This island is part of the island group know as the Cyclades. The Cyclades are dry islands with only small vegetation. Milos is about a 4+ hour ferry from Athens. I choose to ferry, rather than fly. The ferries are usually very reliable for inter-island transportation and way more chill than planes. Weather can affect how punctual they run. However, during the month or so that I will be here traveling around the Greek Isles (September-October) it is reliably quiet. The days are sunny and the temperatures are great (70-86 F, or 21-30 C). Milos is known for its beaches. It has quiet little villages, both seaside and in its more mountainous areas. It is home to only 5,000+ people.
Map of the Cyclades. I plan to visit Sifnos, Paros, Antiparos as well as Milos. This is where I plan to stay during my time on Milos. The small hotel has only 18 rooms/suites. Highly enjoyable and a very close walk to the village for dinners.The Aphrodite of Milos, better known as Venus de Milo. This is a perfect replica which was made to replace the original which had been discovered here, and then “stolen” or “purchased” by the French by paying a nominal amount in 1820 for the priceless artifact. The original now resides in the Louvre in Paris.Oeatpo Theatre, almost adjacent to the Venus. It was constructed by the Romans in the 1st-4th century AD.View from the Venus and the stadium. The little shipping village of Klima is below at waters’ edge, and only accessible by land on a 4 wheel drive. Village of Plaka in the mountainous region. This waiter is just another example of how physically appealing these Greeks are, both the women and the men. And this guy is only average.One of the beautiful beaches along the southern coast of Milos. While sandy beaches are easier to walk on, these pebble beaches are a quicker clean-up.Another rocky beach with crystalline water. While the beckoning siren pictured here may bear some resemblance to my Sicilian housekeeper in my 2016 post, it’s not. I have no idea who she is. But her allure is quite strong.Octopus drying in the hot Greek sun. I would later have one of these tender morsels grilled for lunch.The bees like them too, as evidenced in this close upThe volcanic history of this island is juxtaposed against its limestone character.Klima, an old fishing village. I rented a boat (zodiac) to explore the coastline. The village was first established in about 1000 BC. Obviously the colorful dwellings pictured here are quite a bit more recent.Cave entry on my zodiac. I was told by a fellow spelunker that it was okay to enter, just don’t scrape the zodiac too hard against any sharp rocks.After 5 minutes I came to the cave exit. This was the only time on this trip that I did not make any wrong turns. The cave wasn’t very wide, so good thing there was no on-coming traffic. Not sure how that would even work.Rock jumping. Always a small adrenaline rush. Grab your “boys” and go. I met the group atop the cliff just before a leapt off. They invited me to party later on their sailboat, pictured below.My new friends’ boat as I zodiac toward them. Tethered to the other boats we enjoyed a couple of hours together listening to 80s music and drinking. “Sister Christian, oh, the time has come.”View from my dinner table on the dock in Pollonia.This couple is enjoying some cocktails near the water.Evening street scene in Pollonia.Last evening on Milos. View from the hotel over looking the coastline.
Soon I will head to Sifnos. Hope to file a log entry then. For now Kalo’ apo’gevma.
The North Shore of Maui is vastly different from the major tourist destinations of Wailea or Kaanapali. There are no major hotels, only a few very small ones. There are several great restaurants in the area. What the North Shore is best known for are giant waves. The largest waves in the world are often recorded as happening here, and Peahi (better known as Jaws) is it. The largest of these monsters arise only in the winter months. The genesis of these waves is the severe Pacific winter storms in the northern hemisphere. These storms which may be a few thousand miles away create giant swells. This area of Maui is also a nice part to spend time on if you are looking for a more local experience. There are some nice little towns on this side of the island, Kula, Makawao, and Pukalani to name a few. There is a lot of agriculture upcountry too. I also visited Haleakala National Park during sunrise at Maui’s highest point atop of the extinct volcano.
The Lumeria Retreat was a very low-key and chill place to stay. Plus many yoga offerings. The drive to the beaches was only about 15 minutes. There were limited amenities here, but the gardens, birds, and trees were beautiful. I think this woman is practicing as I walked by. Or maybe something else is going on. It was hard to tell.One of many rainbows over the little coastal town of Paia on the North Shore.Baldwin beach is just a few minutes from Paia. The West Maui mountains are in the background. Because of the natural breakwater in a couple of spots, even very little kids can safely enjoy the water without too much risk of being carried away. Of course, drowning is always a possibility.As a result of the prevalent winds here, kite surfing is happening almost every day. This guy is just going out. Their kites dancing in the air can be seen as far out as 1-2 miles.Usually, a few sea turtles scatter the beach where the waters are a bit more tranquil.Paia fish market on the corner is a great, yet reasonable option for lunch or dinner. Get the blackened ahi.People at Jaws viewing the impressive surf. It was hard to tell how big these swells were because there were no surfers the morning I was here.Another image of these giant crashing waves. Quite sizable.Impressive doesn’t even begin to describe this surfer. I was not the one who captured this image last year at Jaws. Judging from relative proportions, this wave appears to be a least 45-50 feet high.Another rainbow at Baldwin’s “Baby Beach.”Mama’s Fish House at night. Great fare but a bit touristy. Also, a nice lunch option since its location is a primo beachfront. The entire place is open-air, so it feels great. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith fame was here the night I dined. He still looks pretty good at 74.The crater atop of Haleakala at sunrise. The elevation here is 10,023 feet and the temperature was only 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Bring a blanket if you don’t have any winter clothing. It was difficult waking up at 4AM but, worth it once on top here. The drive from the North Shore takes about 90 minutes.View toward the Big Island. The two peaks seen are the two volcanos Mauna Kea and Kilauea. Kilauea is currently active with lava flows.View from the top of Haleakala looking down at a small portion of the North Shore. Dotting the area between my vantage point and the coast are the towns of Kula, Makawao, and Pukalani.Best upcountry restaurant, The Hali’imaile General Store. If you are spending time on this part of the island it’s pretty convenient to get to. If you are in one of the resorts on the West Coast, make sure you have a “DD” because it will take over an hour in the car and these guys make great cocktails.
So that’s going to be it from Maui this time. Until I write and publish again, stay safe and enjoy some time away somewhere.
I decided after several weeks on Maui that I needed to decompress a bit. A beautiful, logical, and logistically easy option was Lana’i. Although this place is cost prohibitive to many, my sponsor was very generous with me, so off I went, bound for the Four Seasons Hotel at Manele Bay. I spent the night before at the Lahaina Hotel, which was located only 3 blocks from the ferry to Lana’i. The next morning I had an early breakfast and then walked to the ferry. The ferry is usually a very pleasant 45 minute cruise, and this time it didn’t disappoint. Because it is winter I was able to spot whales along the way to Lana’i. Hard to say how many because how do you know if it’s the same whale breaching, or another one? I was greeted at the Lana’i harbor by a representative from the hotel and she transported me to reception (Only a 5 minute drive).
The Island is home to only about 3,000 people. 98 percent of the entire island was acquired from Castle & Cooke in 2012 by Larry Ellison, the then CEO of Oracle Corporation (not to mention the fifth wealthiest human on the planet). Ellison’s vision is to create a sustainable and carbon neutral island. He is well on the way, with much of the energy being from solar and wind. As part of this effort to sustainability, Ellison has created two 20,000 square-foot computer monitored hydroponic farms/greenhouses, with plans for four more.
While the tempo here is much dialed down from Maui, there are enough things to do so as to preclude any moments of boredom. Beach stuff, golf, hiking, snorkeling, biking, and tide pooling, just to name a few. There also is the little town of Lana’i City where most of the residents live. This town is located about 20-25 minutes by car up the hill to the middle of the island at an elevation of 1,650 feet. It has some shopping, but is otherwise pretty quiet. Other than the Four Seasons Resort at Manele Bay and the Sensei Resort up near Lana’i City (also managed by Four Seasons), no other hotels exist on Lana’i. These are both relatively small properties in terms of guest accommodations. Between the two properties there are less than 300 rooms and suites.
Lana’i in the distance. I captured this image from Upcountry Maui the day before departing for Lana’i.Manele Bay as seen from the hotel. The walk down to the beach takes about 12 minutes. The Four Seasons in the distance, as seen from Manele Bay.Morning view overlooking the pool and ocean.View to Manele Bay from one of the spas. The tiki torches at frame center are all around the property. Several are lit each evening at sunset in a traditional Hawaiian lighting, while the vast majority are set on auto-lite. The main lobby at the Four Seasons.The walkway to my accommodations. With all of the dense foliage it’s difficult to actually see much in the way of buildings.Koi ponds along the walk to my room.Closer look at these koi that resemble small submarines. More water elements, streams, and waterfalls abound.My humble abode while I am here.Hike to Sweetheart Rock.Sunset over Sweetheart Rock. Compliments of my friend and photography mentor, EdB (A/K/A Edward Baldwin).A view to the island of Molokai from the far side of Lana’i. Molokai is not known for being tourist friendly, and I get that.Typical shop up in Lana’i City.Larry Ellison taking a lunch meeting. He looks great for a guy in his 70s’. Notice the America’s Cup hat.The very zen feeling at Sensei is only enhanced by views as these.Large sculpture at Sensei.
I’m hanging here as long as my expense account last. At that point I will ferry back to Maui. Be well until then.
It’s been a while, but I am back out there. Started back with a pretty easy trip to Hawaii. Thought it would be a good place to spend time until this Covid thing finally blows over. I purchased a one-way ticket so I had a lot of flexibility. Because of all the unknowns posed by Covid, I decided to book only my first hotel. That way if the trip was scuttled I wouldn’t lose too much in the way of reservation deposits. There was availability all over the islands I chose to visit. I witnessed lots and rainbows, but never any rain. The temperatures at the beach was about 80 degrees fahrenheit. From the little beach town of Paia on the north shore, I drive my Mini Cooper rental to Hana. Although the trip is only 39 miles, it takes between 2.5 and 3 hours (with no stopping for views or problems). Due to the many one lane bridges, cars must stop many times and yield to oncoming traffic. It’s also I good idea to check for road closures before you depart. If the road to Hana closes you must turn around, no other options. One other important recommendation I would make is to stay in Hana at least 2 or 3 nights. The drive is so beautiful one feels compelled to stop many times along the way. A leisurely drive with just 4 or 5 stops can easily take upwards of 5 hours one way. Close to and in Hana are white, black, and red sand beaches. There are some great hikes and plenty of scenic opportunities.
Map of Maui. Hana is located at the extreme eastern tip.One of the many waterfalls which can be seen along the way to Hana.One of the 50 or so old one-lane bridges along the way.I encountered a small group of old car collectors and their prized vehicles along the way.Another shot of this very awesome creation.My Mini which was a great choice for this experience.Along the way to Hana, a view to yet another beach.One of the many places to take a dip along the way. Fed by fresh rainfall from a much higher part of the island this pool was very refreshing.
Once in Hana I checked into my hotel in Hana. The population of Hana is only 1,526 people as of 2020 census. There is only one hotel. Formerly known as Travasa, and before that the Hana Hotel, it is now owned and operated by Hyatt. As you can imagine the hotel is quite small. However, it has a good restaurant and spa. There are other nice amenities to enjoy as well. So, not only is it “the” place to stay, it’s the only place to stay.
Welcome home to the Oceanfront bungalow. Super comfortable, and as a result of its close proximity to the ocean, you rarely if ever need air-conditioning. Image of my oceanfront bungalow.Front view with the crashing ocean behind.Odd juxtaposition with the horses and ocean. This is a view front my bungalow deck.View of the oceanfront bungalows from my hike to the Red Sand Beach. With only screen doors in the bungalow, you hear the waves crashing all day and all night.
Take a short but dangerous hike from the hotel property to the Red Sand Beach. The bay is also known as Kaihalulu Bay. This is only one of a few red sand beaches in the world. The bay is shielded by the otherwise very rough ocean by a reef.
The warning sign to be taken seriously. The most common and sometimes fatal injury occurs from slipping on the unstable cinder-like soil or abundant pine needles. The drop can be as little as 15 feet or as much as 80-90 feet, depending upon what you hit on the way down, and if you are able to grab a hold of something in order to stop. Either way it spoils part, or all of your day.If this young lady slips and falls, the accident may not be fatal, but it would surely ruin the balance of her vacation. She bears a striking resemblence to my housekeeper from Sicily several years ago, but that’s not her.Another warning, not to be taken lightly.Red Sand Beach and the protective reef.On the beach perspective.View from above.Red Sand Beach.Hamoa Beach is only a few minute drive from Hana.Another image of Hamoa Beach.Waves at Hamoa Beach. These are way more fun than they look.One more image of Hamoa.The Black Sand Beach. There is a portion where the sand is very black and very fine.Image near the black sand beach.Just another simply beautiful beach.
As I travel around this island and possibly others, I will keep on posting. So stay tuned.
This is my final spot to spend a few days. The tiny municipality and small coastal village is known for its natural beauty and its literary and musical residents. Among its more well known residents is Richard Branson, the Virgin Records mogul, and Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits fame. With its tiny population of 620 it is quiet and very manageable. It’s easy to see the appeal because of the stunning topography, foliage, and stone structures. The only negative that is easily identified is the roads. They are so narrow and winding that if you miss your turn, it won’t be easy to turn around. It could take several miles to make the correction. That’s a small price to pay to be able to spend some time here.
Map showing the Deia area and location on the north coast..The walk up to my temporary home in Deia, La Residencia.Some of the gardens on the property which are peppered with art sculptures.View of the the main pool area at La Residencia with the small town of Deia in the background.Breakfast by the pool.Street scene in Deia.Great little Spanish restaurant just across the street from La Residencia.Local beach scene where I was to pick up a catamaran for the afternoon. It is the vessel on the right.Another angle of the same beach.Mallorca northern coastline as seen from the boat.The restaurant on the top of the cliff is the lunch destination. It is almost exclusively accessed from the water.Water level view of the cove where we moored the catamaran.The hike up to some of the best paella on the planet.The view in the opposite direction and the only road in. Primarily the narrow road is used by the family who lives here and owns and operates this establishment.Arial view of the same cove. Not quite at the restaurant yet.View from my table. Even if the food was marginal, it would have been great dining here. Take a look at this. Here it is very proudly exhibited. He almost needed a third arm to hold it. His smile is akin to a proud new papa with his child. Loaded with a crazy amount of very fresh seafood, this thing killed.The family that owns the establishment lives here. Remember if you are old enough, playing with actual toys and games, not video games. And that Amazon Green in the cage completes the scene.“She’s a man baby.” Austin Powers in The Spy who Shagged me. This beauty was hanging in the lobby of a sushi restaurant I was dining in. Quite an eye catcher, wouldn’t you agree?
Mallorca is located approximately 160 miles south of Barcelona, Spain in the Balearic Sea. Traveling to Mallora I plan to split my time in two locations. The first being the area in the northern portion on the island, Pollenca. This installment is about Pollenca and its nearby environs. Mallorca is vastly different from my last location in Italy. The obvious differences being the food, the attitude of the spaniards, and the fact that there are rules of the road and they are pretty much obeyed. This island is extremely clean, litter free, and unlike a lot of places in Europe, they recycle. The typography is also quite stunning. There are plenty of amazing beaches, as well as mountains rising 4,700 feet above sea level.
Map of Mallorca. You can see the location of Pollenca as indicated by the small quote bubble at the top.My home for 5 nights is the Son Brull Hotel & Spa. It is nestled in vineyards and a citrus grove. The building was originally built as an Arabic farmhouse in the 12th century during Arab rule, before becoming a Jesuit monastery in the 18th century.View of some of the vineyards from the hotel property.Son Brull pool area with vineyards in the background. That veranda in the background is a great place to chill with a cocktail.View from the hotels entry.The main courtyard at the hotel.The nearby beach area at Cala San Vicente. It was a 35 minute e-bike ride away.One of many access points to the water.Snorkeling and floating in the beautiful waters.Beach scene at Cala San Vincente.One more stunning view of the water and rugged coastline. I chose the Can Axartell winery to visit and tour. It’s an old winery with a new main building for performing almost every phase of the wine’s production. The family of the former German cosmetics entrepreneur Hans-Peter Schwarzkopf, an obviously very wealthy family, owns the operation and spared little expense in the construction of the building as you will see in some of the images which follow.German engineering is evidenced all over this place.The bottling area is almost antiseptic in how organized and spotless it is.The vineyards nearby.No low budget operation. Look at this winery’s main structure which is approximately 220,000 square feet. At capacity it is capable of producing approximately 100,000 cases annually. Currently they are producing about 28,000. Pollenca town square area.Unlike the tiny islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea, these locals are connected. This Spaniard is enjoying a cerveza and checking the soccer scores.Flamenco dancer. Love his “Beatle Boots”.This little motorist wouldn’t last 2 minutes on most of the streets in Italy.
24 hours was the perfect length of time to spend in Napoli. During those action packed 24 hours I enjoyed 2 pizzas, a fabulous seafood dinner, some great coffee, the gritty essence of the Napoli Streets, and the Herculaneum UNESCO site. Basically, the Herculaneum is similar to its sister city Pompeii, only smaller and less visited. Being just 14 KM from Napoli it’s also a more practical option when pressed for time. Herculaneum was buried in 20 meters of hot ash (approximately 60 feet) at the same time as Pompeii in AD 79 with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The original city dates back to the 6th to the 4th centuries BC. Many of the structures including the wooden portions such as roofs, beams, and doors were all well preserved because the pyroclastic material that covered the city carbonized and thereby preserved nearly everything. Even other organic materials like food were preserved. As of today it is estimated that 75% of the city still remains buried. Unfortunately, the modern Italian cities of Ercolano and Portico lie above on the site, thus precluding any excavation.
Recent multidisciplinary research on the lethal effects of the pyroclastic surges during the eruption showed that in the vicinity of Pompeii and Herculaneum, heat was the main cause of death of people previously thought to have died from suffocation caused by the ash. This study showed that exposure to these surges, measuring at least 250 degrees celsius (482 degrees fahrenheit) even at at distance of 10-15 kilometers from the volcano vent was sufficient enough to cause instant death.
Some of Herculaneum which is surrounded by the modern city. Another view of the excavation.Here is some perspective as far as the depth of the site in relation to the modern city.The courtyard just outside the House of Relief of Telephus. Carbon dating has it being constructed around 25 BC – 25 AD. The thermopolium were public dining and drinking establishments that served hot food and drinks (thus the Greek name.) Look at that countertop, craftsmanship that good lasts millennia. It’s hard to find that today.The bathes were fairly ornate. Mosaic wall in the Hall of the Augustals.These were the actual positions of the unfortunate people who did not flee. They were discovered in 1980 in the port storage vaults near the sea. The area is known as the Barrel Arches. Approximately 300 human skeletons have thus far been found. Also found were their valuables like jewels, necklaces, and coins.The end.Streets around my B & B in Napoli. This was one of the more litter-free streets. I can’t even spot an overflowing dumpster. This being Italy also means very few rules of the road. The cars and scooters seem to flow in a largely chaotic pattern.Museum oasis in the B & B I booked. This place was in a 4 floor walk-up. It was quite like living in a museum. Another shot of the living room.Eclectic for sure.The 350 year old original living room ceiling. You can see where some restoration has been done.
Ponza was another awesome little island stop-over. Its population is only 3,400 people. During the 1950s and 1960s it played host to such celebrities as Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Burt Lancaster,and Sophia Loren, just to name a few. For movie buffs, Fellini’s Satyricon was filmed here in 1969. The local economy is in a downward spiral because of the severe restrictions on commercial fishing. Most of the children born here grow up only to move away and never return. There are also some beautiful grottos just a short sail from Ponza.
Map of the area with Ponza (Ponziane) to the left of the red dot.It looks as though Kenny has a big one, on the line that is. He struggled and fought for over 25 minutes trying to land it.After the 25 minute fight Kenny eventually reeled in his catch, a garbage bag. He was nonetheless proud. At least he is doing his part to clean up the oceans. On the positive side, the bag did offer up a good fight.Sailing into Ponza in the late afternoon.Another image of the little port. We had to moor for the evening and use the dingy as our shuttle to the island.The marina scene. Beautiful scene with a catamaran sailing into the sunset.Early morning vista of the cliffside hotels and villas.Captain Antonio sailed to this beautiful location for a few hours of swimming and relaxation amongst the grottos.The waters were absolutely amazing surrounding the grottos. Another image of this very special spot.Pictured here is one of the grottos we could swim through. The water color changed dramatically from deep blue to pastel green.And of course the gelato boat. These smiling purveyors of fantastic gelato and the like were really in good spirits. And why not? They spend their afternoon motoring from one boat to the next, and with the temps in the low 90s fahrenheit everyone is indulging no matter what the cost. Finally the real (reel) deal. Nice ahi tuna. Just look at the proud smiles Kenny and Antonio are sporting. Obviously, the tuna had nothing to smile about.
This fairly idyllic island was the next destination on our itinerary. This is a tiny island both in size (381 acres), and population (751 people in 2017). We sailed into our slip and tied up in the afternoon and spent a leisurely evening here just walking, dining, and shopping for local foods for our following day’s sail on the boat. This island most definitely felt like the scene from a time long past. The island probably hasn’t changed much since the days when electricity was first introduced.
Map of the area with Ventotene to the left of the red dot.Sailing into our evening port we were welcomed by this old lighthouse.This image sees us safely tied up for the night. The restaurant at the end of this little marina was to be our dining spot for dinner. An image of our sleuth from our dining spot.Typical street on the island. Most streets are pedestrian only, with only an occasional bicycle.The prison via libera alle visite al carcere borbonico sull’isola Di Santo Stefano. It was used to incarcerate political prisoners in the 18th and 19th centuries. It hasn’t been used as a prison for well over a century. The prison is the only structure on it’s island which is about 2 miles from Ventotene. Pictured above is the only piazza on the island. The kids are enjoying an early evening competition with this dog for the ball. Notice that not one person is on a device or cell phone.Score two for the dog. Even though the boys out-numbered the dog, while I was watching the dog decidedly won time of possession. And this woman thought she could do better, but the animal totally humiliated her as well. After being beaten badly by the dog, she retreated back to her bench for a cigarette.Typical sales person selling tee shirts near the piazza. Here she is holding one up for my consideration. Even though I wasn’t interested in buying, I couldn’t resist and purchased a few. What an infectious smile. And of course her Italian was flawless.To the beach for a morning swim. As can be seen, there are no crowds here, even on this very warm day.Another perspective of the site of my morning swim.Setting sail to our next destination Isola di Ponza.Check out this dish. Not our lovely chef Linda, but the apricot pie she just whipped up from some local apricots (which she had hand picked from the trees) as part of our lunch while sailing to our next island destination.The captain’s lower bridge is where all the navigation takes place. The sailboat is equipped with auto-pilot and cruise control. This allows Captain Antonio time to relax most of the time we are actually sailing.
A friend of mine chartered a sailboat in order to sail around some of the small islands off Italy’s southern coast for 7 days. I was invited and accepted the invitation in about 4 seconds. It was truly an experience I will repeat someday. From the tiny ports where we found a slip for the night, to the very amazing people and food at every stop, this was a very unique experience. It is important to note although this is the summer season, these little islands we are visiting do not have many tourists, and any tourists here are almost exclusively from mainland Italy. For seven days I did not hear any language being spoken other than Italian. Typically we would sail 3-4 hours a day while stopping for a plunge off the boat from time to time, or lunch. Beside the captain and the first mate, the sailboat had a fantastic chef from Palermo, Sicily as well as our onboard personal culinary expert. As you might deduce, the culinary experience here was as much a focus as was the beautiful scenery and water.
Map of the area. If you look you can see the Isola di Ischia, Ventotene, and Ponza to the left of the red dot. These are our destinations.Our sailboat pictured above was about the same size as the SS Minnow from Gilligan’s Island. Here is my cabin in the stern of the boat. Not the Ritz, but perfectly comfortable, even without any room service.Captain Antonio and his First Mate Carla. These two were awesome to sail with. So much so that they quickly became like family, or better yet good friends, as sometimes as some of us know family may not be as good to travel with.The harbor departing Procida. I spent the prior six days on this beautiful island. Once the sailboat was fully provisioned with everything we needed (and some things we did not need) we set sail.As we embark on our seven day odyssey this is an image of Procida from the water.The old walled city in Procida.Burning fossil fuels in a little mid-morning frolic. If you disregard the environmental impact and carbon footprint created by this sort of activity, it appears to be great fun. Since our vessel was almost entirely propelled by the wind I had almost no pangs of guilt for the minimal damage being inflicted on the environment as a result of our voyage.Checkout some of these blowout homes on Ischia. Judging by some of the local water-craft and these palace-like homes there is most definitely some serious cash on this island. This large craft dwarfs all the yachts around it. Much larger than Al Czervik’s (Rodney Dangerfield) in Caddyshack.Little towns and villages dot the Ischia coastline.My buddy Kenny taking the wheel from the captain for a brief stint. Kenny is rarely this serious about anything. But as you can see here, he is completely focused.Coming into Forio, Ischia for the evening. Leisurely stroll on just another evening on the streets of Fornio. That is not a growth on the face of the woman on the left, she has a bite of her sandwich in her month. Reminds me of an old joke with gestures that I shouldn’t describe here.Local procession honoring Patron Saint Vito with the Chiesa del Soccorso in the background. Not only is the Patron Saint Vito the patron saint of actors, comedians, dancers, epileptics, and said to protect against lightening strikes, animal attacks, and oversleeping, he is the protector of this town of Fornio. He has quite a lot of responsibility when you think about it for a moment. It was hard for me to look these guys in the eye knowing we were going to eat them for dinner.The members of local law enforcement are always willing to pose for a picture even if you don’t offer them cash. Pictured here with officer Giuseppe is our boat’s always smiling culinary expert Peggy Peggy.Another coastline perspective of Forio at sunset.
