2025 – Europe
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An Italian island becomes a French island
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Transitioned from the Italian island of Sardinia to the French island of Corsica by almost empty plane. Got our rental car and checked in to our lovely, secluded villa a short ways out of Bonifacio. LOTS of info from our hostess all in French – we were pleased to understand pretty much all of it.…
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Tom’s big day out
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A day of mind-boggling beauty! Rented a zodiac boat to cruise the Gulf of Orosei with birthday boy Tom serving as captain. Stunning coastline with many beautiful beaches in front of enormous cliffs. Lots of opportunities to anchor for a swim and picnic lunch. Very brisk, super clear water to swim in. Excellent dinner at…
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Wild boar sandwiches
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Visited the river source of Sorgente Su Gologone on a nice little hike. Grocery shopped and did laundry. Happy hour at the highly rated nearby restaurant/gas station/carwash. Dinner at Snoopy on the waterfront
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Drive to next stop with (almost) everything
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In Palau we explored the outside of the Fortezza di Monte Altura where the rock formations are mind boggling, very other-worldly. Drove out to Capo Testa, the northernmost point in Sardinia for lunch with an amazing view. Back to Palau for a 4-hour boat ride through La Maddalena National Park and the island of Spargi,…
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Elephant rock and a landslide
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Drove towards Palau where we were to spend the night. Stopped on the way in Castelsardo, a very picturesque old hill town with narrow, winding streets. Got re-routed due to a closed highway and had a long drive through the mountains on narrow, winding roads. Beautiful scenery with amazing, jagged peaks all around. Happy hour…
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Driving down to Bosa
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Very scenic drive south to the town of Bosa with good lunch at Boca Bistro. Dinner at our agroturismo place.
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To grotto or not to grotto
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Homemade sheeps’ yogurt, cakes and cookies on the buffet. Dessert for breakfast! Drove into Alghero to get on the ferry to Neptune’s Grotto, a 40-minute ride away. Beautiful scenery along the coast, tall cliffs, sandy beaches, caves worn into the rocks by the sea. We didn’t pay the extra to enter the grotto but most…
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On a farm near the airport
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Off to Alghero, Sardinia (Italy). Airport adventures that I’m sure Scott will share. Austin friends of 40 some years, Tom and Cindy, picked us up at the airport and drove us to our nearby agroturismo farm lodging outside the town of Fertilia. Back into town for lunch (at Quattro Punto Sei, i.e. “four point six”)…
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Don’t go bacon my heart
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Travel day. Said a sad goodbye to Ron and Nancy in Vila Real and headed to the Porto airport for our flight to Barcelona. Late dinner there and off to bed
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First (and last) full Douro Valley day
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A total “dolce farniente”(sweet doing nothing) day. In paradise! I loved this place SO much. We spent the day lazing around, taking a dip in the pool and hot tub, having a lovely salad lunch on our terrace. More lazing around, reading, wine and another delicious dinner. Heavenly!