Henk Cilliers

Henk Cilliers and family explored Italy for 21 days during August/September 2026. First, we chartered a 46-foot catamaran yacht for four couples and stayed on the boat while sailing around Sardinia and the surrounding islands.

Chartering the yacht – We were four couples, of which two men had the required skipper’s licences. We all flew in and met in Olbia, where we took delivery of the yacht from Spartivento, the charter company, on Saturday, 29 August 2026.

We purchased our groceries and beverages locally. The harbour at Olbia looks like a Monday morning between Johannesburg and Pretoria, with boats everywhere, and charters are a big thing. During the day, we would anchor and swim in the breathtakingly clear waters. At night, we would either anchor outside the harbour of a small town or stay in the harbour. In the harbours, there is power, so the boat’s air conditioners could be on.

I am an avid fishing enthusiast, but the weather did not permit any catches, as it was extremely hot. Apparently, the weather was the hottest ever, and the sun really came down on you. The Mediterranean Sea does not have the typical swells we know, but there is wind and a lot of traffic. Impressive were the power yachts of the rich and famous that were everywhere.

We had our own braais on three evenings on the boat, and for the rest, we had dinner at local restaurants where we anchored. Mid-morning lunches were in abundance and consisted of fruit, local cured hams and a variety of bread.

The space on the yacht is obviously limited, and the sleeping quarters and showers are small. There is, however, nothing to complain about, as it has everything. No manual labour is required to hoist the sails, as it is all power-driven.

We returned the boat at 08:00 on Saturday, 5 September 2026.

Exploring Amalfi – My wife and I then met our four children in Napoli on the Saturday, and we explored the Amalfi Coast. We rented a three-bedroom penthouse in Sorrento, which is quite central.

We planned our day excursions in advance through Jenny’s Travel in Pretoria, who were exceptional in organising our transport from the airport and arranging the excursions.

On the Sunday, we went to the beaches within walking distance and explored the town. It was holiday season, and the tourists were local people, as well as many Americans and English visitors.

On the Monday, we took a Mercedes minivan with a driver and went to all the towns, with him explaining the history. On Tuesday, we chartered a small boat that took us to Capri Island, where we had lunch, and we were taken down the coast offshore.

On Wednesday, we had a cooking class where the owner explained that his house and restaurant were built in 1700 and that they still occupy everything today. Here, we learnt how to make pasta and limoncello, a local drink.

Our children then used the opportunity on Thursday to take a train to Rome, where they stayed over and explored Rome on the Friday, returning late Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, we departed for Napoli, where we would then return to South Africa on Sunday.

Highlights and disappointments – The highlights were the breathtaking natural surroundings, the sea and the coastline. The time with friends and not having any emails for more than two weeks. The time spent with our children now that they are adults.

The history is obviously a big thing, as the cathedrals and churches are majestic and impressive. The cobblestones are hundreds of years old, and so are the towns.

The coastal towns in Amalfi, like Sorrento, are not well maintained, and the failure to clean the streets and pavements is very obvious. The public transport is five-star and easy to use.

The restaurants are in abundance, and the food is very good. Portions are quite big. The prices are obviously steep, but you learn to live with it. The other issue is obviously the amount of people in the small, narrow streets.

At the farm where we had our cooking class, it is a third-generation farm with 900 olive trees. The owner, now 67 years old, says his biggest problem is that they cannot, like 10 years ago, get any labour, as the younger generation refuses to do manual labour.

This is also clear from looking at the buildings and the general lack of maintenance. Although the Italian economy is number eight in the world and it is the third-largest manufacturer in the European Union, it is clear that they are steadily losing the experience and trades of earlier generations.

Overall, I would say that the average Italian lives to work.

Their lifestyles are limited to staying in a small apartment in the air and working. They are not used to our open spaces and large houses and cars. Diesel is R40 per litre.

I would recommend the Amalfi trip to anybody, as well as the charter trip. I would caution people to avoid Napoli, as the city is very, very dirty, the smell is bad, and it is taken over by foreigners from all over Africa.

Technology is good and available. You can download the maps and bus and train schedules on your phone, and everything is on time.

The wine gets zero from me, as it cannot compare remotely to what we are used to. The beers are €5 to €8, and they have a lemon-infused beer, which is very nice.

They really do not know how to do a steak, and you should never order one, but for the rest, like fish, pastas and pizzas, it is as good as they say.

The volcanic islands are impressive, and the people are not overly friendly. One should not try to rent a car, as driving would be impossible if you do not know the place. Book excursions in advance.

Flights are also a big consideration and need proper planning. We flew BA, and our children flew with Turkish Airlines.