soyons ouf: July 2009

We spent the past two days crossing the Mediterranean, between Naples and Sardinia. No land in sight, water as glassy as can be. We stopped the boat, went for a swim, and enjoyed an evening cocktail in the absolute glassy serenity of the Med.

We had a surprise visit, not once, not twice, but three times by our new friends.

This is what summer is all about.

Love,
SPYT

yo-ho-ho and a bottle of... rosé

A bit delayed, but we had a proper pirate party for my birthday aboard the mighty Altair!

Beginning with champagne breakfast, eggs Benedict for all,

Swing off the spinnaker pole, into the Tyrrhenian we fall!

Mojitos, champagne, and rosé down we guzzle,
The crew bands together and hands me a puzzle.
I set out on a hunt that would lead me to treasure
Limoncello after each clue was more than a pleasure

Into the bilge I go, to search and to plunder
Among boxes and tools, I was in a blunder...
I scratched me head and I looked towards the sky
X marks the spot! Ah, the crew be so sly...

Next I head off into the rental tender
Around mid-day of my birthday bender
Old daggers and shammies, but no X to be seen,
I nearly gave up, for I searched that boat clean!

But alas, pirate Pytka be not a quitter,
Next I enter a cave that be strewn with litter
A light on my head, the cave I explored
Another pirate success! And yet another shot poured

The next clue had me in a real pickle
For of an oily sea I knew not...

We drunk and we drunk
And I thunk and I thunk

Rum in me belly, feeling a bit tickled,
And I solved me birthday plot!!

(Yes, they misspelled my name, and it will forever be remembered on the dock of Amalfi.)

"You're such a brat!"

Being born on Bastille day, and having spent every single one of my birthdays in France for the past 13 years, I have always been spoiled with fireworks on my birthday.

Just 8 minutes shy of my 21st birthday, and my fireworks have followed me. After a beautiful dinner in a gorgeous Italian garden in the mountains at Hotel Caruso in Ravello with my sister and father, we were surprised with a fireworks show in the next bay over. We took the tender over, shut off the engine and sat back, clapping. My father turned to me, smiling. "You're such a brat..." Ah, I know. Happy birthday to me!

4th of July Unda da Sea

WING-IT WEEKEND

Rental car, Wal-Mart, tent, badminton set, Chex mix. Let's go!

We headed south to the Keys, with driving instructions to the main highway, 2 disposable cameras, and open minds.