Sardinia
......Where it began, I can't begin to know
But then I know it's growing strong
Was in the spring
Then spring became the summer
Who'd have believed you'd come along...
...with apologies to Neil Diamond (Sweet Caroline)
...................
La Maddalena Islands
A little bit of paradise located just off shore on Sardinia's northeast coast, the islands check all the boxes for those looking to get away. Sun....clear water.....beaches......scenery....good food...etc.
We drive on the ever-going ferries that service the island's port/main town from Palau. Day-trippers and tour buses fill the short 15 minute crossing.
The beaches are varied and the sights spectacular.
The main town is a good base to settle into as most beaches are within a 10 minute drive or easy bike ride.
The weather has made island exploring perfect for our several day stay. We even cross over a small causeway to the uninhabited protected island of Caprera where roads wind through parks and take you to secluded beaches. All you have to do is find a parking niche along a dusty road, then walk...
We hit a number of the beaches...take in the views and enjoy the aquarium clear waters and talcum coloured sands...along with the local brew...Ichnusa
Maddalena also has protected dunes along the beach for which they are very proud of...
La Maddalena town, Sardinia...late night dinner....close tables.....several carafes of casa de vino, later...some talk....some song (Blue Moon 'n Sweet Caroline - go figure)....Brazilians ...Germans.....Canadians.....good times....what more could you ask for on a full moon night........Priceless....
Castelsardo....Lu Bangu
We leave the islands and head west along Sardinia's north coast.
Our plan is to stay in Castelsardo, but we drive around the castle and further along the coast and come across Lu Bangu just 5 minutes down the road.
A quiet little town, with a long expanse of beach and gentle waters. It's the perfect location for a day trip to Castelsardo.
And we score the BEST apartment that we have had on any of our travels. The Villa Piana is exceptional. Everything ....from the room...to the grounds....to location was perfect.
Franca, our host, was generous and kind. Breakfast was a treat and the HOT water in the shower was Bellissimo.
And the two sunsets...
...made us want to hold onto the sun for just a bit longer, so
we stayed 2 nights.
Old town Castelsardo....castle walls...beautiful vantage points...
...but with little time left we head on...even make a brief stop at a grotto accessible only by many many stairs or a tour boat...we give it a miss at €14 each...
But the views still spectacular!
While driving distances between stops/sights are relatively short, the hilly, windy terrain make driving times much longer.
Sardinia's West Coast
Alghero
Alghero is a busy tourist town. The old fort and castle walls dominate the old town. With an airport, it makes access to this area easy.
Alghero is also center for the red coral industry. Many shops sell red coral in all sorts of jewellery. Apparently there are only several dozen licensed divers that harvest the coral.
A cannabis vending machine
Bosa
Bosa is an old town that wraps itself around the old fortress high on a hill. The ancient lanes and alleys are great for exploring...thank goodness we never drove inside these streets
Old and colourful
We stay in a loft apartment with a private, little terrace
The Alghero to Bosa Road
One of the great drives of any coastline road around.
The approximately one hour drive north to south has drop dead views......beach access is possible, but the ruggedness of the coastline makes getting to the water difficult along this stretch.
With the high vantage points, narrow, windy roads....make it a memorable drive.
Agriculture, varied terrain, snow to cactus....the Sardinian landscape has it all. We see snow flake symbols on highway signs,
....and locals assure us that one can 'ski' during the winter.
Cagliari
Leaving the coastal mountains behind we head inland to flatter, dryer terrain as we move towards our final destination of Cagliari where we started our Sardinian circumnavigation and where we need to drop off our rental car.
We have returned to the beginning of our 2 week journey in Sardinia. With the rental car safely back at the airport, it's time to wander Cagliari before catching a flight the next day.
While the photos don't show it.....this is a busy, bustling city with wide walkways for shopping or eating.
Planes....Trains......Automobiles......(Ferryboats and buses)
With a nod to Steve Martin/John Candy our journeys throughout the region have been largely hassle free. Renting a car on Gozo and Sardinia was easy and cost effective, given the scarcity of public transport.
Trains and ferries were comfortable and clean. Departure/Arrival times were basically bang on.
Moving through the EU was hassle free...from our landing at Gatwick Airport (London) where just a machine scan of our passports opened the gate....no paper to fill out or custom agent to check us over...even the airport/ferry security just checked to see if the names on tickets matched our ID (passport)....
Malta, Sicily and Sardinia are pricey ...but the value, quality and service is high. Attention to detail .....from special appy plates served 'gratis' with drinks to lovely stays make travelling here memorable and well worth a visit.
Ciao!
Shayne e Yvonne
Additional Random Photos
The Sardinian flag
Traditional Sardinian ceiling
