest airports in the world handing out luggage. Looks good when coming to the belt (It’s written 20 minutes) the last 1 min takes approx 30 minutes though. In the end this time I had a new speed record…. it took only 43 minutes (earlier record was 55 min). Now I knows why they have restaurants in the luggage area. Only airport have seen this on during all my travel.
After receiving my luggage I took the train up to Helsingør in Denmark. From there and beside the train the ferry for Helsingborg, Sweden is leaving. I arrived Sweden 3 pm and headed for the hotel.
Check-in at the hotel and had a shower. Then my parents picked me up and we drove to my sister which son is my godson and who was to end school the day after. We stopped only to say hello and see you tomorrow.
After we left for my parents place where we had a nice dinner and a good chat. Took the bus back to my hotel about 11 pm and headed for bed 10 and out. The day after I woke up to a blue sky and a wonderful day 30°C. was promised. Which I love but thought could be quite hot when standing outside the whole day.
I was picked up at apron 12 o’clock by my parents again. We drove to the place where the students for this school was running out of gymnasium. The name of the place was Sundspärlan which is in a nice park.
We did not have much of shade even if it was in a park. Of course were we was waiting not many trees were around.
Later we drove down to Råå Marina for lunch my parents and I. Was nice to take a stroll down there as well after lunch and cool down a little.
Then back downtown for me to make me ready for the evenings event at my sisters place. On my way to the hotel I arrived in the middle of the parade for all students as is common in Sweden.
Back to the hotel and the second shower of the day changing of cloth again. Good that I had two sets of shirts with such a heat.
At 6 pm I was picked up once more for the ride to my sister and husband for a nice dinner. Here I meet my own kids as we who came in from Gothenburg for this event. It was wonderful to meet everyone and we had a great and funny evening. The food we shouldn’t forget which was outstanding and made by my sister and her husband.
We where going on until close to midnight before it was time to head back to the hotel again.
Thursday morning at 10 am my home journey started with a short walk down to the ferry. Blue sky and 26-28°C which fitted perfectly to the Swedish national day.
When arriving home Diana was picking me up at Frauenfeld train station which was covered with clouds and a temperature of 17°C.
Jun 01 2019
Passport challenges at renewal
.My passport was on its way to expire and as it nowadays is mandatory to book a time for renewal of the passport. I thought that I will book a time really good in advance this time.
What a surprise I had when I realised that it was 4 month waiting time at the Embassy in Bern, Switzerland where I do my passport !!!!
I didn’t had a clue that there lived so many people in Switzerland.
Anyhow I come with the smart idea to do it in Sweden as I will be in Helsingborg between the 4th -to6th of June.
Went to the platform where you shall book your time …. and … As well fully booked for the next 3 month in the complete southern Sweden!!! Seems like everyone needs a new passport in Sweden.
Anyhow I thought why not call the Embassy and ask if there might be an error in their booking system.
The person answered at the Embassy did confirm that they where fully booked and she asked if I shouldn’t travel to Sweden soon and could do it there? I explained that I had already checked that out but no chance (fully booked).
Then she asked if I shouldn’t travel to some other country and be close to a Swedish Embassy… I had to say NO on that suggestion as well. Last she asked if I would travel much for the next months. If there was no chance to wait with a new passport. I had to tell her that I cannot wait either.
Then she gave me the email address direct to responsible person for passports at the Embassy in Bern and told me to explain that I am travel a lot and need my passport and if could help me.
This I did plus informed here of my next 3 trips which I had booked in plus asked if she could squeeze me in somewhere.
The day-after she answered and told me that I could come when the Embassy was closed for lunch. This I accepted and confirmed direct. I was impressed that the Embassy was so flexible and helpful.
I got my time and the information that I must fill in a document which state that I am Swedish citizen. Thought it strange though I have a Swedish passport already.
But anyhow that done all other papers filled in. Off I went to the Embassy in Bern and did my passport.
In the end everything went good. Now I am waiting to picking it up at the Swedish consulate in Zurich.
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