Porto Pino

Sabbatical III lies at anchor in Porto Pino, Sardinia
Sabbatical III lies at anchor in Porto Pino, Sardinia

We left Carloforte on August 29th with the intent of stopping in Porto Pino, our favorite nearby anchorage, on the way to Corsica.  Nine days later, we are still in Porto Pino.  One reason is that we cannot seem to find a forecast that will permit us to sail (as opposed to motor) to Corsica, which is about 190 nautical miles north from Porto Pino.  The second reason is that we really like Port Pino so we are happy to hang around here.  The water is crystal clear and the bottom is white sand.  There are at least three good walks:  i) a two mile long sand beach, ii) meandering paths in the pine forest overlooking rocky coves (watch out for the big snakes though), and iii) a dirt road along the western edge of the“saline” (salt pond) where we sample the sweet wine grapes hanging from the vineyards that come down almost to the waters’ edge.  There is also a restaurant that we love, Blue Marlin, located on the narrow channel from the sea to the “saline”, with simply prepared and inexpensive Sardinian food, good music, and friendly service.   There is an Italian deli/bakery with fresh bread, almond cookies, and cured meats, a butcher shop, a small grocery store with the essentials, and a gastronomia with roasted chicken to take-out.  This is pretty much all that we need with one notable exception – there is no decent artiginale gelato.  One place cannot have it all.  We even have a place to dock the dinghy well up the channel (info provided by “Vera”).

Laura on the beach, Porto Pino
Laura on the beach, Porto Pino
Water under the boat,. Laura swims before breakfast every morning.
Water under the boat,. Laura swims before breakfast every morning.
Blue Marlin restaurant
Blue Marlin restaurant
View from the pine forest path in the peninsula that defines the bay on the west.
View from the pine forest path in the peninsula that defines the bay on the west (Candiani).
Pine resin runs from trees in Porto Pino
Pine resin runs from trees in Porto Pino
Channel that connects the "saline" to the sea, Porto Pino
Channel that connects the “saline” to the sea, Porto Pino

Tomorrow we will rent a car for the day and drive to Cagliari and visit the Immigation Police once more and this time we think we will actually get our Italian residency cards.  We will see.  We will remain anchored in Porto Pino for at least a few more days before heading for Villasimius (for a few days) and then overnight sail to Corsica if weather permits.

Mark