Heavenly Horta on the Horizon

YES! It's true, Victory, Luctor et emergo (and all that). We made it in one piece.

Well, I say that, but the truth is that during the first two days, I nearly puked (uh, huh, I did just say PUKE) myself in half !!!!! Ohhhh, those lovely, rolling ocean waves. There's nothing quite like them. I've never seen Eric look so worried. It was comical really.

However, the good news is that it took just two days and after that I got 'ingeslingerd'.

The exact translation for that would be 'flung in'. In other words, once you get used to being flung from one side of the boat to the other, and once that little balance gadget in your ear adjusts to all the 'flinging, flying, bumping and grinding (of teeth!)', you're ok.

After that it was just one, awesome experience.

There was a lot of proper sailing activity (mainly by the others, because I just couldn't seem to catch up with what was going on, fast enough) and yes, there was also a lot of waiting and sitting and trying to keep our eyes open during the night shifts, but with the dawning of the day, when the first rays of sunshine (which we had a lot of) hit the waves, I felt a surge of wonder and respect for the elements fill my heart.

I loved the way that the Ithaka rode those mighty waves with an elegance befitting a true Lady.

.......more to come (with piccies)

Here we go/no more blogs

Today at 11.00 am., we set off to the Azores. We had a trial sail yesterday and I realised there's a lot to learn still, but people are kind and patient.

I'm sorry to say that there will be no possibility for me to post any more blogs.

So sorry for all those who were waiting with eager anticipation for all my juicy stories.

For those who really want to know what's going on (and who know my family) I have told my sis Marlies and my parents how we are being traced by satellite and hopefully they will know a little more.

We should arrive at the Azores in approx. 2 weeks and I'm hoping to tell you more then.

Till then (I hope).

Love to all XX Eric and Son

karakter/character

Dear Diary (just kidding)

I'm sitting in my favorite chair of the Sunset Café, overlooking the clear, turquoise sea, blogging away.

I was thinking how fortunate I was, knowing that my home and cats (see picture) and everything else were left in the capable hands of the lovely Mrs. J.

I met her for the first time when I moved into my new home in July last year. Since then she has been nothing but encouraging and supportive.

It just so happens that the son of Mrs. J. lives on St. Maarten and we met up with him and his girlfriend (+two friends of theirs) yesterday (we had brought a huge lump of cheese with us, which Mrs. J had bought at our local farm in Holland, to give to son & co.)

They decided that us just handing over this cheese to them wasn't good enough and we ended up spending most of the day together.

The cheese was smiled at, admired then placed, with tender care, in a bag, covered with tons of icecubes and travelled with us, without ever being left out of sight. Good call Mrs. J.!
We had sun, we had heavy rain, we braved the waves and were then driven around the island to a cool place (an old bus, turned into a bar/restaurant called karakter) on the beach where we enjoyed some good food. And, as if it wasn't enough, they decided to drive us all the way back to our hotel. It was a great day and we spent it with some great people.

(picture of bus-café-restaurant, taken by Eric)

arrival

We have arrived!

We were picked up from Juliana Airport (after a 9 hour flight) by .... boat!
Actually, Marja and Michel were kind enough help us carry our (extremely heavy) bags from the airport to a nice cafe by the sea where we enjoyed our Presidente and Carib lager and then SPED in their dinghy to the very impressive Ithaka. My goodness, she's amazing. Hopefully, I'll be a 'worthy' crew member and maybe I'll be able to send a few more photo's next week.

They then took us to our lovely hotel (see picture above of Eric on our balcony with beautiful view) where we had a fantastic meal in the Sunset Cafe and we didn't go to bed until 5 am Dutch time.
The drive to the Hotel brought me right back to my days as a child in Venezuela. The window completely open so I could feel the warm air, hear the sounds of people gathering on their brightly lit patio's and smell the smells of some 'fine cookin'.
Only my family will understand the next Dutch phrase, it was "Lekker windje voelen" all over again.

I've already had my first swim in the warm sea (YAY!!). The temperature is warm, but it's been quite cloudy en we've had some rain but I don't care. Am loving every minute of it.

We're not sure when we will leave with the Ithaka exactly. It all depends on the weather and, at the moment, the wind is well ....... WINDY... to say the least.
I have found out, that it will be very difficult for me to be able to post blogs while we're out there sailing across the mighty ocean but I will do my best. I'm just mentioning it, so there won't be any worried 'followers' suddenly undertaking a frantic 'search-and-rescue-thing' (although, don't wait too long with that).

More later...

photo of the Ithaka

Isn't she beautiful? This will be our 'home' for almost three weeks (of which there'll be about two weeks of non-stop sailing.)

However, our holiday will start with 5 days of R&R at a lovely hotel on the beach in Grand Case. The only 'duty' we've been given so far is to each think of, and cook a meal for 6 which will then go in the freezer of the Ithaka, before we leave port. Our choice?... a good ol' shepherd's pie (BritLadies, I hope you're proud of me) and Cod with a mild curry sauce. Apparently, Grand Case is the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, so we should have no problem in finding the right ingredients (as if I would know the difference.) Only three and a half more days to go now!

p.s. tried on my old bathing suits yesterday....aaarrrrrggghhhh!!!!

Intro.

Hi everyone. This is a first for me...how exciting.

Only one more week to go before Eric and I fly to Juliana Airport on st. Martin Island in the Caribbean.