Riposto it is not far from the largest active volcano in Europe. Etna is about 3250 m above sea level. We organize a rental car and will soon be traveling towards the Rifugio Sapienza. A winding path with stunning natural scenery and impressions to expect. After about 1 hour we reach the station of the gondola, which brings us closer to the Ätnagipfel. Then we can switch on a Mercedes Unimog and we drive on a dirt road that leads through gray corridors in the snow near the summit at 3000 m altitude.
A biting, cold wind greets us. We go through a bizarre landscape, as I put it to me on the moon. In the near future are closer to the crater of the volcano eruptions from 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Every year formed the rank and file, a new crater. Impressive! We are impressed
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On 19 May we go early in the morning sail from Brindisi. We are pleased once again to sail again and head towards Otranto. After 45 nautical miles north winds with 3 to 5 applicants, we are making good progress. The waves are high and rough from the previous day, we are happy sailing with aft winds can be. At night we lay in Otranto, as it blows in the harbor at 20 knots, at the pier at.
Otranto is a very pretty town, well maintained and renovated in a gentle way. The Castle has a specific plan and is affiliated sent to the old town.
We meet many nice neighbors ship and there is always plenty to talk about how to replace. (Applying to the pier with mooring without the current 19 €) Read full post »
Our boat is moored in the marina well and as we take a shore excursion to the province of Lecce, the capital to make. In the morning we drive to pack our folding bikes to the station of Brindisi, that in their pockets and take minutes by train in about 35 minutes. to Lecce. There we are happy to explore the vast and interesting old town with the bike.
The baroque Lecce has beautiful churches, squares and a Roman amphitheater.
Castle lovers bring a lucky charm against the lamppost.
We have found here in Brindisi, just outside the center of a very fine butcher's shop. The specialty of the butcher's "sausage con mozzarella", in Switzerland, would it be called farmer sausage. Especially tasty thing is that is added to the minced ingredients, mozzarella, parsley and a little tomato sauce. We have grilled it on our gas grill sausages over a low heat and are thrilled by the result.
We put in opposite the Castello's in the Lega Navale (23 €). At the town pier can be created freely, but it has no electricity and water available. Since we want to do some work, we opt for the Lega Navale.Hier we have electricity, water, shower, toilet and do something even more time to stuff. The first thing is to work ... a Sch. Our Baby Blake toilet needs to be revised urgently. We take everything apart and cleaned all parts of sand and have to think that we will soon all pumps and parts repainted, fitted with new gaskets and put together again soon. 
Which is not so. After priming, we realize our two-component paint for painting is too thick. We decide on the next day to buy new paint, everything to grind to emphasize again and again. So goes well then have been looking for the next day with paint shop, learn to know Brindisi, sand and repaint.
like new! Read full post »
A sailing outperforms the others. The journey to Brindisi's wonderful, we would prefer to just keep gesegelt.Brindisi has a large natural harbor one drives past the industrial area with large investors for the freighter, then sifted the bollards of the ferry, and soon you can see the beautiful old town of Brindisi.
Vis-à-vis the old town in the district Cesale is a large monument, which is dedicated to the seafarers. After 250 steps you can enjoy a stunning panoramic view.
The next day it goes great with raumen winds to Villa Nova, a small harbor with unfortunately very little depth. These are even smaller than indicated in the pilot book. In the Lega Navale will not let us create one that is not enough depth, but we can not quite believe, because it has there are other yachts at about the same depth. He recommends a buoy us to take what we do. With only about 15 cm of water under the keel, fortunately we still spend a quiet night.
On Tuesday's off further south. This time, vote for weather forecasts and we enjoy a fantastic sailing with aft winds. We can try out our new Genoa II, and are excited how great it can sail before the wind with our two Genoa. 
At 13 ° ° clock is from Bari across, but the wind is so good that we notify the next target and 15 nautical miles to sail on to Bari Mola. The Circolo Nautico, a private marina, we create a 16 ° ° (33 € / night).
On Sunday, 05/03/09 at 8 ° ° Clock we solve the lines adopted in Vieste and ourselves inwardly from the many beautiful moments that we have experienced here. 
The weather forecast predicts Northwest winds at 5 Beaufort, ie wind at 16 - h 38 km / - 21 kn / h or 29 This promises a quick ride on the aft (rear) winds. Everything is different. We have just a very weak westerly winds to southern and wind directly on the nose. We have engines for the whole trip, but the mainsail down for stabilization, because we have high waves from the north and then from side to giving a bumpy ride. Lilian leisure also only grow sea legs back and felt pretty tired.
Immense joy we have that greeted us shortly after Vieste a dolphin with his jumps in the sea. A good Ohmen!
After 7 hours and 40 miles back down, we reach the pretty town of Trani wonderful. We put in the Comune of Trani (27 € / night). The harbor is surrounded by historic homes, churches and squares. We like it so much that we decide to spend another day in Trani in order to discover the town. Fast bikes are unpacked and ready to go.
