Honeymoon Europe 2018 : Sixth Act
Ischia. How can I transmit the feeling, the pleasure, the immense amount of joy we had when we set foot on that island. Impossible.
Capri was bursting with tourists I heard before booking our trip but I also heard that there was another island, just off the coast of Napoli as well. Ischia. Known for its mineral-rich thermal waters and Hot springs everywhere. A volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Northern end of the Gulf of Naples. From the Hotel we stayed at and its Restaurant below you can see the medieval Aragonese Castle, linked to Ischia by a stone bridge. It is literally Paradise.
Accessible only by boat or ferry from Naples , we made it to the Island in about an hour and a half. At arrival at the port there was a huge line of Taxi cars, very strange looking cars, older and with no doors, and 3 wheels instead of 4. Which as we experienced later, was a very good thing because it could go down very small paths. What we didn’t know was that the cab could not go all the way to the hotel.
funny looking cab on 3 wheels , photo courtesy of ©ischiaguidedtours.com
We had to walk for about a mile and a half what is normally not a big deal but we had luggage and the path was pretty steep downward hills . And it was hot. It was such a beautiful view but it was so hot. I tried to run back and forth to help Dalila with her luggage as well, as you can imagine; she had twice the stuff I had.
By the time we got there we were both drenched in sweat, out of breath and ready to break out the Prosecco and take in the incredible view on our balcony which wrapped around the corner and gave us access to if from both our doors.
As it was later in the afternoon already, we went down a few stairs to the rocky black beach and also to the restaurant right below us to make a reservation for dinner. A light storm was coming in and the boats going to other parts of the island stopped. We didn’t mind being trapped. The rain was refreshing and it made it not so hot anymore.
At the restaurant it was just us and another couple, the service and food was amazing. Fresh and prepared to order and the exquisite flavor of the dishes comes in waves hitting your taste buds over and over again.
We stayed a few days on this island, longer than any other place on our honeymoon. Time didn’t exist. Waking up in the morning was eerie, there was no sound other than the birds and the waves crashing against the black lava rocks. Breakfast was served in one of the bigger rooms, close to the pool. Croissants, a variety of European breads along with Salamis, Prosciutto,other cured meats and fruits.The air was filled with the smell of coffee and of course we had several Espresso’s.
They next few days was just all that. The magic of the island was with us and we just enjoyed ourselves. Exploring the island by foot was out of the question, it was too hot to even think about it.It would also mean we had to hike back up that steep path we came down. We opted for the pool which was filled with this muddy mineral rich water and to the beach.
Kids were playing in the water and it took me back to my childhood where I was playing with my sister in the Black Sea in towns Varna and Nesebar in Bulgaria. The water was so salty after drying off from the sun there was always a layer of white dust on your skin. Salt. Not here, the water was nothing like that. Also nothing like the Pacific. This here was warm water.
This Island was so many things for us; incredibly beautiful,relaxing,zen like and emotional. No pictures or film ever will bring and transform what we saw and experienced. But maybe you can catch a moment.
Ischia,I hope you have your own zip code.
