Day 2 in Sardinia and it feels like I have arrived on a new planet. Left this morning past ponds of flamingos for the drive south west for lunch in Porto Pino. First stop was the ancient city of Nora, Sardinia’s most important archaeological site, Phoenician first, Carthaginian later, and finally a crucial Roman centre; now just a pile of rocks and some roman mosaics and a pretty neat roman theatre. First settled in the 8th century BC, the ruined city was worth a look but most of the sign boards were missing or illegible.
I then drove to Chia for morning tea and took a long walk to the lighthouse on Capo Spartivento, the oldest lighthouse in Sardinia still in operation but now a six star guesthouse. One side of the building still bears the bullet holes when it was attacked by the American airforce in WW2.
The drive along the coast to Porto Pino would have to be one of the prettiest I have seen. It took ages to do, as around every corner was another spectacular coastal view, which involved a stop and a photo. The town of Porto Pino was a bit of a dump, but there was a canal full of fishing boats. On further exploration I found a taverna behind a beach. It looked like a great spot for lunch (pretty much a straw hut!) but after sitting down I realised there was no menu. I decided to have what the people on the table next to me were having. Possibly the best fritto misto I have ever had, and was as cheap as chips! Finished the day with a Aperitivo in a beachside bar just up the road from my motel.
Driving and parking in Sardinia (so far) is ridiculously easy. Not much traffic and the other drivers are mostly very courteous. The beaches are beautiful and not crowded. Prices are not too bad. The people are also very friendly. It feels like a place that has yet to be discovered.
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