I met my sister in Olbia, a main city on the island of Sardinia, Italy, for a five-day yoga retreat. She was leaving Paris and returning home to California, and before she did, we made time to see each other and do some yoga too. The retreat’s location was truly beautiful, situated on a private estate along the coast, and the hosts did an amazing job of making everyone feel welcome, including me, the only man in attendance. The airline lost my luggage, so I was without a change of clothes for the first two days, but it didn’t matter much; I made do with some help from my new friends.
There was one other American lady in the group; the rest of the women lived in London, though their original nationalities varied. Argentina, France, Colombia, and Tunis were all represented, which made for some great dinner conversations and a lot of fun. I’m a little sad that everyone is based in London, because all these new friends I’ve made will be difficult to keep up with. I’ll try and pass through London on my way in or out of Europe the next time I can make it work; I haven’t seen enough of the UK.
After the yoga retreat, my sister and I stayed on and headed north to Baja, Sardinia, a posh town where my friend Costanza and her infant son now reside. Costanza has been inviting me to visit for a few years now, and this was the best opportunity I had to learn why Sardinia was such a popular (and increasingly popular) destination within Europe. During my stay, we went biking to the top of a nearby mountain, went wine tasting at a local vineyard, played paddle tennis with her friends (my first time doing that), and rented a boat to cruise around the sea. Costanza truly has limitless energy, and I have no idea how she manages to raise her son, in addition to all the activities she does! Thanks for showing me around, Coco 🙂
The less busy my work is, the more motivated I am to rent a car when I visit places. I had one while in Baja, and really, when you have a rental car, travelling is a completely different experience. I spend a significant amount of time in cities, owing to the convenience and ease of a carless existence (which I love, don’t get me wrong), but the amount of power you have to go anywhere you want, whenever you want, is truly remarkable. Something I have mostly surrendered as I hobo my way around on foot and in taxis most of the time.
