The bed shook and I came awake with a jolt. "Come on lazy," you whispered in my ear, "I have the whole day mapped out." I lay there, slightly shocked, but with a smile on my face and a massive question mark hanging over me.
"What the hell has she planned?" I thought. So up I get, all the usual morning stuff and then it's dressed and out.
"Sorry," you say, "First we have to do some shopping." oh well, good things come to those who wait. So it's off to the local supermacardo and stock up with all sorts of food.
"Picnic," I think, "But where?"
Back we go to the villa and you usher me outside. "Go sit by the pool and read a book or something." As if I brought a book! So I wait, and wait, and wait. Then out you come. All changed, smiling, telling me to go get my swimming things on. Then it's into the car and off we go. Just about to pull out the drive and you say "No, silly, the other way."
"But that's a dead end." I tell you, but you just look at me. Ok, your the boss, off we go. 5 minutes later the road runs out. "Ok," I say, "Where too now."
"Straight on." you say. So off we go. Just a dirt track, but then widening out into a large flat area, ahead of us the sea.
I pull up at the end of a beach, to the left a 150 foot high cliff, to the right a mile of glorious sandy beach. I'm just about to turn right when you stop me and point the other way. Ok, your still the boss, off we go. Within 30 seconds I'm face to face with the cliff. "Park here." you say, and out we get. You start unloading the car and heading down the beach.
"But there is nothing here" I think to myself. She obviously knows where she's going but as you walk into the water holding things above your head I begin to wonder.
"Oh by the way," you call back "Pick up one of those rocks and bring it with you."
"What!" I think, "She's lost it." But I continue to follow, rock in hand.
Out into the sea hugging the side of the cliff we go. Up to mid waste. Then you turn left and are gone. I hurry to the point where you disappear, slowed by the water and there you are about 10 feet in front of me. On my left there is a ledge. "Put the rock on there" you instruct. Now nothing would surprise me so I do it. Then I just follow.
As we wade along the edge of the cliff I look up marvelling at the size of it, straight up. No other ledges except the one I put the rock on, no hand holds, un-climable. I look back towards you. "She's done it again," I think to myself, "Nowhere in sight." so I hurry forward again and there you are again. A gap has opened up in the cliff about 50 feet wide. Inside you're wading towards a beach. I follow and look around. Amazing, the cove is about 150 feet across, totally circular. Then it hits me; it's a larva tube. Formed during the last eruption, spewing larva out of the earth and into the sea. The side of the tube had collapsed forming the opening. After the eruption the water had rushed in, cooling the rock. Over the centuries sand had washed into the void forming this perfect little beach. I just shake my head in wonder and follow.
"How the hell did you know about this place?" I ask.
"Maria told me," you say, "Apparently it's a bit of a village secret."