Can someone claustrophobic visit the Blue Grotto?
 

Hi guys,<BR><BR>This is a serious question. I have been trying to research how big/small the cave actually is to figure out whether I will feel able to go in or not?!<BR>I can go in an elevator with pretty much no problem (even if it's quite full). But a cave that could be quite dark and small could be a problem. I really want to see the grotto, and would be greatful for all advice.<BR><BR>What's this I have read about having to lie down on the bottom of the little boats to get in and timing the entry of the boat with the tide. Does it get THAT blocked off!?<BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Elizabeth.

The answer is yes, you can enter

The grotto is quite large. Once inside you should have no problem. It is not a dark and scary cave by any means. The neon blue light illuminates quite nicely. <BR><BR>Getting in might be a problem. We took a motor boat from port at Capri over to the grotto. When you arrived at the grotto you had to transfer out of your motor boat into a row boat. A little frightening for some in our party. One German woman kept repeating one of the few words I know in German. No no no. She opted to stay on the motor boat. Granted she seemed a little afraid to be on the motor boat too. The row boat held 4 passengers and a row man. We literally were on top of one another. The entrance to the grotto is just large enough for the row boat to go through. The row man has to lay back and pull a lead chain to get the boat through the small opening. They do time it with the tide. My rowman had lousy timing and my husband got soaked. The tide hit the cavern wall and came right into the boat. I found it funny but my husband wasn't amused. It takes only a few seconds to leave the outside into the inside. Once inside the cavern is huge. <BR><BR>The advice that it is expensive is not a lie. It cost us 6 euros a piece to take the motor boat. 4 euros a piece for the row boat and 4 euros a piece to enter the cave. It is only about 5 minutes inside the cave. I thought it was worth it to see one of the seven wonders of the world. My drenched husband wasn't as impressed. <BR><BR>If I did it again I would have taken a taxi or bus to Ani Capri (the other side of the island) instead of the motor boat, and spent some time there after doing the blue grotto. The motor boat just took you from the port to the grotto and back again. <BR><BR>Good luck!!!!!!

If you really want to go through all of this trouble, I think your mind is already made up to do it. <BR><BR>I wouldn't go through lying down or sitting on top of other passengers in a tiny row boat that has to be timed with the tide correctly in order to get into a cave. And then you have to pay to do all of this also.

There is no significant tide in that part of the Mediterranean. Entry to the Blue Grotto is governed by how choppy the sea is. The boats can only enter when she sea is calm. As an alternative, there is the Grotta Smeralda (Emerald Grotto) near Amalfi.

Since when is the Blue Grotto one of the Seven Wonders of the World??

I took the bus to Anacapri and spent time there before taking the bus from Anacapri to the Blue Grotto. It sounds like that was a good way to do it -- you avoid the trip in the motorboat and having to transfer from the motorboat to the rowboat.

I wondered the same thing--HistoryM.<BR> Elizabeth:I took the tour to the Blue Grotto about 3 years ago. I kept thinking, while waiting 30-45 minutes for our turn, that this would never be permitted in the US. I'm game for about anything, but I thought this looked dangerous. Boobing around in the small row boats, lying down in order to get inside the opening, exact timing for the rower to judge the waves so they wouldn't come in as we were and crash us up against the stone roof of the opening. I would tell a person who was claustrophobic to bypass this adventure.<BR>I closed my eyes while making the critical entry. Once inside it was beautiful and large enough for several other row boats. We were only inside for about 5 minutes, going out seemed much easier (maybe since we had survived the entry!!) I'm glad I did it, but won't need to ever do it again.

Sorry for the incorrect information on the Seven Wonders of the world. The published list is:<BR>Mount Everest in Nepal <BR>Victoria Falls in Zambia/Zimbabwe <BR>Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA <BR>Great Barrier Reef in Australia <BR>Northern Lights <BR>Paricutin volcano in Mexico <BR>Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil <BR><BR>To me it is is a natural wonder (not one of the "seven"). It is truly beautiful and I am glad that I saw it. It sounds much worse that it is. I consider the experience as much of the entertainment as seeing the Grotto. We still are laughing about how the row man was so upset about three drops of water on his shirt while my husband was soaked. I like to think of travel as an adventure and I would never let my fears stop me from having an experience. (I struggle with a fear of heights). <BR><BR>

Elizabeth, it depends on how afraid you really get, it is dark inside and not that big of a cave really. I know my mother would have fainted, but to me it was worth it. <BR>If you are willing to get into little row boats then get upset for getting splashed, it is not for you. That is part of the adventure of traveling, not every place is a regulated by the fear of being sued as in the US. <BR>I thought it was a fun experience, but not for the crabby uptight tourists.

PS: I didn't mean to infer that you are crabby and uptight, you have a genuine fear, like I have a fear of heights.<BR><BR>I was referring to a person without claustrophobia being upset for getting splashed.

nance<BR>LBB wrote about her experience to help Elizabeth and didn't deserve that remark. Just because her husband did not enjoy the experience does not have to mean he is "crabby and uptight".<BR><BR>Elizabeth- don't go if it means you will worry about it. I've only just admitted to my husband that our next holiday has me worried about climbing up the Dunns River Falls. I tried to keep it to myself as I know that is a trip that he really wants to do. However, when I told him my fear he was great!!!I'm now starting to look forward to my holiday at last. <BR>Why don't you take xxx's advice - that way you have some sight seeing to do that day and can always decide then if you want to go.( We ARE going to Dunns but there is a path I can use which follows the falls if I really can't climb the waterfall)

Nope, I agree with Nance, a man who gets into a row boat must assume he may get wet. I hope he doesn't get upset over every little thing that doesn't go his way for LBB's sake. <BR>I used to have a husband that put a damper on everything and it can be a drag when you can't enjoy a laugh together over some mishap.<BR>Anyway, Elizabeth why don't you go as far as the entrance on the speed boat and then decide, a person in our group was really afraid, but she got caught up in the fun and went in and was very glad she did.

I know that I shouldn't bite with a reply but for those that are confused. Never did I say that my husband was upset at being soaked. I said he wasn't amused. I was relaying funny story. We both laughed. I, of course, found it funnier than he did. He was totally a good sport about it. Yes when you enter a small row boat that is sucked through a small opening in a cliff wall you can expect to get wet and we did expect that it might happen. If you read my reply you will see that I am totally supportive of going to the Grotto. I was just trying to help Elizabeth with giving her as much information as possible about what to expect and make it interesting by including a funny experience. Wow! Things sure get misinterpreted around here.

Well, then I apologize. <BR>

Debbie - Please tell me more about "boobing around in the small row boats". Sounds kinky. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrowl!

Austin:<BR>You caught me on that one--But that body part was also "bobbing" around too, if you must know!

No it is against the law.If caught you<BR>will be stoned.

I went to the Blue Grotto, even though I am claustrophic. It is an extremely small entance that you have to go through to enter the cave. Also, it is a little frightening at first when the boatman told us to lie down very low in the boat, but it is only for a VERY short time. The view is not that brilliant but as a claustrophobic I gained a very real sense of achievement

Thanks so much for your responses everyone! It's really great to be able to get info like this before I actually go...one of the pitfalls of being claustrophobic can be that you stew on the thought of 'will I/won't I' for certain events incessantly before a trip actually begins. <BR>Being splashed with water would not even register on me!!! I would be more focused on what size the cave was going to be and how dark (complete darkness is equated with hard to breath for me). I just worry that I will feel like I missed out on something special if I didn't do it?? I think the advice to go on the boat and see how I feel on the day is probably good advice!<BR><BR>Thanks once again.<BR>Regards,<BR>Elizabeth.

Elizabeth,<BR><BR>On previous threads during which the Blue Grotto has been discussed, I've voiced my opinion that one can "just say NO to the Blue Grotto". Much overhyped and not worth the effort if your time visiting Capri/Amalfi Coast is short. That's my opinion --- others disagree and rate their grotto experience much higher. For what it's worth, I can assure you that you can take a pass on the Blue Grotto and not feel you've missed out on something special. As an alternative, there is the Esmeralda Grotto (green grotto) that's just off the road between Positano & Amalfi. It seems like it's easier to access. I've not been there, so can't say how it compares to the Blue Grotto.

I was amazed that this entire thread went this long without someone slamming the Blue Grotto. For what it's worth, I enjoyed it. You don't have to take one of the power boats to the grotto area. You can get there by bus and you get some great scenery along the way. Take the funicular to Capri and then a bus to Ana Capri then another bus to the grotto. Bella vista!

good to know...thank you!