06/11/2025
"What have the Romans ever done for us?"
Cartagena, Spain, February and November 2025
At the last legs of our initial voyage we were having a stop at Cartagena. Much has passed since, a whole season in Corsica, a stop over in Marseille for the last preparations, having family and friends over, having our crew joining us, ready to go
Our first leg would be Marseille-Minorque. If you have a novice crew on board, these were not the best conditions to get them started. Strong north winds, strong south winds, high swell, variable conditions... Could have asked for a better start but then, Aiolos chooses, not us.
A short stop in a magnificent bay in Minorque was very welcomed in order to catch our breath after 48 hours of hard sailing. The short stay was extended as winds were not favorable for the next leg, to the unanimous delight of everyone on board. Spirits were high, and spirits of all sorts were filling up our glasses
Eventually we left for Majorque, as, even if were are on sort of holiday, time will not be forever on our side...
Port of Cala d'Oro, taking a welcomed shower, filling up provisions (tabacco at the top of the list) and getting waisted at the local bar (and me losing miserably in billiard...)
Side note: Cala d'Oro is like an arrtificial town right out of a "Truman Show" set with tourists playing as extras. The tourist way
After a short stay at the next bay, Porto Pietro, we took off to get to the spanish coast, with Cartagena in mind. Sailing was beautiful, seas were not rough, small birds resting on our riggings, dolphins and turtles swimming by.
By early morning we arrived at the - known for us - port of Cartagena. A lovely town, built by the Romans and full of Roman artifacts
("but apart from the aquaduct, the theater, the roads and the fort, what have the romans ever done for us")
Time for some rest, did the necessary small repairs, visiited the old town to taste some tapas.
We need to move on, THE ROCK awaits us once again
Stay tuned