Sunday 7 September 2014 - Ventotene

We are not too worried about an early start because we have decided only to do a 20 mile trip, and not 40 miles straight to Ischia.  So we don’t hurry and set off  at about 10:00am.  We are motoring again.  The wind never gets up over 5knots.  We are headed to another island called Ventotene.  It has been recommended as a delightful spot and it makes a good hop for one day. 

On the way we see a rather odd sight, of which we were warned.  There is a huge rock protruding out of the sea.  But the sea here is over 100 metres deep, so it isn’t just a rock.  What it is , is the top of a mountain!  As we said, rather strange.

We arrive at Ventotene at about 2:00pm and head in to the old harbour.  This is an amazing place.  The harbour was built by the Romans having been excavated from the local rock and it is still in use!  

We are directed into a space right away.  We have to moor bows to because there are rocks next to the wall.  So we wind up some way from the harbour wall.  I was just thinking that our passerelle won’t work on the bows and our old plank won’t be long enough, when the harbour hand gives us a very long plank (just like our scaffolding board fender board but twice as long).  We notice everyone gets one and there are piles of them next to the moorings!  But it looks rather scary to walk on.

Richard is the first to try it and seems to survive.  I am unconvinced I need to leave the boat today.  But after we have lunch R persuades me to try to get off and have a walk around the town, which he says is really cute.  So with great trepidation I cross to the quay and survive!  We walk all over the town and it really is cute.  All perched on the hill and again houses all painted in pretty pastel colours.

We get back just in time to see lots of other boats coming in.  It is all very jolly.  So we eat dinner on board and just relax.  Early to bed I think.