Cruising from Spain to Turkey during this virus?!?!

[DougSabbag]

Originally Posted by Joh.Ghurt

They are just stopping to take break or wait until the wind changes. No freighter involved, they were sailing on their own. The port is far too small for freighters.

An idea is to check for a few days the ais via vessel-tracker in a big marina close to the place you're interested in. You'll get an idea what is moving these days.

Checking AIS via the on-line vessel tracker is a great idea to see actual traffic!

We've used that to see if our own AIS is broadcasting successfully, but that is a great idea to see traffic over there.

Another question: Do most boats over there fly their flags? Here in USA the Trumpsters fly their flags even in their slips and frequently more & larger flags then is appropriate for their vessels. I'm hoping to keep a low profile, i.e., not fly my US flag more than is absolutely necessary, but I am wondering if not having any flag displayed would be more noticeable, i.e., worse than an American one??
I will be happily flying a smaller flag of the host country from a pennant line, off the main mast. But, I'm not in a hurry to display the American flag, anywhere....

[Joh.Ghurt]

Originally Posted by DougSabbag

Another question: Do most boats over there fly their flags?

Yes you have to and you should. You also need to fly the courtesy flag. Not doing so is considered rude.

One important aspect is that Europe mostly left behind the We-Are-The-Greatest-All-Others-Are-Garbage nationalism the USA seem to embrace. Every single country on the continent has been on the losing side at some point more or less recenty. Britain not, but they ****ed up their empire and had to beg the upstarts from America to bail them out, which was just as degrading. So flying your flag is simply a statement "I'm from over there". Nothing more. No politics.

If you see a flag you relate to, you might paddle by and say hello.

Also, Americans aren't that common here, which keeps the discourse civil. I think in the past year I saw more Australians or New Zealanders than Americans.

Flying the province flag (like the Quattro Mori in Sardinia, the Catalan or Basque flag) can be seen positively while in province, but take it down when leaving it. Catalans in Andalusia aren't that popular.

Another advice: Leave the black-and-white view of the world on your side of the Atlantic. Here you might not agree with someone's political views, so don't discuss politics with them. Have a beer with them instead discussing girls or chess. Everyone's winning if you don't have to kill each other over some -ism. Discussing football (the game where player interact with their feet with a ball shaped object) can be tricky, specially with the Spanish, the Brits, the Germans, the Italians and the French - basically 90% of the people you meet.

[DougSabbag]

Originally Posted by Joh.Ghurt

Yes you have to and you should. You also need to fly the courtesy flag. Not doing so is considered rude.

Another advice: Leave the black-and-white view of the world on your side of the Atlantic. Here you might not agree with someone's political views, so don't discuss politics with them. Have a beer with them instead discussing girls or chess. Everyone's winning if you don't have to kill each other over some -ism. Discussing football (the game where player interact with their feet with a ball shaped object) can be tricky, specially with the Spanish, the Brits, the Germans, the Italians and the French - basically 90% of the people you meet.

So, almost all boats do have their flag displayed while entering port?

And, there isn't an Anti-American attitude especially from the Trump / Xenophobic USA, USA, USA nationalism?

We've all heard and seen the videos of Americans screaming at 'foreigners' in USA to 'go home', if they hear an accent. I wonder how that has reverberated over there - are they almost assuming we are like those small minded Trumpsters, or will they approach us with a truly wide open mind?

I know this is a lot to ask, i.e., how are Americans seen in Europe, but we are planning on not just visiting, we are moving there.

[Montanan]

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[atoll]

i think tolerance is the word you are looking for,in europe people generally respect each other and get on with their lives

[Joh.Ghurt]

Originally Posted by DougSabbag

So, almost all boats do have their flag displayed while entering port?

I'd say about 100% or very close to it.

Originally Posted by DougSabbag

And, there isn't an Anti-American attitude especially from the Trump / Xenophobic USA, USA, USA nationalism?

First, we don't need the help of the USA to do stupid xenophobia or nationalism. We're very capable in that department ourselves and we have over 40 flavours compared to your single one. Our flavours of stupidity are far more convoluted than just the colour of the hat.

As to not liking Americans, we don't like the British, German, Russian and most other tourists either. You as Americans don't even qualify as a remarkable nuisance. Is overweight and clueless in shorts and Aloha shirts worse than the nationals reserving the pool-chairs at sunrise with their towels or the drunk over-cooked lobsters barfing on the beach?

About Trump or whatever presidential puppet you're sporting at the moment: Every country has the leaders it deserves.

People might think you're crazy or stupid, they might even not like what you're country is doing, but that's no reason not to be friendly. And there are also quite a few people who prefer the Americans to a collection of other nationalities with awful behaviours, even with all their faults.

Just leave the Us-Against-Them attitude on your side of the Atlantic and you'll be fine. If in doubt, offer a beer and things will go easy.

[Dogscout]

I am in Preveza Greece right now. What I am writing applies to right now.

Recreational boats cannot enter or stop in Greek ports.

That really means that you need permission from the port police. I have spoken with them and they will not stop you from leaving Greece. To travel within Greek ports you need a valid reason. EG: you are leaving, you are going to a specific location for service which you have docs to prove that. etc.

You can sail through Greece not stopping.

You can enter a Greek port and quarantine for x days. I believe it is 7 days right now but that may change. With that you can then enter other Greek ports but you need a documented plan on where and when as you transit through. This must be approve by Port Police.

This all will change as we move forward, it is just a reflection of now. you may also find that none of this is valid and the port police captain where you are does not know the rules.

I do not care about you're politics or who beat the Ottomans in 1800. Today is now and you need to work with people who do not know all the answers during the pandemic.

My biggest suggestion is that you should hire an agent that speaks Greek.

[Anders]

Originally Posted by DougSabbag

Thank you very much! Since we are having our boat shipped to Palma, I looked on-line to see the Spanish entry situation for us to fly into Palma to take delivery of our boat. I saw what you have printed, here.

So, I contacted our shipping company to ask them about this and they said they will send me an 'invitation' to Palma to take delivery of our boat and given that, they said we shouldn't have any problems taking delivery.
Doug

I would double check that since you have to convince Spanish immigration at the Spanish airport and most likely the checkin in the US as well.

[DougSabbag]

Originally Posted by atoll

i think tolerance is the word you are looking for,in europe people generally respect each other and get on with their lives

Sounds great to me!
Thank you,
Doug

[DougSabbag]

Originally Posted by Anders

I would double check that since you have to convince Spanish immigration at the Spanish airport and most likely the checkin in the US as well.

And that is why I started this thread - to 'double check' with people who are there.
Of course, I will continue to monitor the governmental posts on this subject, but, I am curious what you are experiencing in reality.
Thank you,
Doug

[DougSabbag]

Originally Posted by Dogscout

I am in Preveza Greece right now. What I am writing applies to right now.

Recreational boats cannot enter or stop in Greek ports.

That really means that you need permission from the port police. I have spoken with them and they will not stop you from leaving Greece. To travel within Greek ports you need a valid reason. EG: you are leaving, you are going to a specific location for service which you have docs to prove that. etc.

You can sail through Greece not stopping.

You can enter a Greek port and quarantine for x days. I believe it is 7 days right now but that may change. With that you can then enter other Greek ports but you need a documented plan on where and when as you transit through. This must be approve by Port Police.

This all will change as we move forward, it is just a reflection of now. you may also find that none of this is valid and the port police captain where you are does not know the rules.

I do not care about you're politics or who beat the Ottomans in 1800. Today is now and you need to work with people who do not know all the answers during the pandemic.

My biggest suggestion is that you should hire an agent that speaks Greek.

Thank you very much for your post! Hopefully, by the time we are entering Greek waters, (End of July?), the regulations will have loosened up, a lot.
Thank you,
Doug

[DougSabbag]

Originally Posted by Joh.Ghurt

I'd say about 100% or very close to it.

First, we don't need the help of the USA to do stupid xenophobia or nationalism. We're very capable in that department ourselves and we have over 40 flavours compared to your single one. Our flavours of stupidity are far more convoluted than just the colour of the hat.

Just leave the Us-Against-Them attitude on your side of the Atlantic and you'll be fine. If in doubt, offer a beer and things will go easy.

I will happily just be myself, with my wife and sailboat - and be a 'normal' guy, willing to buy the next round.... :-)
Thank you,
Doug

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Joh.Ghurt

Yes you have to and you should. You also need to fly the courtesy flag. Not doing so is considered rude.

One important aspect is that Europe mostly left behind the We-Are-The-Greatest-All-Others-Are-Garbage nationalism the USA seem to embrace. Every single country on the continent has been on the losing side at some point more or less recenty. Britain not, but they ****ed up their empire and had to beg the upstarts from America to bail them out, which was just as degrading. So flying your flag is simply a statement "I'm from over there". Nothing more. No politics.

If you see a flag you relate to, you might paddle by and say hello.

Also, Americans aren't that common here, which keeps the discourse civil. I think in the past year I saw more Australians or New Zealanders than Americans.

Flying the province flag (like the Quattro Mori in Sardinia, the Catalan or Basque flag) can be seen positively while in province, but take it down when leaving it. Catalans in Andalusia aren't that popular.

Another advice: Leave the black-and-white view of the world on your side of the Atlantic. Here you might not agree with someone's political views, so don't discuss politics with them. Have a beer with them instead discussing girls or chess. Everyone's winning if you don't have to kill each other over some -ism. Discussing football (the game where player interact with their feet with a ball shaped object) can be tricky, specially with the Spanish, the Brits, the Germans, the Italians and the French - basically 90% of the people you meet.

[boatman61]

If headed East I don't get why you first want to go West to Valencia.. just to coast hop along Spain, France and Italy will be complicated the way things are in the EU despite the 'optimism' (unfounded) over the vaccine Rollout.
Better to just go East and your in Sardinia in a couple of days.. Down the coast and hop across to Sicily, follow the South coast and anchor up in Syracuse for a nice Southerly weather window to beam reach to Patra where you can get an agent to handle your passage through the Corinth etc.
Personally I have never bothered with agents but as an American it may be a good idea.

[Montanan]

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