in giro per la sardegna

Oh me, oh my.

When your Italian neighbor says to you in his best English: My family, we go each summer to Sardegna. My mamma is Sarda. You know Sardegna? We have the apartment. We would like it for you to come with us this summer.

You reply, without hesitation: Certamente! Andiamo! Quando? (Of course, let's go, when?)

And though a thousand thoughts occupy your mind as to why this might not be a good idea (including the stories of your friend who delivered a premature baby there), you go anyway, don't ask too many questions in advance & hope not to have to use the medical services.

I have TONS of photos. . . . here are a few to get started with for now:



The little apartment is in the village of Tinnura, in the hills near Bosa, on the west side of the island; hence, we spent most of our time exploring this side of the island.

One incredible discovery after another.

No, really, this is no overstatement. It's that good. And it's not just the crystal water as these photos may suggest -- it's the welcome lunch courtesy of Zia Angela; the little village of Tinnura covered in murals; the trek into the dingy dark room for a taste of Malvasia siphoned from a demijohn; the simply incredible beauty of Stintino; the walk through the ancient Tharros; the orata (fish) bought from the back of a little truck passing through the neighborhood; the curative waters of the Mediterranean Sea; the hike to the beach that only the locals would know; the always, always, always friendly local people; the religious procession (complete with bulls) through the village streets; the pecorino -- oh, the pecorino. Yep, it was that good. . . . maybe even better.

I left regretting that I hadn't ever attempted to get an assignment at La Maddalena (an island north of the main island) when there was a DoDEA school there. Young & stupid, I guess. Mr. Duncan says it was too isolated, too difficult to travel to and from. To this I say: Isolate me, baby.

I hope to share more later this summer or fall. (Jeesss. . . . I have enough photos to start a Sardegna-only daily blog going for about at least a year. You'll have to humor me.)
ciao