The Italian Island of Sardegna . . . My Paradise

Two weeks ago I was fortunate to spend one week with my husband in the Caribbean Turks and Caicos Islands. While I was there, loving the sun, the soft white sand, and the crystal clear water, I kept thinking how much I miss living close-by the sea.

My hometown in Italy, Avellino, was only thirty minute away from the amazing Amalfi Coast – I shall write about it; after lunch, I could just hop in my car and take the drive to Amalfi, Maiori, Positano or Minori. My boyfriend husband and I exchanged some of our first kisses on Minori‘s shore…

My nonna (grandmother) lived in a sea town from where we would take the motorboat to reach Il Bikini, a beach/bathhouse establishment in the Bay of the Sorrento Peninsula.

Il Bikini
photo courtesy of http://www.ilbikini.com

And, as I mentioned in a previous post, I used to spend most of my childhood summers on Paestum‘s beach.

In my twenties, I vacationed in many Italian’s islands: Sicilia, Salina, Panarea, Vulcano, Lipari, Pantelleria, Favignana, Ischia, Capri, Elba, Caprera, and finally, my absolute favorite, Sardegna.

In the Summer of 1984 I was my  uncle Vincenzo’s guest in Sardegna. In the small village of Portoscuso, on the South-West coast just across the little jewel of Isola di San Pietro;  I spent three wonderful weeks with my relatives, their home only few steps away from the beach. My days were simple: napping and reading on the beach during the day, dining alfresco under the portico in the evening, and watching the Olympic Games – held in Los Angeles – at night. My fiancé husband joined me in Portoscuso and we then spent three more weeks traveling throughout the mysterious island of Sardegna.  From South to North, from West to East, then South along the East Coast, and inland to Oliena and Su Gologone where I had one of the best meal I have ever had. I was in love with everything . . .  the sea, the mountain, the architecture, the food, the people. But guess what? I did not have a camera! Yeah you heard it, no camera, no pictures!

No pictures of the white beach of La Pelosa in Stintino, of the secluded Cala Luna, of the Catalan city of Alghero, of the ancient Nuraghi . . . nothing, just my memories.

My husband and I went back to Sardegna in Summer 2008, this time with our teenage boys. We only spent one week in the area of Porto San Paolo, on the North-East coast, just South of Olbia and across the small island of Tavolara. Only one week was needed for my boys to fall in love with the place too. And this time I took few pics too!

You might be asking why I am telling you all this. You know what they say,  ” l’erba del vicino è sempre più verde ” (the neighbor’s grass is always greener), so in Europe all are longing for the Caribbean Sea and for good reasons, don’t get me wrong. Imagine my excitement once I came to the States . . . so much more convenient to reach the Caribbean’s from here! So, I visited Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas and lately Turks and Caicos.

Coming home after this latest trip, however,  I had an epiphany. I started comparing my Caicos‘s pictures with my pictures from Sardegna and  that’s what I want to share with you today. While enjoying the slide show, remember that in Sardegna, the scenery also comes with the delicious regional cuisine: porceddu (suckling pig rosted on the spit), malloreddus (handmade pasta), pane carasau (sort of thin flatbread), pecorino sardo . . . .and the unique aroma of mirto (myrtle)!

La mia Sardegna and Turks and Caicos

NOTE: click on the first picture and a full screen image will appear then follow the arrow . . . I guess you will like it!

Well, I know where I am going back . . . and you? Where are you going?

If you need a travel consultation and trip planning for your next trip to Sardegna visit my site Sharing My Italy or email me at mg@sharingmyitaly.com