We were up early this morning – everyone buzzing with excitement to reach the fabled Isola di Palmarola. It’s especially wonderful to have my brother Steve on board. Not only for his company, but also for his surprising decision to clean the solar panels first thing. (Not something we knew was on the agenda.) But we have to admit… they’ve never looked so sparkly. We might’ve been able to signal aircraft with them!
Catherine, too, kicked things off on a high note with a delicious breakfast for the whole crew, and later in the day, Steve stepped up with a round of grilled focaccias so good I’m starting to worry that Doug’s going to be expecting a much higher quality of service moving forward!
The day was filled with fun and friendly competition – Uno and Skip-Bo were played on heavy rotation. And let it be known: Oscar is quickly becoming a Skip-Bo master. Emily, if you’re reading this – watch out. He’s coming for your crown!
But the real highlight was pulling into Isola Palmarola, one of the Pontine Islands, just west of Ponza. This island is a total show-off. Uninhabited, wild, and absolutely breathtaking (the photos just don’t do it justice!) – with sheer volcanic cliffs plunging straight into glassy turquoise water. It felt like anchoring in a postcard.
We swam. We snorkeled. We paddleboarded. Steve took a leap off the bow! At one point, we popped open some prosecco on top of Kora, toasting the fact that this little slice of paradise was ours for the evening.
Then things got even more adventurous: Karen took the dinghy out for the first time with a small crew who dared to brave the sea with her to explore the sea caves that line the cliff edges. There was some light debate over whether she might need to display L-plates (learner driver plates in Australia), but all made it back safely, dignity also intact. Not long after, Doug, Steve, and Chelsea zoomed off in the dinghy for their own ride. Chelsea quickly declared Doug the “more fun driver” after he got the bow airborne 🙂
Dinner was our own take on a classic Italian seafood pasta – spaghetti allo scoglio 🙂
Dinner was followed by an evening swim with Kora’s underwater lights highlighting the fish, some nearly a meter long, circling under the boat. We wrapped the evening with more cards, this time learning a new favorite: Golf, a game I learned from Doug’s mom, which has since become a family favourite of ours. Oscar and Chelsea are hooked!
Night swimming, stars overhead, a little country music playing over the boat speakers, and water glowing beneath us… It was one of those rare, perfect days. Tomorrow: onward to the next island, and more adventures waiting just over the horizon.
