We needed sunshine and Ryan Air had VERY cheap airfares from the UK to Sardinia.

When we arrived, we first tried to find the bus that was to take us to the city centre (reminds me of John Lennon's nearsightedness: "What Bus?"). This is when we KNEW we had not studied the Italian language CD's enough! But everyone understood the word "taxi", so got in a queue/lined up for the next one... and waited... and waited.

So off we went - zoom! ZOOM! - beware the way they drive! Not long into the ride, we came upon a Dead Ducatti in the Middle of the Road (with apologies to Loudon Wainwright III)! For the uninitiated, this is a VERY expensive motorcycle - we are talking over 6,000 bucks! The driver was okay but very depressed as he had less than 20 miles on the new bike!

However, the beach was just across the road from us. But there was no place to order a beverage at this part of the beach. To find such a place you had to walk towards town or towards the more built up portion of the beach.

BUT enough with the negative stuff! The hotel was run by a family who were very helpful and since our Italian consisted of Thanks, You're Welcome, Good day and More Beer, it was great to have someone who spoke English and who was endlessly patient with my inability to remember how to ask for my room key (18) in Italian!

We parked ourselves in front of the most BLUE ocean, shallow, so you could walk out, and fine, white sand, like talcum powder. There was a gaggle of retired ladies who met there each day, and sat in the sun and chatted. Was surprised to find some hawkers, selling clothes. They were interested in the Canadian accent, but not too much of a pest.

But we enjoyed the sea and the walled town - you could sit along the top of the wall and toast the sunset, and if a glass of wine wasn't your cup of tea, the Gelato, ah the Gelato! I have had 'italian ice cream' in other places, but it is nothing as good as this! My favourite was fruit of the cactus (Sardinia is tropical but arid and a good place for Prickly Pear cactus to grow) half and half with Limone (lemon) or Ciocolotto (chocolate, of course). It was not hard to figure out what you were eating, if you know a little french or spanish, you could get by!

I pooped out but my fellow travellers went to a club where the salsa dancing was top notch and kept them spell bound enough to forgive a rude waitron! No mind, they just countered by ordering two drinks eachtime, so they didn't have to wait!

Because it can be so hot in the summer, the windows have roll down, industrial strength blinds, which keep ALL the sun out! Of course, they also keep all the light out, so we found ourselves sleeping rather late!

So what will I miss about Sardegna? The thin, flat bread, like pita bread but baked in the oven and sprinkled with rock salt and olive oil! It was the first thing delivered to your table and we ATE IT ALL! The calamari (squid) grilled, and the local pasta which was small like a cereal.

Next time I want to take the 10 mile ferry trip to Corsica to see the contrasts and similarities, and to take the bus south and experience the other cities.