Thursday, September 25, 2008

Stormy Sardinia

So far on our travels we have been pretty lucky with airports and weather. It was about time that all changed to even up the balance. I just didn't want it to happen in our last ditch attempt to find some European sun before the winter of all winters begins again in London. 10 minutes before landing the captain announced that due to a one in ten year storm that hit the island hours before Alghero airport was closed. That meant we had to land on the other side of the island and then bus for nearly three hours back to Alghero.

On the drive to our apartment the driver told us that the past three weeks had been 36 degrees every day. The storm had then hit and the temp was forecast to by rubbish from then on.
Not to worry though tomorrow was a new day and we were in a small beautiful Italian island surrounded by the Mediterranean sea.

One of the main attractions in Alghero called the Grotta di Nettuno is an amazing coastal limestone cave that can be accessed via a 40 minute boat ride or by walking 600 stairs down a small cliff track. Our luck continued!!! Due to the storm the boats were not willing to risk the high seas to take us to the caves and the steps were also shut. So to the beach then for some sun bathing with all the other topless holiday makers. After buying a towel big enough for the both of us we lay on the beach. After about 15 mins the sun then rapidly jumped behind a cloud and the wind picked up giving us a good sand blasting. I was not impressed.


After a few tantrums we decided to get on a bus and try to find a better beach with no wind and some sun. After missing the first bus due to the terrible info at the tourist information centre we finally got on a bus to Porto Conte. We both speak no Italian and the Spanish we know didn't help us as we managed to get off the bus in the wrong place with no beach in site. There was an ancient turret though which made for some pretty good pics.

We returned to Alghero and decided that surely the food and wine of an Italian island would not let us down. We were right. The wine was amazing and really cheap and the pizza was to die for. Being a Mediterranean island the sea food is plentiful and the seafood pizza we had was beyond words.


Day two didn't get off to a good start either. The boats to the caves were still closed and the weather was even worse. We took a scenic bus ride to have a look at the region. Its amazing to say the least. Olive trees fill the landscape with wild grape vines covering the ground underneath.


As we returned the weather got even worse. Lucky we were in a bus as the roads became so flooded cars were struggling to get through.



More food and more wine was in order!!! have I mentioned that the food is better than words. They don't put anything special on it but it still seems to taste better. I would recommend Sardinia as a great place to go for the beautiful architecture, beaches, food and much more but it is definitely a place to go in good weather.