Cala Galera, Our Departure Point

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My friend Domenico kindly invited Bruni and I to spend the weekend on his family's sail boat. We slept aboard and made a trip to the island of Giannutri on the first day, and then made a short trip to a nice cove on the second day. It was a truly pleasant, and yet exhausting experience.

Domenico's Balancing Act

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He was adjusting the line on a sail.

Still Balancing

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We were really moving here, too.

Domenico at Giannutri

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Giuseppe Kicking Back

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Domenico with Camera

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We were throwing bread to seagulls to try to get a nice in-flight picture. I had no luck.

Bruni and Francesco

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This is when we were really moving and the wind was cold even though the sun was warm.

Yogi Profile

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Sailboat Drifting Past Giannutri

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The island of Giannutri is accessible only to private boaters and helicopters it seems.

Another Sailer Anchored

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The island was very green because it's still spring. In the summer, it will be dry and brown.

Giannutri's Seagulls

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Giuseppe and Domenico in the Bow

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Taking Pictures Before the Gust

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Uh Oh

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The boat was nearly sideways. Domenico was unfazed.

Hanging On

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A gust of wind turned the boat almost completely sideways and Giuseppe, sitting in the bow, hung on for dear life.

Losing the Wind

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When the wind got around to the front of the sail on one side, and the back on the other, there was a horrible racket and we lost a lot of power.

Captain Francesco

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Domenico's dad Francesco, with Domenico and his mom Rossella.

Hauling Ass

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Sail boats are nice because all you hear is the sea and the wind. Yachts are loud and kick up huge waves.

Grinning

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Tying Knots

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There's lots of knot-tying on boats, especially sail boats. Domenico knew how to do lots of them. Giuseppe and I didn't.

Bruni and Rossella

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Domenico Posing

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Nice Legs Man!

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Bruni Smiling on Deck

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Bruni on Deck

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Seagulls

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More Seagulls

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Reflections

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A photography experiment.

Window Point

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Named after the arch at the top of the point. Punto Finestra. This is where I took my first swim in the sea of the year. The water was very, very cold. I have to admit that Domenico and his cousin Giorgio were the first brave ones in the water. I couldn't then stand the humiliation of being the only young, virile man not bold enough to go in.

Wind at Our Backs

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This is the spinaker-type sail we unfurled for the rush back to the mainland from Giannutri island.

Bruni

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Taking Down the Sail

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Domenico and Giuseppe take down the main sail as we near the port.

San Filippo Fort and Porto Ercole

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Porto Ercole

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A nice town on the Tuscan peninsula called the Argentario.

Domenico and Porto Ercole

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Spanish Prison

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The port of Cala Galera is named after the Spanish prison (or galera) that was once run on the top of the hill.

The Last Turn

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Nice Light

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The light was nice and the name of the boat is ``Pupillo'' as in pupil of the eye.

Back to Cala Galera Port

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Flavia's House in Tuscany

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Flavia invited us up for the weekend. It turned out to be a good time with friends -- relaxing and beautiful. This is the lovely home she shares with friends.

Flavia's View

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Flavia's Daisies

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This Is My Volkswagen

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It's about a 2-and-a-half hour drive to Flavia's house. This was how we got there. I'm very proud of my little car.

Flavia, Marco and Bruni

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We were visiting the site of a former Etruscan city. There's not much left now, 2,500 years later. The view is probably still the same, though. You can see the sea and the hills lined with vineyards.

Yogi's Angels

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The Close-Up

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Flavia was a bit melancholy over the weekend.

Bird's Eye View

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This lady was watching the world pass through the main square in Roccalbegna.

Roccalbegna's Rocca

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This is what's left of the Rocca, or fort, in the town of Roccalbegna. It's a very picturesque Tuscan town built amid outcroppings of grey limestone.

Our Guide Niccolino

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During our walk in the nature reserve near Roccalbegna, Niccolino took it upon himself to show us the ancient trees, the springs and the lake with the otters. He's pictured here with a friend of his from Rome.

Flavia Hit It Off With Niccolino

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There was a warm, fuzzy feeling between them.