Porto Empedocle – 30^th June to 4th July – N37 17.177 E13 31.669

The first two nights here we anchored in the outer bay, having arrive at night, as usual, and not being sure where to moor up. It’s a good job we didn’t moor up where we thought of the when we arrived in the dark – a very large ferry docked right there at daylight! This town is very much a working port with lots of fishing boats and commercial vessels and is dominated by a rather ugly cement works and hugh powerstation plus the most ugly of modern housing blocks, but somehow it all manages to hang together nicely and the locals are very friendly – our neighbours on the boat have just brought us some fresh organic tomatoes from their garden. Last night we went out for a special meal for my birthday and had plateful after plateful of fresh fish and seafood until our stomachs were bulging. The opening course was a whole roasted octopus!

A couple of days ago we went to Agriamento the local tourist attraction – the most fantastic series of Greek Temples stood on a ridge overlooking the coastal plain. Even Adam was impressed!

The beaches here are fantastic too, with mile upon mile of golden sand backed by white cliffs and pines, but so uncared for or developed its unbelievable. All the tourism there is seems to be local or Italian with a smattering of German and French.

We are off further down the coast today to Porto Palo an anchorage on the SE tip of the island, so will update you in a few days. Love dawn xxx

Deja Vu 4th july – 8^th july

First of all before you read any further i am absolutely fine. Well as fine as you can be after 7 stitches in the testicles without anaesthetic and then the Dr giving you a hypodermic syringe to inject yourself with. However I am fine. This accident was not caused by some bizarre sexual practice, but by me slipping on the deck and catching myself (rather painfully). The Déjà vu is that thirty years ago on my last trip to Italy i also ended up in hospital and relied on my uncle Lionel for some advice. In all fairness to Uncle Lionel he did advise me to get a professional to inject me. I think he meant a medical professional rather than an architect..oh well..... The harbour master Giuseppe drove us to the hospital. Sicilian drivers are pretty fast anyhow, but with someone bleeding on their front seat and an excuse to drive like a lunatic, needless to say there was scorched rubber and handbrake turns. Made the Italian Job look like a good driving commercial.

This all happened just after dawn wrote the above about leaving Porto Empodocle on the 4th. For the next two days i lay in bed (turning over very carefully) and then on the third day i awoke and was fine. Stitches out in a few days but i am feeling fine.

Oh yes dawn has asked me to mention that this did happen on her birthday..talk about stealing someone’s thunder. Anyhow staring at my bloodied under parts will ensure that she will not forget this birthday in a hurry. Phew what i do for people.

Dawn - As we had a few extra unplanned days in Port Empodocle, the children and I took advantage of the beaches and gelati. Just along from the town is a fantasic white chalk powder cliff called la scala dei turchie, after the famous white cliffs in pammakule, turkey, I presume. This is a spectacular sight and was well worth the six mile walk back along the beach to town – Hannah wasn’t so sure though. We had more visits and tomatoes from concerned neighbours and well wishers we had met in town and at the hospital, people were so friendly and couldn’t do enough to help. I think Adams injury will be the talk of the port bar for some time to come!