Last scenes

I reached Olbia and had a nice black pasta with crayfish. Then I filled up the petrol tank and checked into the hotel within walking distance to the airport. I returned the car at the airport and walked back. I did little that afternoon but nap and have a dip in the hotel pool

In the evening I wandered over to the shopping centre across the road where I took a picture of this EV charger.

Among the things on sale in the Lidl supermarket was an Italian idiosyncrasy, votive candles with images of Catholic saints and popes.

I spent a restful and uneventful night at the hotel. In the morning there was enough time to partake of a buffet breakfast before walking in the cool morning air to the airport to catch a flight out. Thus ended my two weeks in Sardinia. The towns and cities were of less interest to me than nature, especially the beautiful boundaries between land and sea. That'll probably set the tone for my future travels.
 

Porto Cervo

My destination for the afternoon was Porto Cervo but first I had to get lunch. A couple of candidates on the way from Palau were closed because it was out of season. I found a roadside pizzeria and had their napoletana. I love anchovies but I had to drink a lot of water afterwards.

Porto Cervo is the seaside resort that started the development of this part of Sardinia, Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast), as a playground for the rich. I only wanted a squiz and maybe to splurge on an afternoon coffee.

As you can see it has been built up and is not longer in the wild state you saw in previous locations I visited.

The beaches are no great shakes but I suppose the rich would have their swimming pools.

There is a Mediterranean style shopping village where holidaymakers can buy their luxuries, er needs.

Further walking took me to a marina where pleasure craft can dock and refuel.

I suppose this would be a pleasant piazza on summer evenings to dine and to be seen.

So my curiosity was satisfied. I don't think I would hanker for a vacation here even if I could afford it. I was lucky to find a free car park for the price of a bit more walking.

Some panoramas:

I travel to the northeast

The B&B owner was kind enough to provide breakfast about 10 minutes before the usual hour of 0800 so that I could reach the station in time to catch the 0835 train.

When D H Lawrence visited Sardinia just over 100 years ago, he also travelled from Cagliari to Olbia, but then it was called Terranova, and he took a route through the mountains somewhat northeast whereas my train journey, vastly faster and more comfortable, went straight north, then veered to the northeast corner. The station is called Terranova in memory of the old name and is fairly new.

There was not much stirring in the warm afternoon when I arrived, but fortunately there was a good trattoria within walking distance. Remember that I was encumbered with a suitcase fortunately with wheels.

The standard and excellent spaghetti con cozze. After that I caught a bus to Olbia airport where I picked up my rental car from the desk. I had determined that it would be cheapest to rent a car twice, the first time at Cagliari, and the second time from Olbia, both instances returning the car to origin. It was mid-afternoon by the time I hit the road.
 

Poetto beach

Before Poetto beach, which was the evening's diversion, I needed to get lunch and then have a shower and siesta. After walking downhill from the markets I found myself near Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi.

I settled on a pan-Asian restaurant for a change from Italian food and had prawn skewers with fried rice. The seafood was excellent. Below is a rather curvy panoramic view of the piazza.

Inland of Poetto beach are saline ponds where flamingos can be viewed, according to guides. However the ponds are quite large and you have to be lucky both in time and place to be near where flamingos are feeding. The best I could do were these couple of extreme telephoto shots.

When I got to Poetto I was a bit disappointed because I had the wrong concept of the beach. I thought it was a bustling place with local businesses on the beach front. I had thought maybe I could have dinner there.

The beach was no less attractive for that, there certainly was a long stretch of sand and heaps of room for crowds.

You can see that the day was getting late from my shadow.

Sports facilities were available.

A cute local.

Instead of the businesses I had expected the beach was backed by a residential area with holiday homes.

There were beach clubs for taking refreshments. Perhaps in summer there would have been large gatherings.

The headland at dusk. Then some panoramas:

Afternoon and evening in Cagliari

The B&B I had booked was at the top level of a building with an ancient lift where you had to close the doors by hand. At least there were buttons instead of cranks.

I was a bit late for lunch so I was ravenous. I found a place that had lots of locals. I ordered an antipasti of spaghetti alla cozze, salad, and a selection of fried seafood. It was very filling. Later the B&B host told me it was a good choice of restaurant.

I spent the rest of the afternoon getting my laundry done in the white building in this photo taken from the neighbouring piazza where I drank an espresso away from the humidity of the laundrette. That day's temperature was almost ideal, mid-20s °C.

In the evening I took a stroll to get dinner and see a bit of the nightlife.

Cagliari has lots of laneways in the old city. Ideal for alfresco dining.

There are historical ruins in the city.

I got a takeaway mini-pizza which was the closest thing to a slice of pizza and ate it near here. I wasn't very hungry in the evenings due to lingering jet lag.

Thursday night and already feels like the weekend. Probably the pleasant temperatures.