Ischia for the Win!

We are deep into our Italian vacation on the island of Ischia on the Amalfi coast, and so far it has gone very well.  We arrived at our large Airbnb apartment located high above the sea with great views in Forio, on the west side of the island.

We had a fun beach day yesterday, soaking in the warm Mediterranean, even though we forgot our umbrellas, it was all good.

Then, after relaxing at home and stocking up on more bottled water, and receiving a basket of garden veggies from our hosts, we arranged for a sunset tour with Luca, the owner of Ischia-taxi-Luca. Luca turned out to be an Ischia native, and showed us his family’s tomato plants and small casa up on top of a mountain. “My grandmother used to walk to Ischia center with vegetables, it was so primitive here, mostly all farmers.”

Today, Luca can point out many Michelin Star restaurants, including one that’s located just below a lighthouse. Another is tucked away beneath a seaside church in Forio.

He had a good recommendation for us. After our tour, he dropped us at Gabbiano Beach Restaurant. A table was set for us, right down front, with the twinkling lights on the Mediterranean just steps away. We were in for a treat as we sat down for seafood and crisp local Chardonnay.

Today Ischia is a very popular tourist destination, many Germans and Scandiavians like to vacation here. In the 1960s it was a true backwater, but unlike Capri that’s pretty much overrun with tourists, this island remains a place where you don’t feel overwhelmed.