There are few cars except some taxis that were especially designed for the island-have a canvas top spread over it.
Capri pants were designed here-yay! I wear them 95% of the time in AZ.
Walking tour with a guide:
10,000-15,000 daily visitors on the island. 13,000 permanent residents. Most are extremely wealthy and inherited their land and/or homes. (I always wonder how the service workers can afford to live in these areas.)
Euctalyptus trees were imported from Australia to aid with the swamps, which held mosquitoes, which caused malaria. Oleander trees were brought over because they keep down auto pollution.
Vehicles are hurrying around. Trash trucks off streets by 9:30 a.m. Mini traffic jam where we're trying to cross the street-with mini vehicles!
Walked a couple of blocks to Villa San Michelle, which had been owned by a Swedish doctor. He was a musician, composer. His foundation still sends 24 kids every year to music school. Was one of the most famous medical doctors in Europe. Was also an archaeologist. The Queen of Sweden gave him money at one time. He loved dogs and baboons, and had both. We asked what 2 little plaques in a wall were: Tom and Fellow. Guide said they were 2 of his favorite dogs.
One of the rooms in his home had a mosaic skeleton design inside on the floor inside the door. It was common at that time and served as a reminder that we all have to die, so enjoy life now!
The grounds had 113 kinds of tropical plants and 800+ species of flowers and plants. It was very pretty this morning and it was a pleasant walk through those and listening to birds. Left the guide.
We walked until we found the Church of St. Michael because Igor had suggested we visit it. It is a very small building with the whole floor in the sanctuary (no seats now) being a beautiful ,2,500 tile mosaic of the Garden of Eden. Tom walked up 26 circular stairs to take pictures looking down also.
He had explained a vineyard that we walked past. The farmers here grow the vines on very high stakes. Also, that Capt. Cook brought bouginvillea plants here from Tahiti.
Rode a mini bus down the 900' mountain-winding, narrow roads, crazy motorcyclists, our bus passing other mini buses on the narrow roads. Scary ride. Igor told us not to worry because the island has a hospital.
At the marina we boarded a boat carrying just our group for a one hour tour of the island. Water was so choppy and I was glad I had taken a Dramamine. The water is so blue, yet looks green along the shoreline. We couldn't get into the blue grotto because of the sea condition. We looked into a green one and a pink one. The green one has limestone walls.
Three tall rocks are side by side. One has a hole large enough for our boat to sail through-it is called the tunnel of love. If you sail through it, it is said, you and your lover will never leave each other. No kiss for me since Tom was outside taking pictures. Igor was close to the local guide who told him not to kiss him because he isn't his type. They all know each other and have a lot of fun when they see each other again.
The guide pointed out the restaurant on the hillside where we will have dinner tonight. It has several huge villas belonging to the very rich around it.
Glad to leave that choppy ride. Took the funicular back to the town center and had a beer and Coke at a sidewalk cafe.
6:00 All of us walked a few blocks to meet the vans which would take us around the bay to the Hotel Ambassador for dinner. While walking, we heard drums and singing, turned a corner, and saw people standing around and clapping. Igor told us it was a wedding. 8-10 drummers, dressed in local costumes, lined the steps of a restaurant. Soon the bride and groom walked out. I asked Igor if Monday was a typical day for a wedding and he said no, but it was probably cheaper that day. (All during the trip, we wore small headphones and radios to hear the guide, who wore a microphone.)
The restaurant at the hotel (blue awnings) overlooks the ocean and all the surrounding hillsides on two sides with the gorgeous villas. One had a stone facade, which really blended in with the hillside. The one closest to it was a huge white one. I and another man were talking about it and I said it probably cost half a million just to bring the materials from the mainland and haul them up that tall hillside by crane or however they hauled them.
Two yachts are moored below. Another gigantic villa is on another hillside. Two of us made up this story and we're sticking to it: They had to buy the villa to keep an eye on their yacht. They have a helicopter pad at the villa. A little later a small boat brought people to one of the yacht and the lights in it came on.
Igor had dinner served more on American's schedule tonight - 7:00 or so
Pizza with cheese and cherry tomatoes (for every 4 people).
Choice of first course-we picked ravioli, lasagna, and breaded veal cutlets.
Choice of other items on 3rd course: Tom had potatoes and I had broccoli and carrot dish-have never had that combination before, but it was good.
4th course-cake and lemoncello drink (we skipped), coffee or cappuccino.
I just list these to show you how much they eat-crazy.
We sat with Dan, Kelly, Matt, and Lauren Dickson of California. We look forward to seeing them in Tucson when they come over to visit family. Matt is studying reptiles, etc., in college and is anxious for us to see a Gila monster at home, take a picture of it, and email it to him, because he's never seen one. (We have seen one - crossing the road at Saguaro Natl. Park, but there was a large one in the subdivision last year.)
It was a very pleasant evening and the ride back was crazy again. We don't know how 2 cars or mini buses can pass on these narrow streets, but they do, even if someone is walking on the side, too. Scary.
Arrived at the van lot and it started pouring. I was prepared with my poncho and rain bonnet. By the time we walked a block or so it was a gentle rain. Ankles are very swollen again.
306 stairs - me Tom had the extra 52 at the church
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