Nothing like a good wedding to bring the family together – having reentered the realms of family living slowly by first spending a few days with Agatha & JB, the three of us boarded an EasyJet flight from Rome to Milan where Mum and Dad were waiting for us with open arms.

A great reunion and an exciting time for all as we shared countless stories – Mum & Dad had spent 3 weeks in Poland and driven from Poland, through Germany, France, Switzerland and onto Italy – visiting friends and family along the mammoth 7,000 km journey – whereas we had tales of sailing, inebriated fun and occasional cultural experiences.

We had all booked a house in a small town called Argegno and were staying there with our cousins Nina & Stephi and my auntie and uncle – Gianni & Monica – it was the first time we were all together since 2006 and everyone was excited about a week of family fun!

As it turned out we had a couple of hours to spare before we could get into the house, so we decided to do what us Gorazdowski’s tend to be good at – have an afternoon drink!

Mum looking particularly pleased at the sight of the 3litre bottle of wine!

ehhh… whata you takena photo ofa me fora?

The small “piazetta” in Argegno, ‘our’ village for the week.

Kicking off proceedings with a family BBQ – Nina and Gavin missing in action
The view from the balcony under a full moon – first night’s sleep on land in over 5 months – I woke up 3 times to check on the boat!!

As the vino evaporated, papa G set the trend – time for bed!

The next morning the bride to be used all her resources to organise some last minute things for the wedding – seen here facing MACa – praying to the computer gods – please let me steal next door neighbour’s wi-fi!

Whereas the rest of us went about addressing our own needs!


AG&JB cruising the streets of Argegno.

JB, Dad, Mum & Sis

Happy Days!

In the infamous words of my dear old brother Michael Spiro,”…we are living the lifestyles of the the rich and famous, on a budget of the poor and who gives a f#%&!!” Seen here on the grounds of Villa d’Este – getting a ride across the lake to another incredible Villa for sunset drinks and dinner – a great night!

The girls ready to go!

Uncle Gianni – contemplating some time aboard Squander I hear??!

That whole Italian thing of talking with your hands is catching!

Nina & Agatha – partners in crime from way back!

Never too far away from a boat or two it seems!

A lake como sunset with family and friends!

Pali our great host and all around good guy – thank you for an evening to remember!

The dinner table had to be elongated beyond the gazebo to accommodate all 25 of us! Lake Como looking South towards Como.
The next day we went about doing some sightseeing, including checking out the wedding venue above – Villa del Balbianello in all its glory!

The marina town of Lenno.

Streets of Bellagio town – great lunch stop!

Agatha, Monica and Mum – taking a break from folding napkins!
And before we knew it, the big day had come. I had a small hiccup when  I went to check out the suit that mum had carried all the way from Australia for me – as it turns out there was a mixup and Mum & Dad had lugged one of Dad’s old suits around half the planet whilst mine sat happily back at home in Australia – with 18 hours left before the wedding, i managed to get myself down to the local D&G retailer and pick up a last minute suit, tailored and all – a nice souvenir from Italy!

Papa G has his readings in hand.

Bride running late??? Even the organ player was wondering if the bride would turn up!??

and she finally did – much to ol Rich’s delight!

You’re mine now baby!!

Business end of the proceedings! 
Nina looking to the skies – please lord make my husband stop singing!

Mr & Mrs – congratulations guys!

And we suspect the page boy was relieved the wedding was over – looks like he had plans for his saturday night – dressed and ready to run!

The risotto was flying!

Senior Gorazdowski trying his luck at the Italianismo

Time to get the party started!

The newly weds arrive in style!

Post wedding recovery at the ‘beach’ – hanging out with Stef & Nina

and so it was that we wrapped up a great week together. Ag & JB flew back to Paris, Monica & Gianni back to London, Nina & Rich took off on their honeymoon whereas Mum, Dad, Stef & I drove back to Rome.

Many adventures followed as we went about exploring southern Italy – but we’ll save that for the next blog.

Time to weigh anchor and sail to Lipari Island.

It so surreal to be sitting in an Istanbul airport writing this, having been in London for the past 2 days, Sydney, 4 days ago, New Zealand 8 days ago and sailing around Vanuatu for the month prior to that – but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Our goodbye party at the Opera bar couldn’t have been better. Winter disappeared for a day as Sydney put on a show with 29 degrees and sunny blue skies all around. Thanks to all of our friends (and sorry about the Monday morning hangovers guys!!!) who made it down, the perfect way way to sign out of Australia.

The drinks were flowing freely and it all got a bit confusing towards the end, with some people thinking they should start talking “pork n cheese’ or at least that’s what Todd thought when Luciana suggested that he should learn “Portuguese”… funny times!!

We somehow managed to pack the last bits and pieces on Monday, and jumped on QF1 to London via Bangkok. Great flight, we slept, ate, slept, drank, watched movies, drank, ate, slept, ate, drank and arrived in London at 7:00 am feeling a strange energy to keep going – akin to our old party days when one would get home at 5 or 6 am and decide to carry on to a recovery party…. so in the spirit of yesteryear, we had a quick catch up with Monica and Gianni (my uncle and Auntie whom we are staying with), donned the darkest of sunnies and hit the tube on our way to the West end… with about 3 hangovers back to back, no more than three hours sleep in the last 48 hours and a time zone change of around 12 hours we felt like we were part of a Hunter s Thompson’s script – “Fear and loathing in London” .

Piccadilly Circus, Wow we’re finally in London, SOHO,  look Luciana this is where we used to party when I was 22… Luciana, oh shit wake up baby, Leicester square… come on let’s go for a beer… oh ok a coffee probably is a better idea, Covent garden… whoah there are soooo many people here, it’s so loud…. ok let’s go for a beer… actually make that a double shot bloody Mary…. Gavin… Gavin… wake up, I can’t feel my legs, don’t know what’s happening… oh yeah this is where I had a beer with Scotty in 1997… so many Brazilians everywhere… are we back in Manly??? Gavin I’m serious, i forgot to tell you I had a sleeping pill on the plane and I think it’s finally starting to work… blank look… Luciana… Luciana, we have to go now. Oh look Gavin, a ferry floss stand, I love ferry floss… Take a picture, take a picture…. take a F&^%ing picture now!!! ok, ok, ok … it’s just a WILD mood swing darling…. maybe we should go home now… good idea… where’ the tube station… I don’t know, how should I know… oh yeah we’re standing in front of it… have you got your oyster card… my what??? the ticket – it’s called an oyster card here… remember…. yeah yeah…. let’s go sleep… Day 1 over… hmm not yet, afternoon Rum & Coke with Uncle Gianni, than Dinner with Monica, Steffi & Gianni, a couple of quiet red wines and then the most blissful sleeeeeep known to mankind!!!

And that was Day 1! Day 2 was all about answering emails, re-packing bags for Turkey, 29 degrees and sunny in London…amazing!

We then headed into the City, to meet up with Nina & Richard, for a great dinner at a Japanese Restaurant near Holborn. Great catch up, fantastic food and lots of laughs and reminiscing about being kids!

A quick 3 hour sleep ensued, before we got up at 3:45 am to get a cab to Gatwick (Note to self: NEVER BUY CHEAP AIRFARES you idiot!!!) to fly to Istanbul, where we have a 4 HOUR (see not self above IDIOT!!) layover in a sweaty airport… on a positive note our $18 flight (EZY5461) from London to Istanbul on the 20th of August was the smoothest landing I have ever experienced (apart from that one in 1995 on the way back form NZ when we were so drunk that we didn’t even realise we had landed – CC BRENT & TODD) – back to Easy jet flight – not often you get the whole plane clapping… pretty funny, nice work captain!!

So we’re about to go and check in our bags and spend some Turkish Lira on a falafel – can’t wait to see Luciana explain her order in Turkish, yes I would like no cheese, a little bit of onion, do you have skim….

London to Istanbul:
Easyjet www.easyjet.com

Istanbul to Dalaman:
Pegasus: www.flypgs.com