Only two hours from Ischia is Capri, still in the bay of Naples. We have been used to villages on rock islands thus far, but Capri is different. Capri is a high rock island about 6 kms long, but this place takes your breath away. The town of Capri is one of the most sophisticated, attractive resort towns in the world. There are beautiful shops, restaurants, hotels, gardens and flowers everywhere. It is a real tourist destination and being Sunday the place is pack...

We are off early to 'Ischia' about a four hour cruise from Ponza, we arrived around lunch time. Paul went into the shore to see the Harbour master in the small village of 'San Angelo'. He agreed we could anchor outside the Harbour at no cost. Janet was here with her friend Trish last year, it is a beautiful small village. It is a predominantly white village with dabs of color. There are narrow walkways nice shops and restaurants. There are also many thermal spa ...

We have been away a week already, but it feels like a month. We are very relaxed. Today we cruised from Porto Ercole to the island of Ponza in the Tuscan archipelago. The wind is strong and the sea slightly bigger it was a 10 hour bumpy trip over, arriving about 5 pm at this rugged rock island with a delightful and colorful Mediterranean village. There is interesting history here with some notable Roman persons being exiled here about 30-40 BCE, such as Nero's mo...

We had an early start to our four hour cruise from Porto Ercole. The weather looks threatening, heavy clouds and misty the wind is rising. We steamed past Giglio Island to see the tragic wreck of the Costa Concordia. It looks sad lying on its side in front of a small village. We then head north arriving at a spacious bay on the south side of Elba. We are opposite a sandy beach with the usual rows of multicolored umbrellas and deck chairs. We head into the shore ...

We had a great flight from Melbourne to Rome in the A380 we had 9 hours sleep in the first leg, plus a massage at Dubai airport. The Black Pearl is now in the Marina at Porto Ercole it is great to see her and the crew. There are two new member Esther (chef) and Lachy (first mate). Niels has unfortunately broken his arm and cannot join the ship until Athens. We have our first night back with the crew for dinner where we talk about our various adventures, they te...