Grotto Del Fico

Grotto Del Fico

Inside the grotto

Inside th grotto

As I mentioned...the pics aren't that great but you get the idea. Its massive....imagine...the first guys to discover this, explored using helmet lights and flashlights only.....creepy much??

Grotto Del Fico

Inside the Grotto

Inside the Grotto

Seriously...go to the link and view the pics...we weren't allowed flash photography so my pics are crappy. This place is huge....check it out.

Grotto Del Fico

Grotto Del Fico



The entrance

 It wasn't until 1963 that scientists actually entered the grotto and began their research. It was opened to the public in 2003. Visit the website to really appreciate the beauty of this thing.
http://www.grottadelfico.it/

The entrance

The entrance was covered originally, by a huge fig tree, but in 1985 it was knocked down and washed away during a big storm.

Coastal Tour aboard the Helios





The Grottos

The Grottos

We saw tons of the these along the coast...both at sea level and above. The biggest one discovered in the 1950's called Grotto Del Fico. (Grotto of the Figs).







Coastal Tour aboard the Helios

Gulf D'Orosei

Gulf D'Orosei

Check out how brilliant the water colour is. The pics don't do it justice but the most turquoise water I have ever seen anywhere!

Coastal Tour aboard the Helios

Hold tight!!

Check out the coast

Yvonne was a bit nervous about the seasickness thing, but Kim had her back and she made it through with flying colours....er..well...without flying colours as it were!!

Coastal Tour aboard the Helios

Who's excited??

A Tommy Hilfiger ad??

The sea was calm enough today, so were were able to ride on the deck at the bow of the ship. Our captain, Sergio, gave a great narrative of the sights..with the help of a translator.... another cruiser who spoke German, English and Italian. we were the only english speaking people on board.

Coastal Tour aboard the Helios

The Helios

We finally got to tour the coastal beaches and grottos to the north of  Arbatax, in the Gulf D'Orosei. We boarded the Helios this AM at 8:30am and made our way along the coast. It took us approx. 1.5 hrs to reach the 1st beach but we saw tons of sights along the the way.
Is it just me or is this ship eerily reminicent of the SS Minnow on the infamous 3 hr tour???   We were a bit nervous at first but...whatever....at least I had Lovie with me!!!

Arbatax, Sardinia

By the pool

Yvonne couldn't bring herself to join the Polar Bear Club....the furthest she got was knee deep...and of course, I accidently splashed her in a successful, but nearly fatal attempt (to  my life) to rid her of the bee that was circling her. Somehow she wasn't quite as appreciative of my efforts as I thought she might be???
Truth be told....I entered the pool on my own but...at that point, she said I was going in one way or another, so I thought I'd say I did it out of bravery...not fear. Sorry Vonnzie!!!  :)

Arbatax, Sardinia

The Polar Bear Club

Today was a b-e-a-utiful day!!!  I'm guesing it is about 28-30C with clear blue skies and a slight ocean breeze.
Kim and Yvonne both spent the morning in the spa getting pampered while Joe and I took in the sights around the pool.
He had to to take this pic of me to prove to Kim that I actually got up the courage to go in the arcticesque water. Once I got in...Joe and Kim quickly followed suit....and the trend was started.  Everyone else near the pool got in ...a show of bravery that you can only appreciate if you felt this water. Hats off to the old folks who did it...especially the guy who we had to revive using the defib afterwards....(kidding)..but it was that cold....brrr!!!

Arbatax, Sardinia

The local beach

The locals say these are nice but the ones north of here are spectacular......are you kidding me....this was awesome!!!!!

Arbatax, Sardinia

Well today we had to "shift gears" a bit. Our boat tour was cancelled this am due to lack of enrollment.....and higher than normal winds. So....we decided to hop in the car and drive south for 20-30 mins to one of the local beaches. The weather was beautiful today....about 27C and clear skies. The wind was just that...more that a breeze but not bothersome....actually made sitting on the beach very pleasant.....had a few beers and a nice panini with prosciutto, mozza and tomato sandwich..mmmm.
The beaches here are very nice...with turquoise water although a bit chiilier than I had expected it might be.
We plan on rebooking the boat tour for Tues with another "back up" plan....the being we will drive the coastal mountain roads to visit the beaches north of here about and hour or two. There are several sea grottos along the way that we would like to stop and see as well.....crossing our fingers. for more nice weather.

Arbatax, Sardinia

Dinner at the Port

Enjoying our dinner at the "Greasy Spoon Pizzeria". Our Yvonne is a champ with the Italian language....she only speaks a bit  but understands everything...the towns folk adore her!!!!!  Joe....she's a keeper!!!!

Arbatax, Sardinia

Today was such a beautiful day that we decided to sit by the pool and catch a few rays!  It is about 28C, clear skies and a slight breeze coming off the ocean...sweet!! The only downside is, there is no poolside service here. We have to go into the bar area every time we want a beer. Needless to say we are wearing a path!! (kidding of course)
The beach here is small by comparison to others here but the water is so green and clear.....beautiful. Good thing,  because I think they refrigerate their pool water. I see all the Nordic guests swimming in the pool and thinking the water is too warm....what the hell??? Me...I'm out...if it is 70F I'd be shocked.
We found a little pizzeria (shocking..in Italy???!!) by the port and had dinner. We were skeptical at first because the decor was pretty base, the furniture fairly greasy spoonish...but the food was priced good and tasted even better...Likely the best pizza I have had since we got here....and I have had some good ones!!!
Tomorrow is supposed to be a really nice day...which is why we booked a boat tour that takes us up the coast to all the nice beaches.....starting at 8:30am until 6:30pm. We stop at various beaches to along the way to lay in the sun...do lunch...explore a couple of grottos (sea caves)...should be a a fun day.

Arbatax, Sardinia

Shopping for supplies

We needed our supply of vino and birri for the card game later that night. We stopped at The Conad  (grocery store)...which we affectionately referred to as The Gonad...because they had "balls" enough to sell booze in the grocery store!!!!  That.....and it just kinda rolled off the tongue plus we all got a chuckle out of it!! :)

Arbatax, Sardinia



Lavenderia

 Needed another day to do some laundry. It was raining today so thought this would be the best day.  Took us forever to find this place...the urban planner who designed this town was an idiot I think....no rhyme or reason whatsoever to the streets....we drove around for 30 mins and still had no idea how we found it!! On the upside...it only took 20 mins to get back to the main street.

Orgosolo

In the streets

Having lunch

The streets here are like...1 l/2 lanes wide...the local drivers drive soooo fast through these turning, narrow streets....again...taking your life in your hands as a pedestrian!!!
Kim found a dinky little beer...that entire bottle she is holding,  fit into that puny rock glass....seems kinda pointless to order a beer like that but...whatever...she liked it....gimme a pint...grazie!!!

Orgosolo

The streets of Orgosolo

More Murals

Orgosolo

Kikinu's shop

This guy, Kikinu, has been the only photograper in Orgosolo for the last 20 yrs and the first and only to take photographs of the murals and put them in a book.
This book describes each mural...the artist and its significance.....