We slept on the boat… or something like that. Because in the middle of the night, it started moving like a washing machine on spin cycle. Lots of wind, waves, and me trying to maintain my dignity in bed, which isn't easy when the floor decides it wants to be a roller coaster today.

In the morning, Papi Edu looked at the map and gave a funny look. We weren't going towards Rome. We were going more towards Genoa. Just like that, without warning. Apparently, the captain had decided to go further north to avoid the strong headwind. Basically, instead of fighting the waves like a brave man, he did what any sensible dog would do: go around the problem. More distance, yes, but much more comfortable. I respect that.

The boat stopped shaking so much, but of course, the journey was extended. And being bored on a boat as a dog is quite an achievement. We can't go into the lounges or restaurants, so our world was the cabin and a deck where the wind messed up your hair and your thoughts. Being out there was harder than taking a nap in a cage of crickets.

Even so, we found a semi-protected corner, near the pool area, which by the way was drier than a bone forgotten in the sun. And there a kind of improvised dog meeting was set up. There were a few of us, each with our human, exchanging glances, smells, and international diplomacy.

Papi Edu started chatting with some English people who had a huge dog. Really huge. The kind that when they breathe, they already take up half the hallway. Very similar to one that gave me a serious scare in Greece a couple of years ago, but this one was nice. Calm, polite... well, not all giants come to mess things up.

At eight in the evening we were still far from Civitavecchia, but we had to leave the cabin because it was time for cleaning. So we suddenly found ourselves without a base of operations and with several hours ahead. We had to wait in the lounges of the boat... and something curious happened there: all the rules about dogs evaporated. There were about ten or fifteen of us spread all over the place, as if it were an improvised dog convention. Nobody said anything. I think that at that point it didn't matter anymore.

Around half past ten they sent us towards the area of the stairs that goes down to the garage, but that was still closed and full of people waiting. More queue, more patience. Until finally, around eleven, we managed to get down to the car and get off the boat.

Dark night and wanting to find a place quickly. We saw one that promised, at the top of a hill... and yes, it promised wind. But good wind. That was more intense than trying to smell something in the middle of a hurricane. We didn't last long.

So it was plan B. As the wind was coming from the northwest, we went down towards the coast, which was much more protected. And hey, total success. We found a pretty cool place, between a pine forest and the beach, just north of Civitavecchia. Quiet, sheltered and with the smell of the sea, which always adds up.

And here we are. Papi Edu finally having dinner after a long day, and I'm already curled up in my basket, because after so much boat you need solid ground. More tomorrow. For sure.