Diane arrived on Monday 5th October.
The weather up to then had been a wee bit fluky but it knew better than to rain on her parade.
We met her off the train in downtown Cagliari in the sunshine. She had her usual red trolley dolly case and was strutting her stuff, full of business, in 4” heeled sandals. Little did she know it was a mile and a half’s walk to the boat! More anon, suffice to say her nod at Italian chic was a little premature as blisters caused her to choose between Louise’s trainers or my designer flip flops for the remainder of her visit.
Our first meal out wasn’t a great success, the waiter tempted us with crispy suckling pig. Well it was at least one of those – it was pig!, we knew this from the “hooded claw” sitting on the plate in front of us. For those not in the know, that’s our name for a pigs’ trotter. If nothing else, we had a good laugh, not that it looks like it with that finger in the air. Diane and Gordon wondered how many people would recognise that pose, seemingly I do it a lot…..all I can say is I must have cause!
I’ve always wanted to go to the Opera and what better place to do this than Italy.
Nabucco was on at the Cagliari Opera House so Diane and I got the glad rags on and headed out for a bit of culture.
What a fantastic night, we loved it……….didn’t understand a word of it, but we loved it. The audience was so mixed, from school kids to adults and the dress code was anything from jeans to that wee black cocktail dress. I don’t think that will be my last visit to the opera while I’m here. Next time though I will drag Gordon along, he didn’t fancy it, so went for a pint, but I think he’ll really enjoy it.
We couldn’t have Diane here and not go for a wee sail, so we took a trip to Villasimius about twenty-five miles east of here.
Leaving Cagliari Harbour
The day started out great, a nice 10-15 knots of wind, however, as we were approaching Villasimius the wind increased to a rather breezy thirty five knots. Not what you want for parking Med style in a marina. We made two brave attempts at it but with a cross wind it was nigh on impossible to tie up stern to, so we eventually went in British style, alongside, thankfully there was loads of space to allow us to do this.
Gordon and I have been to Villasimius before and knew that it was about a three kilometre walk to town. As mentioned, Diane’s feet were giving her a bit of bother so there was only one thing for it…..hitch a lift. Gordon was mortified by our goings on, but not so much so that he refused the lift from the lovely wee Sardinian man who obligingly stopped for us.
We nominated Diane to sit in front. Much to her horror when she got in there was a tub of what looked like maggots on the floor, but on closer inspection it was just left over food for the man’s dog. Not put off by this, we had a lovely night sipping cocktails followed by pizza, yum!
We decided to head back next day as the forecast was a bit iffy, which for once turned out to be right. Diane’s last two days the weather broke and we had a few showers and some pretty torrential rain.
In between times however we still managed to get out and about.
We went up to the old town to watch the sunset but we were too late in getting there so we missed it. Instead, Gordon put on a show for us dressed as the hooded claw or was it Dracula, not sure….
We also introduced Diane to the more basic side of sailing……showering in the cockpit with cold water. We didn’t bother to tell her we actually have hot water, it was more fun watching her antics when the cold water hit her, sorry Diane.
All too soon her week was up and she headed back home.
Now it’s time for Gordon and I to settle into Sardinia and get ourselves organised for the winter. I have always wanted to visit Sardinia but I think when I imagined it I would have been on the Costa Smeralda which is where the rich and famous go (and why not?). It’s an area developed by the Aga Khan. Cagliari is very different; it’s more real, it’s a working city, not just a holiday destination.
Our marina is about a twenty minute walk from the main area and there are not many liveaboards, so it’s quiet, very different form Lagos last year. But, you know what, I think we are going to like it. There are so many things to do and see, great restaurants and bars, lovely beaches, something tells me we won’t weary. We have organised 2nd had bikes which will hopefully appear next week. Mine seems to be made up with parts from about four different bikes from the brief colourful photograph I saw of it. As long as it works and has brakes, who cares? lol.
