Today, we are going exploring, Jen says, to the island of Ischia. So, making use of our 24hour Hop on Hop Off bus ticket from yesterday, took the same bus to the ferry terminal on other side of the historic part of the city.
Trish, one of our friends on the Park, who is a tour guide in Italy for an American tour company, suggested we avoid the tourist Mecca of the Isle of Capri, to visit the lesser known, but more interesting, isle of Ischia.
Catching the fast ferry for an hour long ride we alighted in the bay port, already inhabited by numerous super yachts of every size and description. One of the support boats anchored next to our berth caught my eye, not for anything other than the two enormous outboard motors. Each motor of 4.2L, bigger than most car engines but combined making 12 cylinders of 8.4L!! Mines bigger than yours..:)
It’s melty hot. 32deg C, but without much cloud, the sun is fierce, so we head for an air conditioned cafe for some sustenance and air conditioned relief from the heat.
You can see who’s drinking alcohol, and who’s not…:) A Caesar salad each, or close equivalent followed by yummy ball of chocolate wrapped ice cream, set the scene for the afternoon.
The historic part of the island required a hair raising ride in a local bus through narrow streets, to the other port. There are two ports and we entered through the wrong one, which necessitated the bus ride..:)
Our desired destination.
Unless you have done serious pre planning, travel in and around Naples is not easy, and we hadn’t! There are a number of tour boat operators serving different ports and using different vessel types to the three main islands, Procida, Ischia and Capri and serving not just Naples, but Sorrento, Pozzuoli and the Amalfi Coast. There are also two terminals serving Naples!
Aragonese Castle
The Castle depicted above has a long and tumultuous history. Built by the Greek’s in 474 BC on a volcanic cone, it had been occupied and assailed by every power since, including the French who were attacked by the British in 1809, almost completely demolishing all buildings. The enmity continues..:) In one room, grotesque torture equipment displayed to demonstrate the techniques of torture, deprivation and death, metered out in earlier times.
The literal stake through the heart!!
There are others that it would not be appropriate to display for family consumption…:)
Many of the castle rooms are now displaying artistic endeavour, which is boring…:)
The views from the top are impressive.
The causeway was added in 1441.
That causeway is now used by bathers and sun worshippers. The sea is very warm and we are envious of the bathers. Jen told me to leave my togs behind as we would not have a chance to swim! It’s the last time I’m listening to her…:)
It’s 4.30pm and time to be thinking about heading back to Naples.
It’s a very British thing to be adhering to every law. Well it is for my Brit…:) When getting on the earlier mentioned bus, a large van, I tapped my credit card on the provided card reader to pay for our fares. Jen decided that she didn’t think it had registered. Me, I could care less. If they put the thing there’s to use and it does not work, it’s not my concern…:)
So, while waiting for the bus to return us to the departure port, they go every half hour, Jen decided not to trust the provided paying mechanism and walk 100 meters to a kiosk shop that sells tickets. After leaving the shop with our 1.Euro fifty each tickets, watched the bus drive past us. When the next bus arrived and took us to the port to catch the ferry, we had missed the ferry and the next one was due at 7.10pm. It’s 5.15pm by now. By the time we got back to Naples it was 8.20pm and we still had to find our way back to the hotel a couple of k’s away. Is this getting boring?..:) Oh, part of the journey back from the port was by Metro. At 3 euros for two tickets.
Stopping our walk en-route at our now regular pizza parlour, we enjoyed some of our half chicken and potato chips dinner. I should mention that prices here are insanely cheap, compared with the UK and NZ. I say we enjoyed some of our meal as there was too much to eat, Two half chicken and chips along with a litre bottle of water 20 euro. A full pizza, if you should desire, 7 euro!!!
Jen was earlier looking at shoes sold along the route we walk, 5 -7 Euros a pair.
It was after 10pm when we reached the hotel, pooped!!
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