Carolwildbird
Well-Known Member
Okeedokkee.. trying to plan ahead...
The thing about liveaboard life is its making me understand my priorities and desires much more clearly...I'd like to spend somewhere next winter which has most of the following:
* safe place weather wise (I may be on my own, and may not want to have to move boat by myself in bad weather, so probably marina)
* moderate in price- doesnt have to be very cheap, if other things compensate for the higher price)
* easy access to good walking in hills/mountains - either on foot or by hire car (or shared car with residents): this is very important to me, I'm discovering (If I had to choose between walking in mountains and sailing it would be the former, but hopefully I will not need to choose)
* a community of other people actually living on board over winter (not just leaving their boat there)- ideally including some people who may be interested in more "alternative" lifestyles, and not just sitting in bars drinking.
* dog friendly bars (or one or two)
* beautiful places within easy reach: not just arid scrub (will put up with more rain to have more green and varied scenery)
We haven't actually spent more than 6 weeks in one place this winter. Of the places we've stayed a little while:
Guardiana: loved it- but walking a bit limited and boring after a while (very same-y countryside)
Lagos: not enough "alternative" in the atmosphere- struck me as a place where lots of people left boats permanantly- maybe a little staid in some way.. not "me"
Almerimar: Much better- probably for the reason that we are near to the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarras, and Cabo de Gata and I've done some lovely walks and refreshed my soul! There's an active walking group; friendly "flatties"(ex yachties) with cars, bars friendly to dogs etc.
The plan for this year is to go to the Balearics, Sardinia and probably either Sicily or Corsica - then either hotfoot it to the Ionian or back to Spain (or stay in Sardinia)
Sardinia looks like it has good walking- but are there good places with active liveaboard communities and the equivalent of the "flatties" here in almerimar (or cheap car hire)?
Levkas or Messolonghi- the former appeals more for some reason (is Messy rather isolated?). Does Levkas have a good live over winter community?
I have ruled out Malta (too dry and arid, having spent a couple of weeks there and on Gozo and done some walking: 2 weeks is enough!)
Any thoughts?
Carol
The thing about liveaboard life is its making me understand my priorities and desires much more clearly...I'd like to spend somewhere next winter which has most of the following:
* safe place weather wise (I may be on my own, and may not want to have to move boat by myself in bad weather, so probably marina)
* moderate in price- doesnt have to be very cheap, if other things compensate for the higher price)
* easy access to good walking in hills/mountains - either on foot or by hire car (or shared car with residents): this is very important to me, I'm discovering (If I had to choose between walking in mountains and sailing it would be the former, but hopefully I will not need to choose)
* a community of other people actually living on board over winter (not just leaving their boat there)- ideally including some people who may be interested in more "alternative" lifestyles, and not just sitting in bars drinking.
* dog friendly bars (or one or two)
* beautiful places within easy reach: not just arid scrub (will put up with more rain to have more green and varied scenery)
We haven't actually spent more than 6 weeks in one place this winter. Of the places we've stayed a little while:
Guardiana: loved it- but walking a bit limited and boring after a while (very same-y countryside)
Lagos: not enough "alternative" in the atmosphere- struck me as a place where lots of people left boats permanantly- maybe a little staid in some way.. not "me"
Almerimar: Much better- probably for the reason that we are near to the Sierra Nevada and Alpujarras, and Cabo de Gata and I've done some lovely walks and refreshed my soul! There's an active walking group; friendly "flatties"(ex yachties) with cars, bars friendly to dogs etc.
The plan for this year is to go to the Balearics, Sardinia and probably either Sicily or Corsica - then either hotfoot it to the Ionian or back to Spain (or stay in Sardinia)
Sardinia looks like it has good walking- but are there good places with active liveaboard communities and the equivalent of the "flatties" here in almerimar (or cheap car hire)?
Levkas or Messolonghi- the former appeals more for some reason (is Messy rather isolated?). Does Levkas have a good live over winter community?
I have ruled out Malta (too dry and arid, having spent a couple of weeks there and on Gozo and done some walking: 2 weeks is enough!)
Any thoughts?
Carol
)and don't want to be too lonely.... and also I'm not a hugely experienced boat owner, so appreciate other people around to help if I get into difficulty. Maybe not the big expat places, but somewhere with a community of winter liveaboards.
