Diana Naindenel

Author's posts

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!

fee17f7b-9247-4c8c-a2b8-949bba4d5b85
fa4bc862-e153-4380-acc3-9e2a4b0b5b6e
0844ed69-60b0-43a7-b79e-53ddcf8ab379
Shadow

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.

b5fea9b0-72ff-4f79-837f-3bdd92934aa9
6c8bd2a7-e365-4703-8377-5efe04f0fb5c
29dc389f-64e9-4e53-9feb-cda026069397
94de7742-695a-4c0b-877a-77406e4c17dd
a27baab0-6dcb-44c4-b229-5a2a29b7d1c3
ff9f637f-ec1d-46b2-8137-2f92f039949d
IMG_9692
IMG_9690
d8cff697-fde0-4ca2-9d54-b0471014d70c
2264f96f-d05a-410d-b80b-36a837eee973
Shadow

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 😘

IMG_9710
IMG_9715
cc5e6ae9-61f7-441a-8563-e20305f76874
IMG_9682
IMG_9723
IMG_9729
IMG_9728
bf61d2e2-3004-4229-ab66-bdc08fa050cf
Shadow

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*

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

c9f9ff33-f3f2-4a57-a46d-4943808de0d1
Shadow

 

 

 

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.

ed78fb41-be7a-489f-8ec2-79ced3501a28
Shadow

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!

76ca2ccb-6740-44c7-93f6-464ce0698af2
5c9b2c59-b9f1-41cf-90ff-58c50c821fe9
8b7d376e-b1c3-4027-964d-3dd0baeb5076
9acc0bd7-76b3-46ce-ac1a-cb687b481a85
9076c163-3612-4c1b-901d-bbaa8391a1ff
30d77b17-2dea-4cd9-b9e0-526daf21648c
c3ead926-f164-49ad-93c0-c0d9cf84f53c
Shadow

Next Wednesday evening Manu will pick them up and our house will be (too) quiet again 🐱

 

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.

6ecd47b1-ae7e-4fc0-958d-e2300bd255ef
Shadow

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.

6e2e1b75-388d-4570-9d46-252e38850230
63e08497-ebc5-4bf2-b1df-3959288f3c34
ac5af37e-48bd-45d5-9acf-7a19d2eb2f76
f135549c-ae6f-4464-9c69-65aa81de2ddc
Shadow

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:

068543c2-fc8a-4437-ab80-84fe1fbb8daa
b4bb80b3-e23e-4cbd-bad6-5f88370aacae
065572b8-4b28-46b8-a79a-3fda8b48e233
c8975dce-1a6b-4a32-99c9-1a05f3a91d30
Shadow

Ready for Luna Azzurra ⛵💙

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. 

IMG_8597
IMG_8596
IMG_8598
IMG_8599
IMG_8603
Shadow

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!

IMG_8605
IMG_8604
IMG_8606
IMG_8608
Shadow

Enjoy it with a glass of white or red wine – whatever suits you 🍷🍾

 

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.

IMG_8545
IMG_8544
IMG_8546
IMG_8548
9ddc5b44-30fc-4e51-a701-dc3302d3a485
Shadow

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 🤢

347cfe0d-a984-4f25-83bc-e217ae4dad79
09f49eab-244d-4b76-a25e-496d5fc83cb1
82583432-da18-46dc-8113-2d27374d43e2
b30e10a8-2dac-4b5a-b67c-24d872db171b
IMG_8549
Shadow

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 🧜‍♀️!

IMG_8554
IMG_8555
IMG_8553
IMG_8556
5d7bc42b-0d72-4531-b0dd-cca2da7d39be
Shadow

 

Happy Easter🐣!

We Wish you All A Wonderful Easter! 

🐥🌷🐰🌞

 

Stop the Bloodbath

http://stopthebloodbath.afd.org.au/petition