From somewhere in Sardegna

So, at first I thought it was quite good to be getting a brand new hire car at Olbia airport. Only 28 kms on the clock. And car collection was followed up in the car park by another helpful employee who asked if we had any questions about car operation and who also conducted a forensic examination of the car to prove it had absolutely no visible blemishes. Great.

But if you have ever driven in Europe along small country roads and in villages and places where they erect quite large obstacles to stop or at least discourage itinerant car parkers, and if your partner happens to be just a little critical these days of your driving prowess, then life gets more complicated. So now I have a permanent car parking assistant and a constant anti collision guide to go along with GPS, early braking systems and god knows how many alerting and alarming gismos already in the car.

Then getting back to the real travel story we are enjoying the West coast of Sardinia around Alghero, a town with a strong Spanish look and feel. We traversed some quite rough and grand country to get here and we are enjoying our rustic farmstay located not far from the local airport. Ryan Air is sometimes a visitor to the very close to here runway. But that said, there are not yet that many non Italian tourists here.

We are spending our time relaxing on the beaches and exploring the scenery and local towns. A chance meeting with a Dutch couple advised us to visit Castelsardo, a very old village, which was an amazing place with people still living in the ancient buildings of the old castle. We also enjoyed the town of Bosa on Monday and we are now now locals walking the Alghero city walls and practising out meagre Italian. Yvonne continues to say 'Aperol Spritz' quite fluently now. The weather is perfect too.

At around 8 pm as the heat of the day has ebbed away, it is perfect for strolling around Alghero old town. The football is attracting a lot of interest even without Italy and there is very little touting going on which is somewhat refreshing. All in all our time in the Agriturismo and the Alghero area exceeded our expectations.

But nothing lasts and we have now moved on to our final spot in Sardinia-Cagliari the capital. Not much to report at the moment as we are camped in our cave dwelling within the old castle and have not yet ventured too far. And you know that in many places in Europe, space is a precious commodity so in cafes, restaurants, beaches, car parks one feels a bit like Gulliver trying to squeeze into places and nearby conversations can test one at times. With driving and parking here also a little tense, we have now hidden our so new car in a nearby underground park, probably for the duration.

PS. A garbage truck is about to come through the front door! Tour group mobs are on the prowl. So life in the historic centre is going to be interesting.

PPS.  As I am posting this, the local tourist centre mini train has just gone past the front door.  So I just might have to spend the day sitting in the doorway in my singlet and shorts acting like a local and seeking a euro or two just like the friendly Africans also very close to home and seeking a living from the visitors.