Sardinia
The first time I heard of Sardinia was in 1992, when the Bandits of the Barbargia Mountains, in the east of Sardinia, kidnapped the unfortunate eight year old, Farouk Kassan. The left ear of the poor boy was cut off and sent through the mail to his family. Included with this grizzly object was a ransom note demanding ten million lira for his return. Talks with the kidnappers went on for over seven months, while hundreds of soldiers searched the vast wilderness of Barbargia. Eventually after a tip off, the army arrested the kidnappers and found the young boy unharmed, but minus a left ear.
We
decided to visit this beautiful unspoilt Island just off the coast of
Italy, when Ryan Air started to fly from Stanstead London to Alghero
town. What really made our mind up was the cost of the airfare, £10 each
way. At this price to hell with the kidnappers, we were broke anyway,
and the May weather in Sardinia was a lot warmer and drier than Wales.
After a two hour flight we arrived at Alghero Airport and what a
charming small airport it is. Our baggage arrived on the carrousel at
the same time that we did, and the staff at the airport were very
pleasant. At the Tourist Office just inside the Airport terminal the
girl and the guy could not have been more helpful. Lists of
accommodation and maps were distributed to the waiting crowd and we were
even given a free walking guide to the best hikes in Sardinia.
It
is well worth the effort to stay in and around Alghero for a few a days
and wander round the beautiful old town and harbour. Also there are some
wonderful quiet unspoilt beaches within walking distance of the town.
Just jump on to the Autobus at the airport, and within fifteen minutes
you are deposited in the centre of town, at the Grand Park Via Vittoria
Emanuele. Finding a place to stay is even easier, just stand around with
your bags and within minutes a couple of gentlemen will approach you.
They will offer to let you an apartment in the old town for about £28 a
day. Most of these apartments, sleep up to four, are basic, but clean
and are really handy to the central Piazza, which is a great place to
buy a beer eat a pizza and sit late into the night watching the world go
by.
After
spending three days exploring in and around Alghero we decided to hire a
car from the Airport and head to the East coast and the Barbargia
mountains. Driving in Sardinia is a joy, wide-open roads with very
little traffic. The only thing you must watch out for are the numerous
Police speed traps, which appear with great regularity. The countryside
we passed through was really beautiful with rolling fields, high
mountains and wonderful hedgerows ablaze with colour from the profusion
of wild flowers.
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