Cinque Terre?
Amalfi Coast?
Nah! Lets go to an island!
Sicily? Nope, I’ve seen The Godfather too many times.
Capri? Nope, thats France.
How about the other island? Well, that other island has a name, and like Beyonce, it would like you to say it. Ladies and gentlemen, meet: Sardinia.
Geography 101
Sardinia
Sardinia (Sardegna to Italians) is an island off of the western coast of Italy. Its in the Tyrrhenian Sea the Mediterranean Sea. (Apparently its like splitting hairs, but I’m no geography scholar, so research away!) Record of the island dates back to pre-history, but It became a plan in a literal game to thrones until nearly the 20th century. Many tourists visit Sassari and Olbia in the north, but I travelled to the capital of Cagliari in the south. Having 2 distinct areas: the beach and the castello, Cagliari was the perfect place for a much needed momcation with my friends.
What to do in Cagliari
On the beach, it is common to visit beach clubs that offer cabanas, food and drinks. Since I have never been anywhere tropical, when I first heard “beach club”, all I could think about was Saved by The Bell summer seasons.
Slater and the gang were NOT in Sardinia
It was nothing like that. We booked the Emerson Beach Club for 2 days and it was FAB! Our sweet attendant, Michael (Me-Kel-Aye) kept our drinks full and suggested food when we needed it. We literally laid in the cabana, waded in the sea, drank and repeated our entire time there. It was glorious!!!
Unlike Garth Brooks, I only need 1 pina colada
Most of the clubs are on the beach too. I would like to preface this by saying I don’t do clubs often. I do most of my drinking and dancing in the privacy of my own home. That being said…it was great! Nobody was trying to get gropy or grindy. According to my friend’s Fitbit we danced 5 miles. They played a lot of American club music and TONS of 80’s music. Apparently its a big thing here…30 years later. This 80’s girl approves!
Getting white-girl wasted.
The castello had a life of its own. It is perched high in the mountainous area of Cagliari and still holds parts of the city’s old castle fortifications. Not even kidding, I was walking down a street and crossed under what looked like a gate, held up by chains suitable for the Night’s Watch. Its truly a frightening beautiful sight.
Bellissimo!
Some of the best restaurants are in and around the castello. Before visiting, I automatically thought island: seafood. WRONG! My neighbor Roberto (FYI: they call him Downtown Robby in Jamaica) let me know the island specialties are suckling pig, called porceddu, and lamb. This was repeated in every menu in every restaurant we went to. EVERY. The first page of menus contained a narrative of how the Sardinians were once sea-faring people, but pirates and other invaders caused them to retreat to the castello and learn to live off the land.
Did you say pirates?
The best, most authentic restaurant we ate at was Osteria Sa Domu Sarda. It was a rustic, yet quaint hole in the wall. You could literally hear the kitchen activity. Although the menus offers everything you could want in Sardinian food, I suggest just getting the starter sampler. Three of us split it and a bottle of Sardinian wine and were bursting. It’s really home cooking: a meat & cheese board with breads, fava beans in butter with pork fat, pork tidbits (legit name) with green olives and herbs, roasted eggplant in olive oil and escargot in a tomato ragu. TO. DIE. FOR.
Food coma, party of 3.
Truths
Look, I know Sardinia isn’t the first place you’re dying to go in Italy, but its worth a visit. You can get quick, cheap flights from just about any major airport in Italy. (It was an hour from Milan and cost about €160.) Not to mention Air B-n-B’s aplenty. We would take taxi’s everywhere. (It was €20 at most, typically €15…then split 3 ways.) There is really no excuse not to go if you find yourself in the area. If anything you’ll have a beautifully memorable weekend with some of your best friends.
No husbands. No kids. Moms gone mild!
Who’s been to Sardinia?
Anything I missed?
Any takers for next years trip?
