Palau, Pacific Island, by Daniele Somenzi

Palau Unfortunately the Continental Micronesia 737 lands in the dark in the paradise of Palau. A real shame not to be able to see the coral reef that surrounds the island. So we have ourselves taken by taxi to a random hotel, and in the dark we neither see nor appreciate anything of the island; all postponed to tomorrow morning. We notice that the hotel room has every comfort: 2 single beds, one for me and one for my travel companion Giuseppe, a mini-bar, TV, telephone and all the rest, besides, naturally, air conditioning. A good sleep and the next day a stupendous view of the lagoon right from the room's terrace, a really nice surprise. A shame about the clouds. The water, however, is flat, the climate pleasant, not too humid.

We learned that here in Koror an Italian gentleman has lived for years, who is married to the vice-president of the little republic of Palau, a very intelligent local lady. So I phone him, introducing myself as one of 2 Italians just arrived who, if he felt like meeting, had fresh Italian magazines from Italy as well as the Corriere della Sera. So, within 5 minutes he turned up in the hotel lobby. At first both we and he were on our guard, but a few minutes were enough to immediately exchange a few jokes and some laughter. So Mr Pierantozzi showed us his villa with a lagoon view and then took us to a restaurant with his wife, who arrived in a car with CD (diplomatic corps) plates. Mr Pierantozzi gave us some tips on what to do on the island, which excursions etc. So we book an excursion for the next day.

The island isn't one but a small jagged one where the capital Koror is, connected by a bridge built by the Japanese in recent times, and the other island, much bigger but not very inhabited. With the rental car Giuseppe and I make an attempt to go all the way around, but the road is under construction, many trucks go back and forth, and we reach a point where there's no more road and turn back. Anyway, endless equatorial jungle and also a monument in memory of the Japanese fallen of the Second World War. In the evening at the nearby bar, Giuseppe and I play billiards, and then at the hotel we play rummy. Usually I win at billiards and he at cards, because during the European winter he's always at the bar in Casalmaggiore playing and has become an expert.

The tour we do the following day will turn out to be one of the most beautiful excursions I have ever done in my life, and for Giuseppe equally so. With a motorboat we set off from the little pier, and on board, on the bow, are our canoes; other tourists are with us plus the Palauan guide. The sea is like oil; after 10 minutes we arrive at a little island made of trees and unspoilt jungle. At a little beach, down with the canoes, and after putting on sunscreen I get into my red one while Giuseppe gets into the double one with the guide; he's never rowed and needs a guide. There are 6 of us and we set off for that paddle in an earthly paradise, in the quiet of nature; I seemed suspended in the air, so clear was the water. Here, zero pollution. And what you see underneath!!! Beautiful aquarium fish, corals and even little sharks.

Shortly after, our guide paddles right into the inlet of the island; it feels like we've entered a lake. Some birds and types of gulls flutter around us, colourful butterflies frame it all and make us think — Giuseppe and me — who in dialect exchange opinions like "I'm not going home anymore, you go". A tropical downpour arrives suddenly, very strong; I don't fear it and I put myself in the centre of the lake while they shelter under the providential cliff, but it lasts only 1 minute, then the sun returns and dries me instantly. Indeed, shortly after we throw ourselves into the water for a nice swim, but the real snorkelling we do 15 minutes later, and I burst out laughing when I see Giuseppe, for the first time in his life at sixty, putting on a mask with a snorkel, complete with fins. He asks me, how do you do it? and after 2 explanations, I understand that he learned instantly.

In fact I could no longer get him out of the water for lunch, which was based on grilled fish. He'd taken a liking to it. Lobster and beautiful fish are our meal today. We climb back, with full bellies, onto the motorboat and the canoes and head to another inlet where we plunge in again to snorkel and enjoy once more the submerged wonder. On the way back we're so satisfied that we can't believe such a day happened and that we only dreamt it. But a whole tape of footage is proof that it really did happen. Money well spent, indeed more; the journey this far was worth this excursion. The next day, again by car, we go to another splendid bay where, standing on the jetty, we see a turtle and a large ray pass beneath us, and the water still flat as oil, with a temperature of 29 degrees that invites you in at every moment.

That evening we offer a dinner at the restaurant to Mr Pierantozzi and his wife, who accept very gladly. It doesn't happen every day, they tell us, that there are Italians on this island; only Americans and Australians come for tourism and also a few Japanese. Giuseppe is offered a watermelon juice or watermelon squash, very good, and he, very interested, appreciates it, since at Cappella di Casalmaggiore he grows watermelons himself. He promises me that the following summer he'll offer me one too. By the way, a short video with the mobile phone and then sent via the internet to Mr Pierantozzi, of Giuseppe holding his big watermelons, greatly pleased Mr Pierantozzi to receive it, a few months later. Unfortunately the holiday in Palau is about to end, and at the little Koror airport, the usual and only plane that comes to these parts carries us away again in the dark. What bad luck.

bye bye