Josin’s 2023 cruise, #16

Still Marstal.

Its raining now, wednesday morning, quite heavily, and forecast says it will continue until about 12, so we wait.
My first impression of Marstal, on sunday evening, had been rather a disappointment, looking rather down-at-heel and scruffy, but I had only been in the area near the water, which was mainly industrial.
Monday was a wanderday, into the rest of the town, which was much more attractive, in typical old-fashioned Danish style. Narrow, cobbled streets with the buildings right close, bright colours, no traffic of course and slow tempo. The sun was shining too.

Yesterday was the day I was going to “do” Marstal.
Maritime museum. Lunch at a suitable cafe/restaurant. Motor museum. Wander the quayside look at interesting boats, etc, etc, etc.
Started well by timing it right. Small group of quiet people and an engaged and knowledgable guide. First room. First impression, hot. Second impression, guide’s language was only Danish. Third impression, difficult dialect for this English/Norwegian to understand. Fourth…. After the third room, I realised that I understood even less than I thought I could and used up more energy in straining to catch an undersandable word or two than was sensible, so I wandered off on my own, following the red arrows on the floor from room to room, which were in a roughly historical order.
Fascinating to see the development in sailing ship design, from square-rigged barges, to fleet and slender schooners. The development in sail configuration over time was a study in itself. The models were works of art as well as being authentic and worth hours of study. (Unfortunately I kept on being caught up by the guided tour).
Historical building with many small rooms, and no ventilation meant that everyone was perspiring after a while and looking for somewhere to sit down.
Then the place was invaded by a school class, (seemed like several), of ca 8 year-olds, rushing hither and yon, exclamatory in their enthusiasm, and their teacher/followers quite unable to shush them for more than a second or two. Brain went into aggravated/irritated/defence/close mode, so I left, with an invitation from the kind lady behind the counter to come back later, after all the organised visitor groups had been there. Nice of her, but by that time I had run out of energy.
The visit was worth it. One thing is for sure, that the sailors of those impressive vessels must have had incredible competence and stamina.

Next was lunch, restaurant sussed out the day before. A seafood platter tasted good and left only lemon rind. Then the bill. Shock! Whattt??? Added to the reasonable price of the dish was DKK 36,- for a bottle of tapwater, (no fizz, ice or lemon). That translates to NOK 57, or nearly GBP 5. I waved the plastic and stared hard at the waiter, but it didn’t help. Left quite disgruntled.
So, back to the boat for a bit of relax and recuperate. Then to the motor museum. Always of interest for this motor-man. Knowledgeable guy there, spoke english, who I think was an earlier employee at this works and had done much to salvage the wreckage of the closure.
Tourist day ended on a good note, thanks be!

Didn’t take any more pics yesterday, sorry.

Plan A next is Rudkjøping, less than 10 nm going back north, where I hope to find accessible diesel. (The diesel quay here is too high for me to climb). Then onward generally north as the wind is predicted mainly between south and west, and see where we get to.

Maybe the rain has finished for the day.
Alls well,
PatientJohn