While we slept last night the Oceania Marina ship took us from the Mediterranean sea’s largest island, Sicily, to its second largest, Sardinia. Tourism in Sardinia began seriously in 1960 when Prince Karim Aga Khan, one of the world’s wealthiest royals, founded Porto Cervo on the Costa Smeralda as a playground for the rich and famous.
San Pantaleo is much older that the other towns along the Costa Smeralda, going back to 800 BC. It has kept most of its old world charm while upgrading to attract tourism, the new wealth of the island. We arrived about ten in the morning, our first stop on the scenic bus tour.
It is a beautiful refuge from the green trees and hills of the country and takes you back in time when life was lived differently.
We arrived on a holiday, All Saints Day, so most shops were closed.
The church was open to celebrate the holy day. The front door was open, inviting me to take a picture.
The bishop was watching what was going on in the Piazzetta.
What story do you make up about this?
Pistachio nuts? Left there by a local resident for another four legged resident? Or left there by a tourist who thought to bring a snack to take care of their hunger, but did not think to bring a bag to take away their garbage.
Exploring some of the narrow streets leading off of the Piazzetta I could see the respect the residents have for the beauty of nature and keeping their town on display for the tourists.
Did you notice the maple ivy vines?
