We've passed the test

Some pics from Southern France, Nice/Antibes/St Tropez/Porquerolles:

It has been a wonderful vacation. Started off with a very intense 48 hour fiesta in Ibiza, sailed over to the romantic Italian island of Sardinia, spent a couple of weeks in the rustic world of Corsica and ended up back in the civilization on the Southern French coast. A perfect mixture of different worlds! Also it has been a good testing time to see how well we actually do this, just the two of us. To be away from the reality (as the reality has been so far, this sailing life will obviously be our reality from now on!), living so tightly together and to actually live the aboard life fully. As a matter of fact, we just met each other ten months ago so this was definitely what we needed to go through before leaving for the circumnavigation. And we passed the test, both of us I guess. (with some exceptions of smaller fights about how to really to take up the god damn anchor, how to handle a temperamental women's PMS in remote locations without access to a functioning wifi, who's in charge of making sure the boat is completely secured from things not flying around in the galley and saloon before sailing into rough conditions or how to in the smoothest way possible be able to combine a French temperament with a stubborn, Finnish sisu character in such small space etc..) So, what can I say, we're now officially ready for the next big adventure! From the bottom of our hearts, it really feels like this is what we were meant to do. Sail the world together.

The memory card on the camera is completely full with thousands of photos from these lasts two months and as soon as I have the time I will get some of them up here, along with stories from this trip. I hope you've enjoyed the ride as much as we've done! /T

On the streets of St Tropez

St Tropez is, as you all might be aware of, one of the most glamorous locations and favorite vacation destinations of some of the worlds most celebrated, rich, Nouveau riche and/or beautiful jet-set people. No matter if you like the old, filthy rich man/young beautiful girl-kind of parties, this is one of the places in the world to be for the ones who want to see and be seen. As we decided to come here just after the season closings, the town is more tranquil compared to what it can be in the peak of the high season - but ever so less delightful to spend some days and nights in.

St Tropez was a fairly small and modest little fisherman's town all the way until the late 19th century. The exquisite coastline got widely recognized by wealthy French holiday makers after the second world war but the one bringing the International fame to the town was Birgitte Bardot and her film "when god created woman", by Roger Vadim. Miss Bardot as an icon is something the St Tropez restauranteurs and retailers have taken under their wings as a serious marketing tool as the whole town is covered by posters, videos, restaurants and even cakes produced with her face, name or style.

The picturesque town has it's own charming style with the über luxurious fashion shops, boutique hotels and jewelry shops placed one after another on the adorable little cobblestone streets, mixed with the bohem-chic or fancy bars and small restaurants around them. Wheter you come here for the glamour this town oozes of or not, this small piece of coastline is one of the most delightful areas to indulge in the Southern France's characteristic ambiance. /T

In this very moment..

We're sitting here in the lounge of the fantastic Hotel Byblos, St Tropez. Live jazz, Himalaya tea and a calming ambience is what is offered. Perfectly relaxing and some time to catch up with work, with a wifi that for once works like it should. /T