Quick update

Hello dear readers, wifi, internet has been woeful this past week so hence total silence from us.
Got back to Linquenda, all ship shape & good. Got ready for Jennyfer & Colin's arrival. Have had a great week with them, weather has been HOT HOT, so off on anchor with swimming off the boat, bliss
Jennyfer , crossing Müritz

beautiful sunsets

A walk about Furstenberg , very solid wooden bridge

A trip down to Berlin to vote, Knuds first vote as an Aussie
here we are outside the Australian Embassy

A new use for the old telephone box, now a book swap! What a great idea

Bernina Express

While Lyn & I were enjoying the 'flat'of the low lands of Italy , Knud & David along with a fellow group of cyclists were punishing themselves in the mountains. However all good things come to an end, or rather continue but just in different places. Lyn & I said our goodbyes early in Dervio and I set off by train to Tirano to meet Knud. Within 15min of leaving Dervio we were already running late and second train connection would be missed. Thank goodness second train also running late so all not lost. Got to Tirano and Knud had just arrived too, great to see him safe and sound after a fantastic week. Time for a coffee then onto our train , the Berina Express. Express may not be an accurate description of its speed, but that is not what we were there for.
The Berina Express is a stunning railway, 144km long connecting Tirano , Italy to Chur in Switzerland . 196 bridges, 55 tunnels , the track loops on itself in places, gets to a height of 2250mt at its highest point. Needless to say camera went into overdrive.
Following are but a small selection of photos. There are some good filmclips on you tube if you want to explore it a bit more.

Varenna

Varenna, old roman word meaning 'place to get a great glut workout' they didnt disappoint.
After breakfast, shared in family kitchen with workman repairing hot water service ( hot water is so over rated don't you think?) We set off for the day to Varenna by ferry. No better way to approach this gorgeous town.


the glut workout begins



Cute , cute, cute



Up , up, up along roads, then goat tracks to Castello di Vezio


wow what a view!

Lyn in the ruins

On to Lago di Como

Our next adventure was Mantova to Dervio, situated on Lake Como. 3 trains got us safely to Dervio, a smallish town off the traditional tourist route , but on the shore of Lake Como. Found our B n B, clean, on the small side but by this stage Lyn & I were right into 'tiny living' . Dumped bags and set off to explore the local area. We will have 2 nights here before we head off on our seperate trips.
looks like a bit of a storm further down the lake, lucky we only ended up with a little rain
Aperol spritz, yum yum, do recommend them
we do drink coffee too

End of a Wonderful Week

The end of our fantastic week on board Vita Pugna raced to an end . Final goodbyes done, Steve wrote a great song in Italian for the crew that we all performed ( jolly lucky that Steve has a background in music productions ) sung to the tune of Walzing Mathilde so Lyn & I had a distinct advantage
our great crew, Helmut cycle guide, Silvi, chef, Luciano, captain , Samaule, chef. Of course all multi tasked so at a drop of the hat did ropes etc.
Steve and Chris , a very talented and musical family
Steve and Kym
our last day of cycling, how lucky were we with the weather, more blue sky and tailwinds

Postcards of Mantova

Minimulist dredging, these guys have everything they need for a day at work, oars, shovels

fountain for drinking water

local cycling group, where is the coffee?

Just looks like hard work to me

Abandoning Art

There is a worldwide movement dedicated to producing art and the abandoning it.
How lucky was I to be travelling this week with Lynn , an American artist who introduced me to this great activity. Lynn produces at least one piece of art a day that she then abandons in a public place for someone to find. How beautiful is that!

abandoned in a phone box
Lynn producing todays work

Want to read more about it , check it out on facebook Art Abandonment.

Thursdsy 16th , continued

Fuelled with wine and cheese we continued on our merry way, next stop Museo Storica delle Giostra , a museum on the history of the amusement park!
Really an amazing story, this tiny rural town of Bergantino was in bad shape with poverty, unemployment etc. Things hit rock bottom 1929 , a short while after this some locals hit upon the idea of making fun fair park rides , they say that now amusment park rides for the whole world are made in the area!
Some wonderful examples of working 'music boxes '



assorted mementos of fair grounds