Christmas Day 2009

Had you asked me a year ago what I would be doing Christmas Day of next year, I would have said being in Sacramento with family, eating lefse and reading a book next to a fire.  Only a few months later, I would learn that I'd be going to Germany to study physics for a year and that flights back and forth would not be a likely option.  Then, several months after that and we'd find that my girlfriend has this crazy idea to go to Croatia for the holiday.  That didn't work out, but the backup plan did - Italy.  Spending Christmas on the island of Sardinia was an intriguing experience and I have to say my most unique Christmas so far.  Who knows what the future holds?

Not having a tree, a fireplace in the flat where we stayed for 5 days or a region 1 DVD player, let alone any of my holiday favorites to play, made for a different kind of Christmas.  I woke up like any other day, realized it was Christmas and proceeded to have breakfast.  Outside, it was a blue sky, partly cloudy and 60+ degree day.  Perfect.  Rachel and I had decided that if it was a nice day we would take out the free bikes that were offered as part of our cost of the room.  So we chose our bikes and headed off down the street.  Our plan was to ride along the coast north.  The next town is called Fertilia and is about 6 km away.  But before we got there, we were treated to some beautiful coast line.  We parked the bikes a couple times to walk to the water and see what we could see.  Sandy beaches, eroded rock formations, palm and pine and other sorts of trees, green shrubbery... it was a beautiful ride.  

We crossed over a bridge next to a small harbor and found ourselves in a very small town.  The coast and sea here were just as vast as in Alghero and we took the time to just sit and stare, listening to the waves.  Surprisingly, there were many people taking walks or being out and about.  There was even a cafe open.  We would have continued on, but it had been a while since we had ridden bikes and the 6k back seemed it would be a good stopping place.  Unfortunately, I had chosen a bike that had a temperamental chain, which when given too much pressure enjoyed slipping off.  I must have stopped 10 times on the way back to put it back on the gears.  Oh well.

An afternoon siesta with a early evening walk to our favorite rocky beach spot to catch the sunset.  It was the perfect ending to the day.  The waves crashing and the Sun sinking behind the waves made me hungry.  Our dinner was the most flavorful fresh gnocchi with pesto sauce and mozzarella that I'd ever enjoyed.