The long awaited day of Mum and Dad's visit to Marina Di Ragusa and the kids were really excited. I text my mum a cheery good morning and was met by the following text! Dad, already nervous about independent travel was convinced they wouldn't be able to get here and the kids were devastated. Meanwhile I was trying to figure out if trains were running and if there were issues at Manchester Airport. Typical that the one and a half hour journey to the airport was across the Pennines on the M62, a road which had only days earlier seen drivers stranded overnight in snow! Luckily the taxi managed to get through 1.5 hours late, and even more luckily, Dad the nervous traveller had booked the taxi so early that despite the delay, and slow progress on local roads due to the snow, they still arrived at Manchester Airport just before check in started!
Knowing that they had made it through security and onto the plane we started to relax. Just a hire car to pick up now so that we could collect them from Catania Airport 1.5 hours away. We had hired a Fiat Multipla locally so that we could all go to meet them and then take them on a couple of trips over the weekend before giving it back on Sunday. We went up to the Stella Marina Bar at 3pm as arranged to pick it up only to find no hire car. They guy turned up 20 minutes late but by then we were just glad he had turned up. I then looked in dismay at the car. The handles were all melted as if it had been left out in extreme heat, and many of the seats had rips in them. The guy made a big show about checking the oil, and telling us to make doubly sure the boot was shut before setting off! We didn't really have any other options so signed the paperwork and took the keys. Drove round to the marina only to find that the central locking was temperamental too! Finally loaded up with booster seats we set of for Catania airport slightly later than planned.... and then just 100 yards up the road the gearstick knob and cover came off in Patrick's hand! We hastily put it back and carried on our way. With 3/4 of an hour to spare we spotted the Ikea close to the airport and parked up. Inside for a quick spot of shopping and a bite to eat before checking the flight had landed and heading to the airport. Patrick stayed with the car in a dodgy parking spot while I took the kids in to meet Nana and Grandad!.... muttering that at least it was dark so they couldn't see their "rent a wreck" airport transfer.
Much chatter and excitement over the long journey back in the dark before delivering Grandparents to their hotel. Then out for Pizza, the first of many (for the kids especially) during their stay.
Friday 9th March - Shopping
One problem with the cruising lifestyle long term is that things you take for granted like shopping for footwear become problematic as you are largely stuck in coastal holiday towns with very little choice in the way of shopping. As we had the car, we needed to make the most of it and go up to the Decathlon store to get sandals. Mum and Dad decided to come with us so it was a family outing! I guess it doesn't seem like a particularly exciting start to their holiday but although they had flown somewhere sunny and warm, they were still just visiting their grandchildren and wanting to see what their everyday life looked like now. After stopping off at the gas store to refill our cooking gas bottle we bought sandals, new sunglasses and inflatable pool noodles we went over to the supermarket to get a snack for lunch. 15 Euros bought us lunch for 6 in the form of 2 plates of pasta, 3 Arancini (breaded rice balls filled with a variety of fillings), a couple of pastries and drinks all round. Once we were done we headed back to Marina di Ragusa.
Dad and Mum joined me in the afternoon at a photography group that has started in the marina which was lovely... hopefully we all learned something!
In the evening we went into Town and tried out a lovely restaurant recommended to us by friends. It is particularly memorable for the various types of Tiramisu it sells. AJ chose strawberry!
Saturday 10th March - Syracuse
It was supposed to be an early start as the plan was to go to Syracuse. I wanted to take Dad here as our friend and crew Roger, had said how much like Malta it was when we moored there on the way down. Dad likes Malta so I thought this would be right up his street. However it was a bit of a long drive so we were all somewhat frustrated when the car had a flat battery. A phone call to the rental company and within 20 minutes a guy with a jump start battery had arrived and we were on our way. Patrick was feeling decidedly under the weather so we debated going somewhere closer but he insisted he'd be ok. As the journey went on (and on, and on, and on) and we were directed to a road that was still being constructed Patrick announced that he had been told that it was only an hours drive, glaring at me! We were all very glad to arrive, despite a navigation error in the last minutes by me, and we eventually parked close to the marina where we had stayed in November.
First stop was a mooch around the market which has a great reputation. Dad had said he wanted to get a belt and we managed this here. As it was nearly lunchtime I suggested trying to find Caseificioborderi which was rated TripAdvisor's number one "cheap eats" in the area and was situated somewhere in the market. Apparently it is really popular and often has hour long queues for food. When we arrived the queue wasn't too bad so I spent a bit of time trying to see what was so special about this place while Patrick got the hump and walked off. Very soon one of the shop guys spotted the kids and started feeding them a huge handful of fresh mozzarella, then on seeing Esmé wasn't so keen, went to make her a ham sandwich as a gift. By now we were kind of committed to eat here as they had already fed the kids so much, and now Dad announced that there was "nothing I want to eat here". Caught between a rock and a hard place and wanting to quickly get enough food to feel ok about the freebies and then get out of there to please Dad and Patrcik, I overheard the guy telling the people behind us in the queue that if they ordered a plate of food they could go sit down and didn't need to queue. I quickly made a decision and herded the whole family over to the seating area in the market much to the men's disgust. I asked how much the plates were and the lovely waiter said it would be 20 Euros for a plate big enough for the 4 adults, and he would bring more free food for the kids! A bottle of water was 1 euro. The men's chuntering soon stopped when we were presented by a most magnificent platter of food which funnily enough, my dad ate rather a lot of!
There was also a bag full of bread, and another platter probably a third of the size piled high with beautiful cooked ham and sliced cheese. It was a lovely lunch and I think in the end we all enjoyed it.
Next we wandered around Ortigia, buying dried fruits, looking at a ruined temple, and at the church which has parts which date back to Ancient Greek times. A walk down by the waterside gave amazing views across Ortigia with Etna visible in the background. It was a truly stunning day.
Sunday 11th March - Mother's Day
For the first time in years, I managed to spend Mother's day with my Mum! We celebrated by taking Mum and Dad out to Donnafugata Castle, a lovely old place in the hills, with a beautiful garden and stone maze. We'd been before but didn't realise it shut for the afternoon and had to leave before seeing the inside. After spending a good time viewing the rooms, we ventured outside with Mum and Dad. The kids were keen to show them the maze so Patrick and I sat outside while they guided Mum and Dad to the centre. Unfortunately that was where the guiding stopped and the kids ran out leaving Grandparents stranded and having to navigate their way back through Gecko infested walkways much to Mum's delight (not!)
We then mooched round the grounds and onto the balcony to admire the view before heading back to the boat for lunch via the supermarket to pick up some cooked chickens for lunch.
Dad really seemed to be enjoying the boat life by now. Sitting in the cockpit eating lunch, drinking a beer and watching the wold go by. Mum didn't look too upset at the sunshine either.
In the evening Mum and Dad went back to their hotel while we went over to the stony beach for a bonfire, taking sausages, foil wrapped potatoes and marshmallows along to cook.
It was a wonderful evening despite being told to put the fire out by the Marino... luckily the coals were hot enough to cook on by this time so we just dampened down the flames and threw the potatoes into the ashes.
There was much merriment and a great night was had by all.
Monday 12th March
First thing, Mum joined me on the beach for my regular Shibashi session and then we slipped into the routine of Mum and Dad having a quiet morning while the kids did a cut down version of our usual school before meeting up for lunch. In the afternoon we booked the meeting room and taught the kids how to make friendship bracelets which most of them seemed to enjoy.
Then in the evening both Mum and Dad joined our semi regular girls night at Quattro Quarti.... there were another couple of male gate-crashers too to keep him company!
Tuesday 13th March
Mum came over later for the photography group and then an early dinner on board Laurin before a relatively early night.
Wednesday 14th March
Shibashi, school, then not much happening until dinner with Mum and Dad in town. We had heard there may be a procession of some sorts in the town so we duly met in the town square with a number of other liveaboards only to find nothing happened! We then headed to Mum and Dad's hotel for dinner, sat down, looked at the menu and then legged it as it seemed crazy expensive for an menu which none of us really loved. Back to the same restaurant as earlier in the week for round 2 of the lovely tiramisu!
Thursday 15th March - Wine tasting
So Mum and Dad timed their visit particularly well. A local wine merchant was coming and doing a wine tasting on the pontoon. Everybody brought food and a jolly time was had by all, although the free wine disappeared back with the wine merchant rather sooner than everybody had hoped. Never mind..... it wasn't long before bottles of prosecco appeared which my Dad has a new found liking for!
The girls meanwhile had set up a little craft stall, making yet more friendship bracelets and selling them. Loving the entrepreneurship!
Friday 16th of March - Crepes for lunch and Happy Hour with Mum and Dad
The last Shibashi for Mum, and then AJ was sent to meet Grandad as his school for the day and ask questions about what he learned from his dad about the second world war. We then walked into town to meet Mum and Dad for a crepe lunch. Esmé had been before but the rest of us hadn't. I thought a large lunch may be beneficial as the logistics for the evening were somewhat tricky as we usually grab a slice of pizza with the kids on another boat before heading off to the bar for happy hour where random snacks are offered as we buy their somewhat good value beer.I'm not sure if the Stella Marina Bar Happy Hour was Mum and Dad's cup of tea, but I also know they wanted to see what our lives are like her and I'm sure they enjoyed being part of the community here.
Saturday 17th March - St Patricks Day
The kids went to meet Mum and Dad to go buy Easter Eggs while I went shopping for the makings of a chicken curry. In the evening there was to be a St Patrick's Day Pot Luck Supper. A pot luck supper is a cruising kind of thing where everybody brings a dish of food, you bring your own crockery and cutlery and drinks, and then all share a meal.
Mum and Dad really got lucky this week as there were so many socials which I am so pleased about. It was a crazy kind of evening with kids running wild, however it was great fun and with such a big social mix in this cruising life we got chatting to some new and really interesting people.
Sunday 18th March - Mum and Dad's last day
We agreed to meet for a coffee or ice cream in the morning before Mum and Dad headed off to the airport on the bus. It was a lovely day, in contrast to the snow back in Yorkshire. I checked the flight and could see already that it was delayed, however due to staff issues rather than weather which, as things progressed was fortuitous. Esmé was getting a little teary as she hates goodbyes so I got Patrick to take her and AJ back to the marina while I stayed with Mum and Dad. By the time I packed them onto the bus the plane was already over 2 hours late, however I placated Dad by telling him of the 261 euro compensation per ticket he was due if the delay went over 3 hours.
In the end the flight was about 4 hours late which must have been horrible, however the snow had cleared at home and the taxi got through ok. They finally arrived home at about 4am... well at least they're retired and didn't have to go to work in the morning!
All in all a lovely 10 days, we'll miss them and I'm really feeling the fact that it will be a long time until we see them again.... perhaps we can coax them out to Majorca as we pass through!
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