Our first experience at the Maldives, a wonderful place!!

 

"Ricominciamo-o-o..." Adriano Pappalardo screaming loudly in his famous song, and we, after almost two years since the last trip, because the gift that heaven has wanted to offer us, in the guise of our beautiful second son, Leonardo, now we can cry ... let's start-o-o!
... In fact today, Easter Sunday 2011, is a memorable date for us who love travel, because we are back on track, even if leaving for a vacation of one week, one of the most classic destinations that our beautiful planet can offer: the Maldives, and more specifically the island of Olhuveli, located south of Malé nell'atollo
At 17:15 we depart for a quiet weekend afternoon at home with a small wound to the heart ... Leonardo, in fact, not ours, because we believe that the journey is too long, but why not hide it, we need a little 'of holy rest, and in this the venerable grandparents play a key role, with their willingness to take care of the child in its entirety for a week ... Then, finally, here is our plea: "Excuse us so small, but one day you will understand, as we have understood your brother, Frederick, with us today, who once suffered the same treatment ..."
Fifteen minutes after the start we enter the highway in Faenza and a little later I realize I have forgotten at home driving license ... What to do? ... Risk of arriving late to pick her up and return in good luck or hope? ... I do not say anything and I opt for the latter solution, after all we only get to Bologna ... Maldives and then I do not think we need it!
Signed with the heart of a thousand we cover all the way successful and we are at 18:15 at the Park to Fly to leave their cars in storage, so relieved I can reveal to all the narrow escape ... the return will be seen, meanwhile let's enjoy the well deserved holiday!
We are right on schedule at the counter Azemar (our tour operator for this trip) and there we will take all the necessary documents to the continuation of the process of loading ... We ship our luggage, we go beyond the metal detectors and with great anticipation we put on hold the door number 3.
At 20:00 o'clock start boarding operations on real flight Meridiana IG 3124, and on time, to 20:57, the Airbus A330 leaves the floor to Rome Fiumicino airport, where we will stop to pick up other passengers.
No time to take part and begin the descent to the airport in the capital city, where we landed at 21:29.
The stop is more than expected then, finally, after having forfeited the fuel needed to cover the 7340 km that separate us from the goal, at 23:34, we resume our journey ... We climb back above the clouds and the shell midnight when we are still on Italy.

After a long night the dawn emerges and we begin to descend towards the Maldivian capital, Male.
Beyond the windows can glimpse some spectacular atolls and at 11:02 local time (three hours more than in Italy, with daylight saving time in force in our country) landed successfully in the International Hulhule Island, in part artificial, entirely occupied by the main airport in the Maldives, and the weather, we knew not to be exceptional, are presented to us with a shy sun and atmospheric temperature thirty degrees.
So now we are in the Republic of Maldives, was born in 1968, after three years of the Sultanate, as a result of the independence achieved at the expense of Great Britain, July 26, 1965 ... The state, which has about 350,000 inhabitants, is an exclusively insular being composed of a series of atolls, located in the Indian Ocean, south-west of India and just over 700 km from the coast of Sri Lanka.
The vast archipelago, located near the equator, spread from north to south for more than 750 km and for 180 in the longitudinal, counting about 1190 coral islands, of which only 202 inhabited (and of these eighty villages occupied exclusively by tourism) ... It 'a very strange and captivating world that appears before our eyes, which was missing from our experiences of travel and we are preparing to visit, albeit minimally, in the coming days.
Completed all the formalities out of the airport and once we meet our assistants, a little later, we are to board the fast boat with which we reach the island of Olhuveli.
After about an hour of browsing, in a rather rough sea, we landed in our small paradise, the island that we will host for the next seven nights.
Just set foot on Olhuveli, even under a gray sky, rather, interspersed with weak rays of sunshine, we are led to the restaurant for lunch and right after we hand over the keys to our room, the 210, located on the western side of the island, where the sea, few meters away, is quite restless.
Among the first to learn that Olhuveli is in effect a kind of daylight savings time, so we'll have to move the clock forward another hour, with the result of having, apparently, longer days, and then, once recovered our luggage, we put ourselves in bathing suits and run on the east side of the island, where the placid lagoon, protected from the wind, and there we settle under an umbrella, to spend the last hours of the afternoon.
Sometimes a beautiful sun comes out, so we can enjoy a first sospiratissimo bathroom ... Then the long shadows of evening assail us, making us run (a little after 19:00) on the opposite side of the island to enjoy a beautiful sunset, although characterized by too many clouds (we will see, in all likelihood, the best).
Tired at the end of the day we go to dinner, then, not drawn to karaoke entertainment complex proposed by the meager tourist, we turn to walk the entire village, right on the end of the pier, where you normally sighted mantas ... but the water, agitated tonight, the Indian Ocean make us desist from our intentions and we recommend some 'well-deserved rest culmination of a long journey.

I get up from bed with great difficulty because of the time, certainly not yet assimilated. I look out the window and know, with a hint of discomfort, that the sky is gray and the sun on the run, as expected, moreover, ... Very slowly leave our room and we go to breakfast, and, like magic, the clouds open and the sun comes out strongly in the open, flooding the whole wonderfully light and turning colors of the sea around us.
We rush to occupy an umbrella and then I go in the company of Frederick, to make a quick briefing with the assistant Azemar and book the excursion for the afternoon, so we hurried to the beach to enjoy the magnificent views of the lagoon and a refreshing Olhuveli bathroom, because with the presence of the sun there is a crazy hot and humid.
Walking and wading a narrow arm of sea reach the island, completely uninhabited, closing the lagoon in front of us. We collect some 'of shells and a couple of coconuts, we take some pictures and then return the umbrella, but we stay there long because they quickly run into the water to enjoy a second bathroom ... It's not really possible to resist such crystal reflections!
In less than no time you are 13:00, so we spent in the room for a quick shower, we go for lunch and ten minutes before 14:00 at the reception we are ready to leave for an excursion that will take us to the discovery of the capital , Male.
Malé is one of the most incredible cities on earth ... A few inches in height above sea level is developed, in fact, an urban area of ??about 82,000 inhabitants, over an area of ??2.5 square kilometers ... This means that it has a density of inhabitants per square kilometer than even that of Manhattan!
As soon as the boat sailed faster we see large clouds on the horizon blacks and soon we are under a heavy rain, the sky is completely covered ... and discomfort suffered attacks us ... but after half an hour from the time we go out rain, and weather conditions are much better when we landed on the dock of the capital, even if the sun does not shine.
We just dropped out of the boat divided by nationality, and being the only three Italians, for the occasion, we will have a guide at our disposal, that immediately presents itself: Mohammed, a friendly Maldivian, who will accompany us for a walk around the city, even I do not think it would be a problem to do it ourselves, but we adapt to the situation.
Mohammed us from the square facing the port, in which waves a large flag of the state, then, in short, we arrive in front of the Great Friday Mosque, the great Friday Mosque, the most important building in Malé, which opened in 1984, and the largest religious building in the Maldives, which are, believe it or not, one hundred percent Muslim.
Continuing our tour of the capital pass through the Sultan Park which houses, nestled in a small public park, what remains of the royal palace, as well as a museum of traditional Maldivian, but we avoid.
This brings us to the oldest mosque in the country, Hukuru Miskiy, flanked by a characteristic white-blue, stubby minaret and a small cemetery with graves of ancient sultans.
In front of the Hukuru Minskiy is the Mulee-Aage, a palace all painted in white and blue with a bright red roof, which was the first Presidential Palace of the Maldives, although originally built by Sultan Shamsudden III, his son, in the period before the First World War.
Next to the Mulee-Aage Finally we note, only from the outside, the Medhu Ziyaarath: Tomb of the Barbarians, a Moroccan held responsible for the conversion to Islam in the archipelago, in 1153.
At this point, after a walk through the oldest streets of the capital, overlooking the golden dome of the mosque, we pass in front of the current Presidential Palace and arrive at the fish market ... characteristic, but not as much as that of fruits and vegetables, located in the immediate vicinity, and much more colorful, with tables heaped with bananas and papayas.
Missing another hour at the start of our boat and Mohammed takes us for a walk around the city, first of trivial souvenir shops and then to the microscopic, sad and unique beach (artificial) of the capital.
At 18:00 o'clock (time Olhuveli) we take to sea to return to our island and we leave behind Malé, whose visit there has perhaps impressed, but it helped us understand how people live much of the Maldives, confined in his wonderful piece of Indian Ocean, and one of the things that maybe there will be more impressed of the capital is the huge number of mopeds (about forty!) that circulates its few roads (the only paved in the country).
Also accompanied by long jumps of some flying fish in the wake of the boat, just before set foot on Olhuveli 19:00, just in time to enjoy another sunset, though not exceptional.
In the evening, after dinner, we go to the top of the dock ... but no manta rays, then we talk with two guys in Ravenna and the time you finish this first day of vacation in the Maldives.

We will spend plenty of time to Olhuveli, so just get up and ascertained the likely sunny day we go to occupy an umbrella in Sunrise Beach, on the side of the island protected from the wind, which blows incessantly, and with calm seas.
Let's go to lunch and then immediately on the beach ... It 'a wonderful day, with very few clouds that seem to cotton balls and lots of sunshine that brings out the colors of the Maldivian sea beyond belief ... so you just have to enjoy paradise as soon as this picture from the inside, running water for a long bath.
In late morning we go on the opposite side of the island, where the pier, from which you have access to the reef, so we grant the first, exciting, snorkelling holiday.
In previous trip we explored (without diving) the reefs of the Red Sea and other places in the Caribbean and we can safely say that this did not at all disappointed with myriads of colorful fish and beautiful corals, despite the suffering, in some cases clear for the 2004 tsunami.
We remain in water for almost an hour and we go out, excited, just in time for lunch.
In the afternoon we are dedicated to complete relaxation (we had a physiological need an exaggeration to say the least!) And digress all the time in Sunrise Beach, between sunbathing and wonderful sea ...
When the evening shadows lengthen we enjoy the inevitable sunset (this time good) in Sunset Beach ... Then, after dinner, we run on the pier in search of manta: we have to wait almost half an hour, but in the end we are rewarded! ... Fantastic! ... So we run into the room, with its elegant negl'occhi still circling in the water, because tomorrow morning we will wake up earlier than usual.

... This is so hard to get up early in the morning, especially if the jet-lag, not yet digested, play against, but we have a boat waiting for us at 9:00 for the "snorkel safari" and we just can not miss the appointment.
We're going to take place on the beach for when we return, we go, of course, to have breakfast, go back in the room you need to take the tour ... and we had plenty of time taken to do everything passes in a flash.
We sail from the pier of the village on board a dhoni (Maldivian boat), motor, however, and after about a half hour navigation we are invited to wear fins, mask and snorkel, then take to the water to explore the reefs surrounding ... nice, very beautiful, rich in fish and beautiful coral conformations.
It 'a joy they can soar carelessly, as in a huge aquarium, but time flies and we have to climb on board our boat and then down two more times, in different reef, all extremely interesting, especially with regard to corals , much more colorful than Olhuveli ... and then many varieties of fish and the final icing on the cake, with sightings of an eerie eel.
Really pleased with the success of the excursion we return to the village quietly soaking up the sun on the roof of the dhoni, when it is just past noon.
Set foot on Olhuveli run on the beach to enjoy a swim in our blue lagoon and then we go to lunch.
The afternoon is dedicated today to the most complete and carefree "doing nothing", by the sea in Sunrise Beach, with naps, long baths and fresh coconut (the good life to Olhuveli) ... Then, in order, sunset, dinner, hop over to greet the manta and in bed, while (ahinoi!) has already slipped well over half of the holiday.

As usual, we run after rising to hold an umbrella in our corner of paradise, also because it shines a bright sun and spend nearly all day on the island.
After breakfast leisure with a stroll to the southernmost tip of Olhuveli, with beautiful views of the azure lagoon and the classic Undewater Villas, to reach the so-called Infinity Pool, a swimming pool, built partly in the sea, whose edges seem to merge with the ocean waves. The strange effect is felt, for the most part, making the bathroom, and is an experience that we grant, but soon go back to the beach, much more pleasant and, above all, more natural.
Regained our umbrella do not stop long in its offshoots, because once we go snorkeling on the reef in front of the village, looking for situations and colorful fish to be immortalized with the help of countless photo shoots.
At these latitudes and this sea time flies ... we go to lunch and immediately go back to the beach to relax following a ritual now tested, but this time not until evening. At 18:00, in fact, we expect the departure dhoni from the pier in front of the village to go fishing with bottom fishing: a spool of wire with a big lead and I love the end.
Just took off we start to dance ... Usually not very lucky in this primitive practice of art and are curious to see if it also confirms the trend Maldivian sea full of fish ...
The first hour goes away without the line ever end up in tension, for me as for all other participants in the excursion ... then with the onset of darkness some vibration begins to shake the wrists and hooks often return to the surface without the bait ... so the lucky ones begin to take some fish out of water ... Finally, finally, it's up to us!
Frederick, with a smile to 32 ... 28 teeth to capture even a small barracuda, red snapper a wonderful Sabrina, the biggest fish of the bar, while the most bad luck happens to the undersigned, taken in a manner not consonant with their own, a little 'by chance, outside the mouth, but does not matter ... we had fun with our booty, and we return later to Olhuveli under a magnificent sky.
After dinner we learn with a certain discomfort that the excursion tomorrow, called "Full Day", was canceled for not meeting the minimum number of participants (we had only recorded three of us!) ... So we console ourselves by the "wee hours" (mezzanotte!) chatting with friends at a table in the bar, while enjoying the breeze by the sea.

To compensate for the cancellation of our tour, after breakfast, we go straight to the Watersports Centre and there booked for the afternoon, ride in a catamaran that will take us first to discover a desert island, then in search of dolphins, to do so snorkeling, then on the sandbar to the limits of the barrier, returning to Olhuveli nell'infuocata sunset ... Only in this way we'll skip the visit to the island of fishermen, which in this part of South Malé Atoll was Guraidhoo Island, but I do not think we lose nothing earth-shattering.
The relaxing part of the day becomes the morning, we spend, blithely, usually under our umbrella, but also in water (of course) ... and lunchtime arrives in a flash! ...
At 15:00 o'clock we come to the Center, and Watersports in the company of a local guide, set sail aboard a catamaran (we are the only passengers!) And soon we find ourselves at the mercy of the waves, so that after a few hundred meters are already soaking wet ... but it looks fun and it leaves us hopeful.
The excursion begins with a slight disappointment, however: the route leaves no doubt, and soon realize that the desert island on which we are headed is nothing but the island overlooking the lagoon Olhuveli, on which we were already on foot, the second day of vacation! ... Actually I expected the same desert island (Island Madhoo) provided in the excursion canceled.
We must immediately make my protest to-face, with the promise of making two stops for snorkeling instead of a ... and in the meantime we move away quickly from Olhuveli and its 'sisters' children.
We begin to sail towards the north, in South Malé Atoll and soon spotted a large pod of dolphins that happily, appears and disappears, sometimes in the bow and stern of the times ... It 'always very nice to have close encounters with these animals ...
When you reach the necessary wear a reef for snorkeling and descend into the water ... nice, very nice to swim in an environment full of colorful fish and corals ... Then go back on board and shortly after we get another appointment with the underwater world ... even better than the first, with wonderful conformation, huge schools of fish, starfish, giant worms and even strange Nemo (clown fish), hidden among the floating anemone tentacles of its inseparable.
We returned again on board to sail to the south, pushed by the wind. We pass to Olhuveli and continue to the edge of the atoll, where there is a sand bank: a twisted tongue, a few hundred meters long, of white and soft sand, the undisputed realm of a small tribe of crabs, which emerges from ' blue sea ... a place that seems on the edge of reality, especially in the late afternoon, almost dusk in a light and magic ... fantastic!
We take plenty of pictures and then go back to Olhuveli sky catches fire with the colors of the sunset, ending an unforgettable day.

After a long and pleasant conversation at the bar in the seaside ... for myself, and Frederick the new day starts just after midnight, in front of a computer monitor, the reception to follow the events related to the heart of the basketball team, which plays a crucial game for the season's over, accompanied by great joy, with victory by one point! (91 to 90) ... almost certain and salvation!
Still full of adrenaline ... the night is short and soon begins the last full day of this holiday Maldivian ...
In heaven there is some desert too, but do not despair and go to hold our usual umbrella ... After a few hours, in fact, the sun arrives on time to flood with light the extraordinary environment that surrounds us, so the more willingly, let's go snorkeling on the reef once more in front of the village.
It's time for lunch, followed by the lazy surrogate, then in the afternoon we go to consume the last of this unforgettable holiday bathrooms, including a swim up to the neighbor and phantasmagoric desert island.
Even a bathroom, even a ... and although the sun is nearing the vegetation behind us, I run into the water to enjoy this divine fluid, thus
warm and pleasant, as well as clear ... Again a sunset, even a ... that the fate he wanted to be the most beautiful of the series, with the fiery red sky and the few clouds in the outline of a lacy gold dress! ... Then we, sadly, in the room to pack for tomorrow's departure.
In the evening we go to dinner and then stroll through the village, now familiar to all those places, that tomorrow will no longer be ...

Sounds like the alarm clock every morning from a week in this part ... but today was a morning like any other, because it marks the beginning of our return trip from the Maldivian holiday.
The last remnants of life on the island is so damn quickly and consume in less than no time we find ourselves at the reception, luggage in hand, waiting (forthcoming) to leave the island.
We take the latest photos from the dock, surrounded by a beautiful sea, illuminated by another beautiful day ... and a few minutes later we sail with the boat fast, leaving behind Olhuveli.
We travel dispatched to Malé accompanied by some unique jumps and flying fish less than an hour pass by the paradoxical figure of the capital, to land him in his amazing airport.
Azemar are waiting for a server that gives us all the information necessary for check-in, then I realize that you forgot in your pocket the room key (the desire to leave is very short!) ... just in time to deliver them at the last minute!
TV from the airport the night we learn that bin Laden was killed ... It 'a day, this, which will remain in the history of the world, just as there will remain etched in memory associated with the end of our first trip to the beautiful Maldives ...
Hurry without problems all the customs formalities and the loading of baggage, it is also a bit 'of time to explore the shops in the duty-free ... Therefore, the door number 5, shortly after local noon, we get on the flight Meridiana IG 3125, which, with a handful of minutes late, at 13:03, leaves the floor directly in Italy.
The huge Airbus A330 passes over the atolls that make it particularly remarkable in this corner of the world and quickly moves to the north-west.
Flying over the Arabian Sea, and then, below, Oman, United Arab Emirates, the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, Syria and Lebanon to enter the basin of the Mediterranean ... It 'very long flight all day! ... But it is not over! ... Below us run the island of Cyprus and Turkey, Istanbul and then graze climb over the Balkan Peninsula, bordering the Adriatic, and then we begin the descent to Bologna, where we landed, after a long circling due to heavy traffic, at 20:05 Italian time.
We pick up, safe and sound, all our luggage, we go out and find the airport waiting for the shuttle at the Park To Fly, which almost immediately leads us to retrieve our car.
At 20:55 we're already on the road (no permit) true home. We take the A14 motorway and go out, to 21:30, to finish at Faenza, officially, the journey to 21:42 at the gate (to us) better known universe ...
Unload your bags and run to take the small, pretty excited about that welcomes us ... Thanks Leo ... one day you'll understand.
Were really a nice trip "our first Maldives' ... ideal climate, beautiful sea, beautiful backdrops, stunning sunsets ... everything that we needed to relax the nerves after a parenthesis challenging but important part of our lives ... Of course, only "our first Maldives" because we are sure there will be a result of all this ... perhaps even more exciting!