Island of Volcano, Sicily
Anchored - Porto de Pontente and Cala de Formaggio
8/23-8/24
First of all, any place that sounds like or has a name that has any resemblance of cheese-you know i am there! "Bay of Formaggio" - count me in! Alas - as beautiful as it was, we were really at Volcano to anchor in front of the Volcano-so after one night at "bay of cheese" we moved to Porto de Pontente - literally a 5 minute motor around a corner. After trying to anchor there the previous evening (there was no room at the inn), we opted to re-approach the harbor around 11am - the usual time for people to "move on to the next place."
It isn't always the case that we feel so confident in our anchor that we are willing to leave the boat for any length of time. Porto de Pontente however was one of those places that (although packed with boats) seemed very sheltered with good holding in sand. Not to worry-no story about dragging anchor (this time). We left the boat with the adventure in mind of renting a quad and zipping to the top of the crater and buying a system with which to change the boats oil. We were uber surprised to find that 1-the only way to the rim of the crater is by walking-mind you it is several thousand feet up and 90 degrees. We opted out. 2-we were able to rent a funky little jeep and drive to the top of the "old crater" which provided an amazing view out over the island - it is about twice as high as the new active volcano rim. 3-we were able to stop in a small chandelier, have them order a bronze oil change pump, have it delivered within 12 hours from mainland Italy - all for 19.50 Euro. The procrastination needed to come to the end and the oil was changed.
Having forgotten that there are mineral "mud" springs on the island (Shawn had not forgotten and was disappointed that i refused to go in them with my recently wounded toe - long story, but there was a bit of skin missing and I didn't think a shared pool of mud would be the best option for recovery.) The mud springs are in the one "tourist area" of the island, sadly very close to where we anchored as well. Our guide book of course made mention of these springs and i offer the following direct quote "One does eventually get used to seeing obese people with overall cracked mudpacks waddling down to the sea, but it takes a while."
I will include a few photos taken during our our stay at Volcano. One is taken with our mini jeep (quite fun to drive), one of the two of us having found a nice lookout over the bay. I would say that we were the only ones that had found the spot, but this was obviously an area frequented by the "busy" Italians who did not wish to become with child as to say. There was substantial evidence of shall we say-activity. The photos of course would not be complete without a few of the tourists bathing in the mud.
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