set Sardinia apart from other islands in the world.
The
number one reason to visit and experience Sardinia is the Sardinians: i
Sardi in Italian. The Sardinians are some of the most sincere people
one will ever have a chance to encounter. They are honest, and they are
kind. They get great joy out of life, out of conversation, out of
lending a helping hand, out of preparing food and certainly out of
eating it. No matter what may be going on in their life at any
particular moment, they always have time to listen and talk. They hold firmly to their traditions and beliefs but, at the same time, have
a very open mind and heart to outside cultures and philosophies. They
are curious but not invasive.
Why Sardinia? While the people are what make this island so intriguing, they are simply a complement to one of God’s natural masterpieces. From sand dunes and wheat fields to pine forests and lakes, each part of the island has landscapes that are special to that area. In Ogliastra, the hiking mecca of Sardinia, you witness gigantic, jagged limestone platforms in the sky that descend peacefully into the sea. Ahh, the sea. There simply are not enough descriptive words of color in our language to describe its hues. It is soft and mesmerizing and depending on which beach you glide in from, it’s met with smooth pink and white stones, brown hearty sand or sand of a fine white texture, to describe only a few.
The island is covered with hearty, green Mediterranean plants. Even driving down the highway your car might be lightly brushed with flowing, colorful oleanders. Can you imagine pine trees in the sand? In many cases they line the coast and it feels like walking through a little forest before you reach the beach. The scent of the air on this island is recognizable with every return trip. Perhaps it comes from the ancient land of arid climate surrounded by the smooth, sometimes rough, salty sea; with smells of fresh spring flowers, 100-year-old vineyards and 1000-year-old olive trees … it is the distinguished smell of a magical island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.
Walking through the narrow streets of any village, however, at one in the afternoon, the scents that linger in the air are that of the genuine Sardinian cuisine. One taste of their food immediately answers “Why Sardinia?”
A typical lunch might start with thick slices of aged prosciuto crudo coupled with sweet cantaloupe followed by fresh pasta culurgionis and tomato sauce made from ripe garden tomatoes stewed and strained. Top this with skillfully aged pecorino shavings, and you’ll think you’re in heaven. But it doesn’t stop there. Following the pasta, it’s time to bring out the roast. Choose from lamb, suckling pig or kid which has been rotating over mirto embers since the early morning, leaving a brown outer crisp and a tender inner meat. Accompanying the tender meats is a garden salad. Garden salad meaning, the lettuce that was cut from the ground an hour ago, a couple tomatoes snipped from their vines, perhaps some fennel added, all tossed with fresh olive oil and a pinch of salt. A meal is never rushed, leaving time for each bite to be savored and joyfully accompanied by a glass of red wine.
Sardinians are a populous of longevity. Why? They say two reasons for this are because they eat pecorino cheese and drink red wine in moderation. The red wine is like everything else on this island … hearty and pure and goes well with all meals. Many Sardinians will top their meal off with an espresso and a small drink of mirto. As a guest, your plate and glass will always be refilled.
WHY SARDINIA? Really, why not? If you love deep-rooted cultures and wise people, this is your place. If you enjoy and appreciate fresh homemade foods, this is your place. If you value the art of conversation and sharing opinions, this is your place.
Sardinians have all they need to enjoy life. Never will they ask for more, but meeting a new person from a place other than their own, puts a smile on any Sardinian's face.