July 22nd, 2012

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Sunday July 22nd. Stormbound in Mazara del Valle

Sunday, July 22nd, 2012

If I would have headed out to Sardinia yesterday I would have been caught today in a dangerous violent gale. The conditions yesterday were ideal, a south westerly wind. And there was no indications of a what was to happen today. This morning’s predictions were for WNW and NW winds from 8 to 21 knots. Not ideal direction but I set out after mass at around 10.30 but when I stuck my nose
from behind the break water I did not like what I saw. Big waves and the wind was right from the directions I wanted to go. So, I turned around and decided to sit it out inside the breakwater. I was firmly anchored. I started to do my laptop back up but fell asleep and when I woke up another French boat had anchored near me but the over 50 foot French ketch that has been there since
yesterday was moving away and there was no one aboard. There was little I could do. I would have to blow up my dinghy and I would not have been able to row in those wind conditions. I called the coast guard. They came out and put another anchor out. By that time it had stopped dragging but this was most likely because she had hit bottom. My guess is that the large crew, without any
indication of the sudden change in the weather went ashore and rented a car to do some sight-seeing. The other French boat had to re-anchor, I heard later that their anchor apparently was not getting into the sand because of the sea grass. Then the “Securité, Securité”, call came in on channel 16 with severe weather warnings. In the North Adriatic and from Corsica south to this area
gale warnings force 7 with heavier gusts in thunder storms. So, I pulled up the anchor figuring that for the € 25 I was not going to take chances and went back into the same marina. There was bit of mayhem going on in these conditions. One boat lost his engine just trying to back into the marina entrance. Lots of shouting in Sicilian.

Was I lucky or is Someone looking after me that I decided to go to mass this morning? I am writing this on the boat. The marina internet still is not working and I will have to find an open wi-fi signal like I did yesterday evening and this morning. I have tried a few park/board walk benches before I caught a signal.
I’ll have to bring an umbrella.

Mass was very rewarding. I could understand a good part of the sermon. In this magnificent old cathedral with elaborate ceiling frescoes. But a bit of a contrast from earlier experiences where several priests co-celebrated, a choir sang and the altar boys/girls were all in their red and white robes. Here the two teenage altar boys wore shorts, wild t-shirts and sneakers. No choir, no music. There was
acapella singing of songs most everyone knew by heart.

The last time I was in Italy was in 2004. Until then I went practically every year because it was my most important customer base. I love this country and its people. They have a natural charm, poise, elegance and grace the rest of Europe envies. I note a few changes. Pizzerias were imported from America and were few and far between 25 years ago, now it seems that every second restaurant is a pizzeria.
I see more overweight, particularly in the men. But they smoke less than half as much as their neighbors to the East.

It is hard to know when I can get going now. Tomorrow does not sound so good yet. I’ll be
working on the translation of father Huysman’s Chinese prison ordeal.

The wind
died down for now and it is not raining I shall go to my park bench.