We are On Hiatus
As we pack our bags, we can see our three masted sailboat sitting in the harbor, ready to whisk us away to small coves and sandy beaches in Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece. 
We hope the sailing is smooth, the food and wine good, and the passengers interesting and convivial. We are pretty sure there is no WiFi and only limited time on one computer for emails and Internet, so unless we write on board and post on land, we are likely going 'dark' for the next week. But when we get to Brac Island on the 8th, we'll post a long travelogue full of photos and adventures.
But keep checking, in case we are pleasantly surprised and we can keep writing and posting as we go over the waves.
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At sea and afloat
Thursday we are greeted by sunshine and a lovely fresh buffet breakfast where, following a rule I set on Day 1 to have at least one meal with each couple on board, we invite George and Patricia, whose charming French accents remind us of Paris, though they live closer to Geneva, to join us for coffee. George speaks perfect English, and though Patricia feigns rusty imperfect English, we understand everything she says and love the charm of the French words thrown in whenever she is at a loss.
We sail to Korcula, a very small island off the Croatian coast, and arrive at a spectacular cove, where we set anchor and the staff busies them selves with scavenging wood on shore, setting out the swim lines, noodles and beach towels.
In we go, down the ladder or diving off the platform, to float easily in the ultra buoyant waters or for those of us more inspired, a lap or two around the boat in turquoise water, picture postcard perfect.
By one o'clock, sitting on the lower deck on the stern, lunch is started. Rounds of Ouzo (the boat and crew are Greek) are passed around while fresh octopus is sizzling on the Barby, aromas in the air, stomachs growling awaiting this delicacy. 
Grilled to perfection, passed around on large trays with toothpicks and lemon, by our lovely Ukranian waitstaff, it is so delectable that even those squeamish about octopus are having third and fourth helpings. With thirty five of us squeezed onto one deck, drinking and eating, the din of the conversation begins to roar and it is as crystal clear as the water - this is going to be an amazing week!
As the octopus dwindles, the unctuous sizzling lamb chops come off the grill for round two of lunch's appetizers, consumed with equal gusto and getting to know you, I forgot your name, sorry, exchanges. And that was simply the prelude to the lunch buffet, in and of itself a lovely prelude to an afternoon of strolling around and about Korcula harbor and town, as we opted out of the shore excursion to a wine tasting.
Fast forward.....
The Internet is spotty and costly, the deck and lounges provide great spots to sit and ponder and write, but the company and conversation is so good that my writing discipline has waned. So every few days, like today, Saturday, August 31, I will try to find a quiet spot and recount, 
both for the blog and as a diary so we can remember what the hell we did when, at least the highlights of our days and nights. Then we'll try to post when we dock or return to shore on the 4th.
After Korcula, we sailed for Montenegro, the port town of Bar, a bit of an industrial, not tourist spot, convenient for a stop, with a olive oil factory tour and old ruined town guided walk. After doing that, I think we will stick to our original plan and pass on the shore excursions and swim and beach and walk on our own. It wasn't bad but it wasn't worth it either!
All aboard again, we set sail for Greece, a trip that would require motor and all four sails for 16 hours. For the first time, we headed far out into the Adriatic Sea, no land in sight, the boat clearly rolling with the swells, enough so that having a cabin below deck, where the rocking is the least, was probably the best sleeping. But there would be no sleep until we had our Mamma Mia sing along movie (the Aussies being the most enthusiastic singers and clearly Abba fans) planned by our cruise director and our mini dance marathon, started by none other than, no not Steve, ME!
By the time I headed below at 12:30, our adorable Cuban bartender and our lovely passenger, Sandra (also originally from Cuba now living in Allentown and formerly living in South Philly) were still giving salsa lessons with Sheila and Cheryl, who may look a bit conservative, shaking and shimmying with the best of them, not to mention all of us a bit wilder as our arms swung just to stay upright as we truly rocked and rolled.
In bed, we turned our watches ahead one hour and our thoughts to the Greek Isles. In the early morning, Corfu was in sight and the water, in the now Ionian Sea, was calm. There was breakfast with Ruth and Ian (I think we have eaten with at least half the ship so far) with delicious Greek yogurt and honey, and then a quiet spot on the upper stern deck, all alone, where finally some time to sit and talk to myself on my Ipad, on the Notepad app. Today is a boat day-the best kind- filled with swim spots and beaches and sailing, no land excursions, no clouds and no worries.
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