Elba Island

The holiday on Elba was a surprise... because it was the year of my wedding and, being strapped for cash, we'd decided not to go away; then our two great friends Gabriele and Silvia (to whom I send a big kiss!) convinced us to go with them, also to break away from the frantic life of the wedding preparations, and so no sooner said than done!!! We found a really lovely little hotel in Capoliveri right on Pareti beach: small, family atmosphere but very clean and well kept, with really helpful and kind owners. Unfortunately we hit some days of bad weather so we couldn't admire all the beauties of the island, but even so the nicest place that struck me was Porto Azzurro. A classic holiday spot with little streets full of souvenir shops, markets and small craft workshops, venues, bars and restaurants typical of the place.

To get around the island you have to drive a lot because to reach the beaches it takes a while wherever you set off from, and then the key thing is that at the most famous beaches there's almost no parking, so you have to go very early, otherwise you end up like us, who in one day visited 5 beaches to find one that still had a few free parking spaces! A special hug to our travel companions Gabry and Silvia!!!