Advertisement
ELBA-The Island like Paradise a hop away from home.
June 27-28 The boat ride to Isola d’Elba is only an hour from Piombino and it is clear just be observing the clear, rich blue water below that Elba is no Viareggio. I heard from Florentines that Isola d’Elba was a treasure, not only historically, but aesthetically. As the myth has it, Jason stopped at Porto Argo (Portoferraio) on his adventure for the golden fleece. The island also contains several Etruscan archaeological sites as well as the fortress built by Cosimo I de’Medici in the sixteenth century and traces of Napoleon’s 10 month rule (early 19th century) at Villa dei Mulini and San Martino.
The island has a serpent-like coast line and beaches and resorts cover every square inch of it’s rich terrain. Beaches range from smooth sand to small white pebble beaches to huge chunks of wind and water-smoothed stone sliding easily into the Mediterranean. Now not only did our trip begin beautifully, as the wind already moistened our skin with the silk of salk but we were also greeted by 2 fined creatures (what they were is still a mystery) of which Klajd has never seen. The island
is huge and we come into the port, which introduces its visitors with the Fortezza Stella, the high-walled fortress built on the jutting land before we round the corner to enter the port. From afar we already spot our beach, the huge cliffs behind, the hotels built smartly into the rolling sides that fall sweetly into the sea.
Our hotel is within minutes from the dock, and with a flower-lined terrace and bright, breezy rooms, we felt incredible. Once glance out and down, upon the beautiful beach, and it was like looking at the color of blue-tinted glass. Sea-birds calling and the cheers of the beach-goers below, within minutes we had on our “costumi di bagno” and were off to set our feet into the paradise we so hoped it would be.
And it was.
Le Ghaie is the name of the beach, known for the smooth, white pebbles and palm-sized stones that line the edges of the ocean. But the wondrous thing was following these pebbles into the warm waters of the Mediterranean that teases you with it’s clarity! With easy waves and tranquil edges, the water was full of young and old. The acquatic life rich,
these beaches are well-known for snorkeling and diving (further out). Our beach in particular was covered mustly with the small white stones (you could go out 20 meters and still see the bottom as if it were only a few feet away from you) and the darker areas were larger stones covered in sea life-all sorts of algae and snail shells and other water plants (of which I didn’t get a close look-I preferred to paddle past these areas…as some were sharp!).
Of our crew, Klajd’s roommate brought a friend, but the two of them had a grand time jumping off the cliffs (cutting up their tender feet, but having fun doing so…) and throwing each other in the water. Resting for short periods in the shade of the umbrellas, I spend most of my time lounging on the pebble shore, letting the waves push and pull me lightly while still keeping my elbows in contact with pebbles. Remarkably comfortable to rest on. And even more surprisingly was the density of the salt-water! Not only did a few drops in the water by Klajd clear up my soar throat (when laughing and screaming it is difficult to take a
breath and CLOSe the mouth before entering the water!!!) but the two of them did not succeed often at touching the bottom (maybe 8 meters) because of the water pressure (what I believe was the density of salt in the water). Incredibly none the less. Some stalks of sea grass, but no jelly fish and no garbage! Just breeze, the beauty of the rich, thriving vegetation inland and the calmness of the water.
Although we were ripped off royally for our food, we still enjoyed a huge meal. Penne al polpo di granchio (penne with a spicy tomato crab sauce) and spaghetti con vongole (with clams) and fried calamari and shrimp, wine, antipasti. At the end we discovered the cover to have been 3.50 euro a head, which is insane. We didn’t argue, but should have. Not even Florence has a “coperto” that high. We should have traveled a bit further in town, but the beach-side, sunset-like resturant seduced us!
The trip, Elba, was the fondente of all chocolate I tell you. And my skin is no longer turning red, and instead, browned, is soaking up sun instead of toasting under it. Klajd and I spend Tuesday by
ourselves and rest on beach, eat ice cream, salad and panini and then head back to Florence. Unfortunately we missed the one straight-shot train back home, so from Portoferraio to Florence, our trip took 4.5 hours between the traghetto (boat), bus and 2 trains. Home, we glanced through the pictures and smiled.
Let’s go back tomorrow.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.084s; Tpl: 0.016s; cc: 7; qc: 23; dbt: 0.0477s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Bekki
non-member comment
.
I visited Elba a few weeks ago now. It certainly was glorious and the scebery breathtaking. The only things i found were the jellyfish. I have never seen so mnay jellyfish before. You couldn't go in the sea without getting tung. You were very fortunate not to come aross any!