Ischia 27th May Venerdi

27th May Venerdi

After breakfast we went to pick up our Smart Cabrio that Andrew has hired for the day so that we can explore the whole island. A weenie black thing with an electric fold down roof and strangely designed front so that if you are in the passenger side you have to sit with your feet up. Easy to park though as you can drive into a small space front ways and she is the same length as other cars widths!
Andrew drove around the entire island today, we set off towards Sant'Angelo first as that is my favourite village and I have been looking forward to showing it to Andrew.
No cars are allowed down the steep road into Sant' Angelo, so you have to park up and walk. We saw a lovely restaurant half way down the hill built into the rock.
Sant'Angelo is a fishing village and has a large harbour. Maronti beach is the largest beach on the island, some parts of it are too hot to walk on due to the many fumaroles steaming all around the area. All the villas are painted different colours, it's just so picturesque. The harbour is full of boats, ranging from the little taxi boats through to large private yachts.
We had lunch at Dal Pescatore overlooking the harbour, really excellent pizza's, Capri salad, torta and espresso's. Afterwards we went for a walk around the town and browsed in the little shops.
On our way up the hill back to the car we stopped at a little bar Pulcinella which served freshly squeezed orange and lemon juice, extremely welcome and so refreshing!
We followed the road up through the mountains and down into Ischia Porto where we sat down for beer and wine and gelato at Bar Coco by the Castello Aragonese an ancient fifth century castle guarding the island.
We went back to the hotel for a siesta, everywhere is shut of course and it is very hot - a rest before dinner is required!
We drove back to Sant'Angelo in the evening and walked over to the other side of the harbour to Hotel Conte for a pre dinner drink, sat watching the village twinkling by night, so pretty but very few places are open here in the evening and they all serve only fresh fish! Andrew and I are only into filleted fish so we went back to Forio to La Bussola for dinner. Excellent Capri salad and Parma ham, followed by steak in pepper sauce, and were given a glass of the owners special home made liquor Nuttella, it's fantastic, made of nuts but tastes like plums in brandy. Stuffed full we retired to the hotel for a nightcap on our terrace before bed.