Envoy is now back at Taormina having completed a 15 week circumnavigation of Sicily.
Although we’d already spent six weeks in the Trapani and Egadi Islands area we always find some new places of interest and different things to do with new visitors, and this proved to be the case with our daughter, Amy.
Having been settled by Greeks, Corinthians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spanish the Egadis have a fascinating legacy of history culminating in the tuna trade. Since the 1960s tourism has taken over as the major activity.
Most of the jellyfish had gone although there was still the odd one around - I jump in the water first with my mask on to do a quick check. The water is a tropical 27d so we stay in for ages.
We cruised to Marettimo and berthed in a small marina – quite expensive at 85 Euros (NZ$133) per night, but at islands like this there’s no good shelter for anchoring with any wind. Here we dined at a great restaurant overlooking the marina, La Scalatta, made famous after a visit and positive reviews from Jamie Oliver. There are no menus and the chef, Giovanni, serves whatever delicious fare he feels like preparing, with a heavy fresh seafood bias. Giovanni served us a culinary six course treat of bruschetta, clam chowder, grilled tuna, prawn risotto, mixed grilled fish and cassata and lemon gateau, of course washed down with various local wine varieties.
Jamie Oliver with Giovanni
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Laurie and Amy pose with Giovanni
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Laurie and Amy enjoying La Scaletta’s ambience
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Amy tucks into the clam chowder
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Next day we went around the island by tour boat visiting many deep sea caves and the two metre swell made it an adrenalin rush for all inside the caves, with waves bouncing us around and the thunder of blowholes.
The castle perched atop the craggy peak used to be a political prison
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Inside the sea caves was a real adrenalin rush
Looking out from inside a sea cave
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After cruising back to Levanzo Island we did a guided four wheel drive trip to see a cave – Grotta del Genovese which has some 14,000 year old cave paintings depicting deer, horses, cows, tuna and dolphins.
Amy and Laurie alongside the Landrover
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Entrance to Grotta del Genovese
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Shopping in Favignana was of course compulsory for the girls and we found a fantastic delicatessen loaded with delicious treats.
Amy and Di enjoy a gelato break while shopping
Amy and Laurie in atmospheric delicatessen
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Preparing snacks in delicatessen
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Envoy’s saloon table set for dinner
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TECHNICAL – nothing to report
ENVOY LOG As at 10/8/14, we’d spent 124 days aboard and cruised 1,072 miles for 197 engine hours.
Although we’d already spent six weeks in the Trapani and Egadi Islands area we always find some new places of interest and different things to do with new visitors, and this proved to be the case with our daughter, Amy.
Having been settled by Greeks, Corinthians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and Spanish the Egadis have a fascinating legacy of history culminating in the tuna trade. Since the 1960s tourism has taken over as the major activity.
Most of the jellyfish had gone although there was still the odd one around - I jump in the water first with my mask on to do a quick check. The water is a tropical 27d so we stay in for ages.
We cruised to Marettimo and berthed in a small marina – quite expensive at 85 Euros (NZ$133) per night, but at islands like this there’s no good shelter for anchoring with any wind. Here we dined at a great restaurant overlooking the marina, La Scalatta, made famous after a visit and positive reviews from Jamie Oliver. There are no menus and the chef, Giovanni, serves whatever delicious fare he feels like preparing, with a heavy fresh seafood bias. Giovanni served us a culinary six course treat of bruschetta, clam chowder, grilled tuna, prawn risotto, mixed grilled fish and cassata and lemon gateau, of course washed down with various local wine varieties.
Jamie Oliver with Giovanni
Laurie and Amy pose with Giovanni
Laurie and Amy enjoying La Scaletta’s ambience
Amy tucks into the clam chowder
Next day we went around the island by tour boat visiting many deep sea caves and the two metre swell made it an adrenalin rush for all inside the caves, with waves bouncing us around and the thunder of blowholes.
The castle perched atop the craggy peak used to be a political prison
Inside the sea caves was a real adrenalin rush
Looking out from inside a sea cave
After cruising back to Levanzo Island we did a guided four wheel drive trip to see a cave – Grotta del Genovese which has some 14,000 year old cave paintings depicting deer, horses, cows, tuna and dolphins.
Amy and Laurie alongside the Landrover
Entrance to Grotta del Genovese
Shopping in Favignana was of course compulsory for the girls and we found a fantastic delicatessen loaded with delicious treats.
Amy and Di enjoy a gelato break while shopping
Amy and Laurie in atmospheric delicatessen
Preparing snacks in delicatessen
Envoy’s saloon table set for dinner
TECHNICAL – nothing to report
ENVOY LOG As at 10/8/14, we’d spent 124 days aboard and cruised 1,072 miles for 197 engine hours.
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