Write Up The Italian Job......2017 style.

[Lazzzydog]

 

[Lazzzydog]

 

[Lazzzydog]

Random pics.

 

[Lazzzydog]

That was a fun packed Saturday but bed was calling as we had to be up early tomorrow for the fortress tour, the trip around the canals and a tour of 2 ships. Departure time ranged from 7.30 to 8.45 depending on who you asked so we set the alarm for 6.30 to be on the safe side.

 

[EssexZed]

This has been a brilliant write up of what was obviously a great road trip and the making of new friends - thoroughly enjoyed it, thanks

 

[andyglym]

View attachment 66740 While waiting a couple approached us and started chatting and asked if we were not sitting with anyone would we like to join them and another couple? They are sickeningly good looking, charming and excellent company. Their names are Marco and Leanora.

Nice touch.

 

[Lazzzydog]

Thanks for the kind comments and likes, much appreciated. We crammed a lot into this trip thanks to Z3Mendi and I will finish this write up tonight all being well while it is still fresh in my mind. So apologies for rambling on but there is more to come yet.

 

[Lazzzydog]

After the early Sunday breakfast we actually got away not long after 8 o clock under police escort again for the short trip to Livorno docks for a tour of the fortress and a boat trip around the canals and harbour before lunch and going aboard 2 navy ships after lunch.

 

[Lazzzydog]

Watching another group board for their trip around the canals.

 

[Lazzzydog]

On the fortress wall.

 

[Lazzzydog]

Lunch in the cellars with the obligatory speeches of course with Stephano on the microphone. It came as no surprise when Jeano and I were called up to the podium. It was a big surprise though to be thanked profusely for attending and actually being told that they felt honoured that we had made the trip from England to be with them. I am not normally one for speeches but of course I replied and a fellow zedder translated in to Italian. I was glad of the chance to tell them how much fun we had and how welcome they had made us feel.

 

[Lazzzydog]

Lunch eaten it was time to tour the ships. First it was this beauty, the highest ranking ship in the Italian navy, The Flagship. Built in 1931 half the crew are time served and half are new recruits being trained. I get the feeling that only the top few per cent get to train on here . Our friend the Rear Admiral told us he did his time on her in the 60's.

 

[Lazzzydog]

It takes 8 men to turn the rudder.

 

[Lazzzydog]

3.5 kilometres of cable.

 

[Lazzzydog]

Too high for me.

 

[Lazzzydog]

Crossing the Bay of Biscay one time the waves were so steep this Bowsprit hit the water so hard it broke clean off.

 

[Lazzzydog]

Everything highly polished.

 

[Lazzzydog]

And then it was across the quay to a modern warship.

 

[Lazzzydog]

One for the ladies.

 

[Lazzzydog]

Not quite the glamour of an old fashioned sailing ship.