Travel With A Donkey
The horns of the Vulcania have sounded and some passengers are making their way back to the ship for a slow cruise to Rainbow Beach. Others will take the time to meet their Inner Donkey and journey to more remote parts of the islands, to find and spend some time in the Cave of the Enchanteur.
In the chapter entitled ‘The Cave of the Enchantress’ Marina Warner writes about the Grotto della Sibilla in the Umbrian Mountains which was first mentioned in classical legend. Guerino the Wretch reaches a mountain pass near Norcia in Umbria where he meets with the Devil. The Devil, of course, wants Guerino’s soul and tempts him by describing a subterranean kingdom where every delight will be his. Seemingly, in this kingdom, trees flower and fruit at the same time and there is no pain or age or sorrow.
No pain! No sorrow! Lead me to the Umbrian mountains immediately! Of course, what the Devil failed to mention was that the cave is inhabited by an enchantress who turns into a snake every Saturday.
It is the truly brave who commit to coming to the Grotto to work with the current Enchantress.
A group will meet at the tavern on the island of Lenore. Donkey’s will take you on the first leg of your journey through the Mountains of Myrr.
Be there when you hear the clock sound twelve.
Passengers who choose to stay on board for long periods often decide to leave their cabins and come on up to P Deck for the Pythian Games. 
Some passengers of the Vulcania have responded to the call of the piper and they are travelling overland, on Donkeys. Each night at twelve midnight donkeys wait in the stable behind the Swan and Rose Inn, ready to take newcomers on the increasingly, well todden road most travelled.
Finding my ‘Inner Donkey’. That made me giggle
Sue
March 14, 2009 at 1:59 am
Oh how perfect is this! To find my Inner Donkey…now that is exactly what I need to do. The answers lie within……
Edith
March 15, 2009 at 8:18 pm