The Island of Ischia

[spindrift1]

Well, I have booked my flight to Naples and I'll soon be in Ischia!
Has anyone here been there? I read that I should expect to indulge in the local white wine, hot pools (from volcanic activity) and mud baths.
Apparently the island is full of people from Germany.

Being fairly paranoid about putting baggage in the hold of an aircraft (having had it stolen in India) I will make-do with a small cabin bag and put it on board. God help me if EasyJet tries to grab it from me before boarding and put it in the hold. I don't want to go through another holiday without my possessions.

Soon you can look forward to my photos that will be so different from my south Indian ones!

I intend to take a short ferry ride to the neighbouring island of Procida mainly for photo opportunities. I have done my homework on a mini pocket book published by Berlioz.

[htmb]

Looking forward to your photos!

[bjd]

If you check TT, there is a poster called "BritinIschia" or something who often posts info on the W Europe branch and has a link to his photos too.

[spindrift1]

I returned from Ischia last night. I had no idea that it is a volcanic island! I have many pictures to post and lots of stories. Although Ischia is a special place to visit, for me it cannot compare with its tiny neighbour, Prochida. This is an out-of-the-world island...
More tomorrow.

[Deleted]

Great! No photogenic volcanic eruptions while you were there?

[spindrift1]

K - have you been there? I did not know that it is entirely volcanic! Although the last major eruption on the island took place in 1300 another one seems to be building up.
volcanocafe.wordpress.com/2012/06/10/the-pain-filled-issue-with-ischia/

We stayed near the fishing village of Sant'Angelo which is under the crater/peak of Monte Epomeo. Five of us were in two small self-catering apartments and we had access to two pools filled with naturally hot/warm waters from the mountain itself and filled with minerals including, of course, sulpher. Down a steep cliff at sea level we could bathe in pools fashioned out of the rocks (some used for cooking potatoes and hard-boiled eggs). Depending on which pool one entered, the water was either warm or even boiling hot according, mostly, to the time of the day. Steam rose from the sea water in places and I saw this phenonomen at several locations around the island. I found it all very exciting!

[Deleted]

No, Spinny, I have not been there. I would have probably been just as surprised as you.

[spindrift1]

We arrived in Naples late afternoon and took a bus from the airport straight to the harbour. It was easy to find where the boats and hydrofoils left for Ischia. It seemed that this small boat crammed hundreds of us on board



Here are some harbour scenes...








....and we left Naples behind and headed across the
Tyrrhenian Sea to Ischia.

Just over an hour later we entered Ischia Porto and saw this encouragement to the people of Turkey who, at this time, were rising against its rulers.





and finally we stopped here



DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW I CAN REMOVE THE DATE FROM MY PICS?

[spindrift1]

Ischia Porto is a fascinating place simply because, until 1854, it was a crater filled with fresh water. King Ferdinand of Bourbon ordered that the crater wall be blasted to make way for a harbour and a perfect shelter from stormy seas.

We were staying on the opposite side of the island and arguably the prettiest side very close to the former fishing village of Sant'Angelo where the loveliest view is formed by a huge fumarole that, when the time comes, will blast Ischia into eternity! These fumaroles are in several different locations around the island. I say 'former fishing village' because although the locals still fish, nothing is more important than tourism.

[Deleted]

Ah, Mediterranean ports always look so harmoniously civilised.

In the camera settings there is a place to add or remove the date. If in doubt, just walk into any camera shop, and I'm sure they'll fix the problem.