Elba

The first part of this review/blog has been compiled prior to the trip.  This part is included under ‘The Planning’.  The second part. ‘The Reality’ will be/has been completed after the location has been visited.

The Planning

It’s 28th June, over a  month away from arriving in Elba.  It’s a good job I started looking for an hotel.  They’re all almost booked!  Unbelievable.  And, just as demand is high, so also are the prices.  I had contemplated a tent.  The last time I visited somewhere that was ‘full’ (meaning the whole of the location) was in Geneva.  Actually, that’s not correct.  I had to once divert in an horrendous storm and land at Caen only to find there was a gymnastic tournament going on and nearly every hotel the taxi driver stopped at was full to the brim.  I digress.

Car hire was also not going to be easy.  From what I could find, there is only one hire car company that operates from the aiport: Elba By Car.  So, that’s done. Now the hotel.  Again, it was a booking through Expedia: Hotel Fabrica.  I have no idea what it will be like but by the time I had finished searching the internet and new panes opening and pop-ups appearing and drop down menus malfunctioning (I almost booked for 2019) I’d simply had enough.  Since I had booked a car it didn’t really matter where the hotel was located:

Below are pictures from the hotel’s website:

 

 

The Reality

Two days spent in lovely warm sunshine on the Island of Elba.

 

Elba is a lovely Island and I’d definitely come back again.  I have found the people in general to be so nice.  I have to say a really big thank you to Luca at Elba Airport.  From the moment we touched down he has helped us so much.  He marshalled us into our parking bay and then unloaded our luggage and into his van.  He made the paperwork a breeze and then showed us where to pick up our hire car.  What’s more, today (our last day) I went to the airport to get the plane refuelled and ready for tomorrow’s flight (there is no time to waste tomorrow because bad weather is on its way).  I explained that the airspeed indicator had malfunctioned and he helped me to try and clear the pitot tube and nothing was too much trouble.  He then assisted me in filing my flight plan and gave me some tips of dealing with ‘Roma Control’ when I’m airborne tomorrow.  Luca, thank you SO much for all your help.  It makes coming to Elba a pleasure.