Day 22- 6 September 2008
Today we headed across the road to the Port and got our very expensive (17 euro) one way ticket by hydrofoil to the Isle of Capri. Once there we lined up and got our little tug boat ticket to get to the Blue grotto and then we waited and waited. Finally after about 15 minutes we were shuffled onto a small boat and we waited. Then a massive argument ensued between the driver of our boat and the driver of the boat next door. Although in Italian it was pretty clear what each were saying. Politely in English translation i believe the other driver was stating his displeasure in our driver letting us and others on board when it was obviously the other drivers turn to pick up passengers. It seems these drivers are owner operators and get a commission for every passenger. Well after 20 minuti of argument in very aggressive italiano our driver gave up the coupons to the other driver and we were all ordered off the boat onto the other drivers boat. After another short wait the driver pushed off from the dock and we were away. A short pleasant journey took us to the entrance of the Blue Grotto which is around the island from the port at the Isle of Capri. Here we were met by about 20 other boat load of people all jostling for a position to get there passengers onto smaller row boats to get into the grotto. Well about an hour and much italian aggression and displeasure uttered by many many boat drivers we were finally going to get in a row boat. It was quite hot and very interesting seeing the spectacle of all these boats trying to get their passengers into the grotto. There were 4 guys in a boat tied near the grotto that were selling tickets for the grotto and about 10 row boats yet no actual order or system and complete kaos at times. Ness and i finally joined two others in this tiny little row boat and we were rowed to the 4 man boat and told to pay 10 euro so we could get into the grotto. Yes thats right 17 euro for the ferry to the isle of capri, 11 euro for the guy in the boat to the grotto, 6 euro for the row boat and 4 euro to enter the grotto. Although all these processes had the entertainment value of a fully fledged broadway show. Once we had our ticket there was some more waiting (about 1.5 hours since we left the port on the tug boat) and we were only a metre from the entrance of the grotto. The entrance is very small and you need to lay down in the row boat to get through the entrance which is about 1 metre wide and 40cm from the top of the water (which moves up and down with the waves). So we are in this little row boat laying down and in we go with our row boat driver pulling on a chain and getting us through the gap. With my head down there was about 2cm clearance and we were in. It was like Alice going through the looking glass after adjusting to the almost dark you see the glowing blue water which is simply amazing and spectacular. About 3 or 4 row boats joined us and we spent prob about 10 minutes inside the grotto which is a large cave. There is light shining from below the water and white sandy bottom which gives the impression that the water is lit up very similar to that in a swimming pool with lights at the bottom. But this is like no swimming pool i have ever been in. It was simply well worth the time and money to get here and another must see on Philbys adventure. The entrance has water rushing in and out and waves crashing in the gap which looks very scary and many row boat loads were very wet after coming in or going out but luckily our row boat captain was great and we did not get wet. After coming out of the grotto (with 1 cm to spare above my head) we headed back to the port and after a short refreshment stop we headed up to the top of capri on the funicular. After a short stroll around we headed back down on the funicular and onto the ferry back to naples.
Forgot to mention on our boat we had a nun who was also visiting the blue grotto. Ness believes it was a good thing as we were protected given the precarious way you get in and out of the grotto.
Our hostel is on the 6th floor of a building and you need to catch the lift (which costs 5 cents a trip). Luckily the hostel provides free coins. Lol.
Tomorrow we are off to Florence.
ahh italy....
Day 22- 6 September 2008
Today we headed across the road to the Port and got our very expensive (17 euro) one way ticket by hydrofoil to the Isle of Capri. Once there we lined up and got our little tug boat ticket to get to the Blue grotto and then we waited and waited. Finally after about 15 minutes we were shuffled onto a small boat and we waited. Then a massive argument ensued between the driver of our boat and the driver of the boat next door. Although in Italian it was pretty clear what each were saying. Politely in English translation i believe the other driver was stating his displeasure in our driver letting us and others on board when it was obviously the other drivers turn to pick up passengers. It seems these drivers are owner operators and get a commission for every passenger. Well after 20 minuti of argument in very aggressive italiano our driver gave up the coupons to the other driver and we were all ordered off the boat onto the other drivers boat. After another short wait the driver pushed off from the dock and we were away. A short pleasant journey took us to the entrance of the Blue Grotto which is around the island from the port at the Isle of Capri. Here we were met by about 20 other boat load of people all jostling for a position to get there passengers onto smaller row boats to get into the grotto. Well about an hour and much italian aggression and displeasure uttered by many many boat drivers we were finally going to get in a row boat. It was quite hot and very interesting seeing the spectacle of all these boats trying to get their passengers into the grotto. There were 4 guys in a boat tied near the grotto that were selling tickets for the grotto and about 10 row boats yet no actual order or system and complete kaos at times. Ness and i finally joined two others in this tiny little row boat and we were rowed to the 4 man boat and told to pay 10 euro so we could get into the grotto. Yes thats right 17 euro for the ferry to the isle of capri, 11 euro for the guy in the boat to the grotto, 6 euro for the row boat and 4 euro to enter the grotto. Although all these processes had the entertainment value of a fully fledged broadway show. Once we had our ticket there was some more waiting (about 1.5 hours since we left the port on the tug boat) and we were only a metre from the entrance of the grotto. The entrance is very small and you need to lay down in the row boat to get through the entrance which is about 1 metre wide and 40cm from the top of the water (which moves up and down with the waves). So we are in this little row boat laying down and in we go with our row boat driver pulling on a chain and getting us through the gap. With my head down there was about 2cm clearance and we were in. It was like Alice going through the looking glass after adjusting to the almost dark you see the glowing blue water which is simply amazing and spectacular. About 3 or 4 row boats joined us and we spent prob about 10 minutes inside the grotto which is a large cave. There is light shining from below the water and white sandy bottom which gives the impression that the water is lit up very similar to that in a swimming pool with lights at the bottom. But this is like no swimming pool i have ever been in. It was simply well worth the time and money to get here and another must see on Philbys adventure. The entrance has water rushing in and out and waves crashing in the gap which looks very scary and many row boat loads were very wet after coming in or going out but luckily our row boat captain was great and we did not get wet. After coming out of the grotto (with 1 cm to spare above my head) we headed back to the port and after a short refreshment stop we headed up to the top of capri on the funicular. After a short stroll around we headed back down on the funicular and onto the ferry back to naples.
Forgot to mention on our boat we had a nun who was also visiting the blue grotto. Ness believes it was a good thing as we were protected given the precarious way you get in and out of the grotto.
Our hostel is on the 6th floor of a building and you need to catch the lift (which costs 5 cents a trip). Luckily the hostel provides free coins. Lol.
Tomorrow we are off to Florence.
ahh italy....
2 comments:
sounds like your having fun keep in touch......Romere ia helping me make these comments .....this is a test message
great to see you re getting into the twenty first century. ps It worked
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