Saying ‘Goodbye’ to Tunisia was with mixed feelings. We had met many people that were so kind and helpful, the places we had visited were beautiful or impressive and the weather (if not the wind!) had been spectacular.

What I felt Tunisia lacked, at least for the 2 marinas we were in, was the vibe and energy that you get in European harbours or marinas where so much life exists. No shop, bar, restaurant, ship chandler, launderette or any of the establishments normally associated with moored vessels were to be found and this gave an air of isolation and almost an overhanging sadness.

The day we left Tunisia (Tuesday 18th April) we were up at 6am to await Kais and representatives from the various organisations required to check us out of the country i.e. Police and Customs. They were very efficient and provided us with all the papers we needed to prove that Mossy Joe had left European waters for Tax and Immigration purposes. We set off at 7.50 to head to Pantelleria, an Italian island almost half way between Tunisia and Sicily, a trip of 80 miles taking 10 hours.

Although it was a long day we were blessed with a display from 3 large dolphins en route who wanted to play around the boat! Fabulous!

As we approached Panterellia, the light was starting to fade which made the landscape even more beautiful.

Having announced our arrival to the Harbour staff and them knowing by some magical power that our previous port was in Tunis we were again greeted by Police, Immigration and Coastguards. I filled in various badly photocopied forms and handed over the boat papers (which is the most important document on the boat) and our passports. I am travelling on my Irish passport so that there are no restrictions on my length of stay in Europe but it appears there is some EU treaty that Ireland has not signed up to which the Police explained meant that Jacques and I would be treated differently i.e. he could go ashore immediately and I could not!! In theory I would need a ‘shore pass’ from the office that would open some time tomorrow. As we planned to leave early the next day this was not very helpful! However, the officials, having established we were not smugglers of any sort and that we were leaving first thing and that we were hungry decided to turn a blind eye!!

We were shattered, so still in our sailing gear (and not completely sure I had a shower that day at all!) we headed out to the nearest Pizzeria, where I had the island speciality involving a great deal of capers with a small beer and straight back to bed!

The following day would be another early start with another long haul of 10 hours to Sicily. I am so excited about Sicily – it conjures up visions of rolling hills and romance and the odd Mafia shoot out!

This route is another very busy shipping lane with boats heading to/from the East Med and the Suez Canal. This is some idea of the traffic! The small black boat is Mossy Joe having dodged the tankers and cargo ships in the fast lane!

We arrived in Trapani just before 6pm …..

And the following day set out to explore – what a superb place!

Lots more on Trapani and the surrounding area to come next time but I’ll leave you with what must be the most glamorous B&B in Sicily and possible the World!

Ciao per ora amori miel!