Brindisi Italy 40:40N 17:58E

Rubicon
Tue 1 Sep 2015 06:45
On Wednesday, after we dropped Andrew and Bianca and kids off in Cavtat, we went to the customs dock, and finished up the paperwork to exit Croatia. We headed to Montenegro, and after a few peaceful hours of motoring, we arrived at Porto Montenegro once again. It is much less stressful entering a country where you already know the place and the routine, although it isn't as exciting. We were given a berth in a very tight spot, but Vlad backed Rubicon in after crabbing her a short way, without a glitch.

Kids wanted to go the the expensive Sushi restaurant, but we resisted, instead going for Pizza. We had trouble finding a place to eat as it was game night for Montenegrin soccer fans. Tivat was hopping! The next day, provisioned a bit, I made a trip to the spa ( very inexpensive) and Vlad checked out the chandlery. Also, made a reservation to get the tax free/duty free fuel at the Porto Montenegro fuel dock. To get the deal, you have to leave Montenegrin waters immediately after you receive the diesel. We were given the options of Saturday at 6 pm or Sunday at noon, so we took the Saturday time, as we had planned to go to Brindisi Italy on an overnight passage. Brindisi was about 95 nautical miles away, so would take at least 12 hours to get there.

Montenegro was hot. It was 35-36 degrees, humid, and what I would describe as 4 showers a day weather. Thankfully when our guests were with us, the weather system was much cooler, by 5-10 degrees.

So off we went on Saturday after getting the tanks filled. We took on over 800L and it only cost 0.50 euros/L. The night of the passage was hot too. We could have just worn a bathing suit the entire night. Unfortunately there was a bit of awkward swell, and it was nausea inducing. Once I got the kids to sleep around 10 pm, after dosing them up with Sturgeon which they readily accepted without complaint, they slept like logs, and didn't wake up until 10 am the next day. Vlad and I were up most of the night, as neither of us could sleep well off watch due to the motion of the boat. Not much wind at times made taking the sails down necessary, which increased the rolling action. Made it into Brindisi at around 1 pm, where the Harbourmaster, the harbour pilot and the marina itself were exceedingly helpful. Vlad went into town and with the help of Roberto translating, calling the right people and driving him from place to place, he was able to get all of the
paperwork completed for customs/entering EU.

I managed to get a SIM card for the phone on my second attempt( apparently you need a passport to get the card.....) and took the kids around town. Brindisi is a dusty somewhat run down place, but I liked it. The food here is wonderful. There are obvious attempts being made to improve the waterfront. The remaining pillar showing the end of the Apian way was a nice touch. Virgil had a house here, and we saw very old pottery from the Mycenaean and later Greek periods. People have been in Brindisi for 3000-4000 years, probably longer.

New plan: head to Sicily, hopefully to Syracusa.