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Diana Naindenel
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Oct 01 2022
Along the French Riviera & Côte d’Azur – Part Three
Hello, Sunday, 21st August!
We took the dinghy and visited the Île de Porquerolles, strolled around and bought some fresh salad, fruit and bread. We also had lunch at the restaurant L’Orangeraie, which was outstanding! The especially for me created vegan meal was amazing! 🤩
After two o’clock we were back and started to get ready for our journey to La Grande Motte. A night sail was planned, and ETA was estimated for the next afternoon! Perfect 👍 Patrik had booked two nights in the marina. And Pascale’s train from Montpellier was leaving on the 23rd, after 3 p.m. Plenty of time!
It was a bit cloudy and there were still some waves, between 1.5-2 meters. But they should become less during the afternoon. Wind was predicted around 15 knots, +/-. So far so good!
After more than 2 hours close-hauled motor sailing, with only the genoa out, the waves wouldn’t get smaller – rather the opposite! And they smashed non-stop directly into the bow. Additionally, were the gusts up to 30+ knots and we realized we are in middle of the mighty Mistral….. 😱 It became more and more uncomfortable; Pascale was scared and even I felt queasy for the first time since I started sailing!
In the end we had to reaf the genoa and tried to continue our bumpy and very uncomfy journey.
We were outside Toulon (only!) when Patrik announced that we would never make in time continuing like this, it would take approx. 35-40 hours!
JEEEZZ, well, thanks but no thanks! Imagining two nights like this – and the forecast didn’t look good either – was pure horror! So after a short briefing we decided to return to Porquerolles. Pascale would have to re-arrange her journey home, but she agreed gladly of course 😥
No sooner said than done and Luna Azzurra was turned around 180°. After rough(-ly) 1,5 hours we were back at our old anchor spot and after 7.30 p.m. we were settled and glad to be safe again.
Pascale started to search the net, trying to find a way get to Montpellier, without missing her booked train. We ate our dinner, which was potato salad, vegan sausages and the lovely bread we bought at lunchtime. Who would have thought that we would spend the night at the island again?
The next day, 22nd August, it was sunny and hot. We took the dinghy and booked a berth for two nights. While Patrik and I got Luna Azzurra, Pascale stayed on land, trying to gather more information about how to leave the island. It turned out that there was a ferry at 07.50 a.m. the next day, to Tour Fondue. From there she could catch a bus to Toulon, then a train to Montpellier. The time schedule was tight, and we hoped the trip would go smoothly without delays or bad surprises! At least she speaks fluently French, which made the whole mess a bit more endurable for her ⏳
Our last evening together had arrived and we celebrated with homecooked penne all’arrabbiata, fresh salad and a nice bottle of Porquerolles wine (which apparently is famous and recommendable – yes, we can absolutely confirm that 🍷).
Morning came and after we had coffee it was time to say good-bye! We wished her a safe journey home and waved until the ferry disappeared around the corner. She will always be welcome back, as she is such an easy-to-handle guest 😘
Afterwards Patrik and I started to prepare the laundry, all towels and bedlinen – including ours, plus kitchen towels. Luckily, we were up that early, because we had a couple of loads to be done and the dryer wasn’t the fastest. At 2 p.m. we were finished, we had also cleaned the boat as best as possible, inside at least.
Washing boats on Porquerolles is strictly forbidden, since the island hasn’t an own well and water must be brought by tankships. Sadly, many visitors ignore this rule and wash their boats anyway by filling buckets of water from their freshwater tank, which they refill again afterwards. How shameful and disrespectful! ☹
We then did some grocery shopping again, orange juice, wine, olive oil and prepared our dinner: Ratatouille. Always a must when we’re sailing! *yummy*
Aug 13 2022
One Year……
….has passed since you crossed the rainbow bridge.
We miss you dearly, Odin 🖤🤍
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on ripend grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die
Jul 30 2022
Furry Holiday Guests
Since last weekend we have two furry guests, because their mum – Manu a good friend of us – is on vacation.
May I present: The red one is Shinzõ and Chuí, is his pretty sister.
Both were born as feral cats and Manu rescued them in the end. They are approx. 10 months young.
In the beginning they were very shy, and almost didn’t dare to leave the cellar and explore the rest of our house.
But Shinzõ is the tougher one, so he was first going around, being curious. Chuí followed on Sunday night. Still very careful, but bravely following her brother upstairs.
Luckily, both are used to the litter box, so no problem there.
Since they are still young, we have some action in the house now. Both speeding around, chasing each other up and down, under the couch, behind the door, down to the cellar again….. PAWSOME FUN!
Next Wednesday evening Manu will pick them up and our house will be (too) quiet again 🐱
Jul 23 2022
IKEA did the Trick
A while ago Patrik and I visited his most not so favourite shop: IKEA.
We still need(-ed) some things for Luna Azzurra. Above all we were looking for something suitable for the inner life of the new cupboard in the galley.
Putting things on the bare shelfs wouldn’t be so smart, as a boat is moving constantly. So our idea was to have a type of drawers or baskets sitting on the shelfs, which would hold the contents safely in place.
And as always, we wanted to avoid plastic….. which seemed to be an almost impossible task.
It had to be light, preferably transparent and the right size.
Since we didn’t have a particular product in our mind or knew what we were looking for until we saw it, we literally combed through IKEA. We found a few other handy things on our search. Such as the “laundry octopus”, two big containers to store empty bottles and cans while sailing (yes, plastic, I know…. 😳), and some small organizers made of bamboo.
In the end – and to our surprise – it was in the kid’s department, where we found what we were looking for: Solid metal-baskets. The size fit, height, look, price also…. Perfekt! We bought twelve of those (three per shelf) and three small ones.
The only problem now was that they would destroy the cupboards wooden shelfs, when pushing them out and in again. Then I remembered that I still had some neoprene cloth in the cellar, called shark skin. It’s soft on one side and sticky on the other, which would avoid the baskets sliding around 🦈
So I simply cut fitting stripes and glued them to two rails on the bottom of the baskets 😅
And, voilà:
Ready for Luna Azzurra ⛵💙
Apr 30 2022
Älper One-Pot, Vegan
This is a traditional Swiss meal (well, not the vegan version though… *haha*).
Typically, it’s cooked in central Switzerland and the Alps. In some cantons it’s accompanied with salad, in others apple puree is served instead.
Either way, it’s a delicious dish and this is my first attempt to do it as a one-pot and vegan version.
It serves 2-3.
Patrik and I unanimously agreed that the result turned out to be absolutely tasty 👍
This are the ingredients & how to prepare it:
200g Potatoes, waxy peel and cut into 1cm dices
1 Applecut into 1cm dices
3 Onions fine rings
300gPasta (f.ex. penne)
2.5dl Vegan Cream
6dlVeggie Bouillon
2dl Vegan Cheese grated
Salt, Pepper
Put pasta, apple, onion rings and potatoes together with the cream, bouillon in a wide pot, stir, bring to the boil.
Lower the temperature and let it simmer under a lock at medium heat, for about 8-10 minutes. Until pasta is al dente.
Mix cheese, stir and serve immediately!
Enjoy it with a glass of white or red wine – whatever suits you 🍷🍾
Apr 23 2022
Pasqua
Did you all have a pleasant Easter weekend? We certainly hoppy so 🐰🌷🐥
Naturally, we spent the days in Bella Italia, on our sailing yacht. The weather supposed to be sunny during the whole weekend, though windy with some nasty gusts in between. Temps were promised around 18-22 deg. C. Well, good enough for us 🌞
Since we haven’t seen Luna Azzurra for such a long time, Patrik and I took two extra days off and left already on Wednesday, early morning. Two o’clock in the afternoon we arrived at the marina and got settled quite soon.
Then we went to a nearby grocery shop to buy a few veggies and salad.
We spent the evening on board and had an early night, tired but happy! 😴
The highlight was on Thursday, because my parents arrived in the evening at the Loano train station!
After two attempts – due to the pandemic – they finally made it!
Of course, Patrik and I picked them up (the train arrived 18.25, twenty minutes delayed…. No surprise there 😉) and drove them to their hotel “Excelsior”, which is only a few minutes by foot from the marina.
An hour later I picked them up again and we went to our boat for a quick introduction. At eight o’clock was our table booked at the restaurant “Sacripante Osteria“. Patrik and I went there during lunch time and booked a table. I “warned” them then that I’m vegan but apparently it wasn’t a problem….
…..which they proved a hundred times worth in the evening! We all agreed that this restaurant offers an outstanding service, excellent dishes and is hosted by incredibly amiable staff! It’s not cheap, but certainly worth every cent we’ve spent there! This surely won’t be our last visit ❤
Afterwards my parents were tired and went back to the hotel, while Patrik and I returned to Luna Azzurra. Our plan was to sail out the next day. My dad hat to prove that he was seaworthy 🤢
A sunny Good Friday morning greeted us. No more gusts, but sadly the wind was a bit chilly.
Nevertheless, at 10 o’clock my parents arrived in good spirits and half an hour later we were on our way out. Filling up the diesel tank first (surprisingly only EUR 1.93/l) and off we went, towards Punta Crena.
Unfortunately, we only had between 3 and 5 knots and after a sad attempt to hoist the mainsail, we soon gave up again and motored to our anchor spot.
After we were safely anchored, we prepared some lunch and enjoyed the sunshine and the view.
Around 15.30 we were ready to leave and returned to the marina. My dad didn’t become seasick, by the way, a true seaman ⚓ My mum knew that she is a mermaid, so she didn’t have to worry 🧜♀️!
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