Backpacks and Flipflops

Sardinia

We arrive via ferry in the southern port of Cagliari.

Our 13 hour overnight boat ride from Sicily was pretty decent. With a spacious cabin, by ferry standards, we had, almost, all the amenities of a high priced hotel room.

Ferry had food and drink services, plenty of seating and was quiet at our end.

And, what a sunset as we pulled out of port...

As it's the EU getting on/ off was painless. Some document/ticket checks getting on in Sicily, but nothing much else.

Off the ferry in Sardinia, we grab a little airport train from downtown to get the rental car.

After a bit of a line up and some paperwork....our little Fiat 500 (nicknamed Stromboli) was packed and off we drove.

Villasimius

Stayed 2 nights in this southern beach region. With a variety of beaches...from long kms of sand and shallow waters to rocky coves of clear waters...this is an easy day trip from Cagliari or a beach holiday getaway for many.

FUZZY SEAWEED??? Nope...it's actually...Neptune's Balls

Dead seagrass can also roll around to form Neptune’s balls, a common sight in the Mediterranean and used for insulation. Marine scientists in the late 1970s ran some experiments to show that you could make these with some seagrass fibres and a domestic washing machine: three cycles of 10 minutes each will create a nice ball if you want to make one at home!

-courtesy of Ocean Sea Grass Protection

Sardinia is rugged, roads windy and views spectacular in this region. Pine, olive and tamarisk trees grow everywhere and most rural roads are lined with blooming shrubs...stunning!

Small villages are dotted on hillsides along with campsites and beaches accessible on switchbacks and 2nd gear windy roads with glimpses of magnificent azure waters below.

At the end of the day we are rewarded with a meal of pizza, pasta or seafood. On this night it was delicious smoked swordfish!

Torre di Bari

Several hours north is the town of Barrisardo and the beachtown of Torre di Bari which has an old Roman Tower standing guard on the beach.

We spend several nights eating and drinking and catching up with Yvonne's relatives from Berlin who are also vacationing here...

We join in at their hotel for a cultural evening of traditional roast pig and sheep barbecued on a spit... traditional drinks and appys..

And watching folkloric dancing and singing...

This is particular to the Sardianian villages ...each group distinct from another

Very similar to Inuit throat singers of the Canadian arctic

Throat singing....

And using instruments of yesteryear...

Our hotel is spacious, clean and service impeccable.

We have come to appreciate the friendliness, service and presentation throughout our travels in the region.

A good many of our stays include breakfast, with most offering extensive buffet choices.

Weather warms up so we chill at the pool and beach.

SS125

The road trip made in heaven for motorcyclists and bikers; but hell to drive in a car.

We call this 2nd and 3rd gear driving because that's as fast as you can go for many many kilometres ... only shifting...

The 125 is a well paved, narrow mountainous road that has an unbelievable number of hairpin corners and switchbacks.

Motorcyclists love the curvy layout. Often in packs of 2 or more, they fly along, passing at any opportunity... especially on corners...,

Any mistake and the air time they gain going off the road will give them plenty of time to take in the views.

The SS125 begins its ascent after the coastal town of Arbitax. Here this busy port town is blessed with views and a craggy, red rock coastline.

We descend the other side (survive?) and arrive in Cala Gonone find a hotel, figure out parking and settle in for the night. Another beautiful beach-side town with boats at the ready to take tourist out...

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PS...because it was so much fun...we did it again the next day...heading back over the summit to retreive some left behind documents at our hotel in Torre di Bari....(yea.,,that was some fun).

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The Sardinian Beach Life

With warm weather finally deciding to stay around, we arrive in San Teodoro on the east coast. Once a small village on a golden stretch of soft sand and shallow waters, it has grown to a busy, sun and holiday destination for many.

Even has its own floating store for tourist knick knacks

If sitting on the town's beach isn't your thing..then there are plenty of small beaches tucked away near by that should do the trick...having our own chairs really pays off...

(Cost of beach chairs/umbrellas approx Euros15 on most beaches we come to.....Soooo..... our little supermercado chairs for Euro35...have paid for themselves big time)

Some come with services (toilet, food 'n drink)....and most are starting to get crowded...despite the 'official' tourist rush is still weeks away.

San Teodoro centro gets lively after rhe sun sets....people stroll....window shop....or seriously buy.

Music plays......restaurants fill up and bars are packed.

Note: 'Bars' in Sardinia (and Italy) are really more coffee shops. People get their shot of espresso and some food is served.

Beer and other alcohol can be bought along with sandwiches etc.

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More Bigs Rocks..

Outside of Arzachena are a number of megalithic ruins.

The Giant's Tomb dating back to the Bronze Age

While somewhat low key in their appearence, the sites still instill a "Wow!" factor; as in..."How did they manage to move massive boulders into place?"

Il Nuraghe - La Prisgiona dating from the Bronze Age as well consists of a village where rooms were used for various trades like pottery and bakery based on the artifacts found on site

Worth a stop in the quiet, dry rolling hills near Sardinis's north coast.