Different Seasons (Signet) $4.88 Different Seasons (1982) is a collection of four novellas, markedly different in tone and subject, each on the theme of a journey. The first is a rich, satisfying, nonhorrific tale about an innocent man who carefully nurtures hope and devises a wily scheme to escape from prison. The second concerns a boy who discards his innocence by enticing an old man to travel with him into a reawakening …

I Love Touring Italy – Northern Sardinia

If you're in the mood for a European tourist destination, you really should consider the island of Sardinia, a region of southern Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and lower meal with local wine. Much of Sardinia remains undiscovered by tourists, while other sites are favorites of Italian and international jet set and are priced accordingly. This article presents the north of Sardinia. Current companion articles central Sardinia and southern Sardinia.

We begin our tour of Sardinia in the northwestern coastal town of Alghero. We head northeast to a brief visit of Sassari and Porto Torres, Stintino and Castelsardo in different parts of the north coast of Sardinia. Then we headed to the northeast of the island of La Maddalena on the Costa Smeralda. We return to the mainland to finish our tour in Porto Cervo. If you still have time and energy to visit the complex and Golfo Aranci port of Olbia.

Alghero, forty thousand of the population, was founded in the early twelfth century. The same area initially were established at least five thousand years ago. And yet, in the near field malaria was a problem until the 1950s. Its historic center was badly damaged during the Second World War. Almost a quarter of the population speaks a sort of Catalan as their mother tongue. Moreover, signs are in Catalan. If I do not know, is related to Catalan and Spanish is the language spoken in Barcelona. In fact Alghero nickname is Barceloneta (little Barcelona). Many of the oldest buildings in Alghero are clearly influenced by the Catalan architecture and its neighboring province, Aragon. These include the sixteenth century Cathedral of Santa Mary, the fourteenth century Church of San Francisco and the XVI century palace D'Albis. The Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art (Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art) is located in the old (thirteenth century), Church of the Rosary by the cathedral. Besides its collection of religious art, the museum houses a unique collection of silver Catalan.

Do you like towers? If so, Alghero is a city for you. Be sure to climb the bell tower of the Cathedral for a great view of the city, especially at sunset. Also should see the Tower of the Portal Alghero (Tower of the Portal to Alghero), built at the expense of the local Jewish community in the mid-fourteenth century. There are several other towers in and around the city.

La Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune's Caves) is a geological wonder unforgettable inside the limestone promontory of Capo Caccia. It extends approximately one half mile (two km away). The cave is located outside the city and you can enjoy the view on the road, either walk, ride, or take a boat tour. The cave complex consists of the caves, wide passages, lakes, wells deep, narrow tunnels. The tours are guided and are subject to cancellation by bad weather.

Sassari, population over one hundred and twenty-five thousand is the second largest city in Sardinia. In the actual area of only the cities of Rome and Ravenna are larger. This is an old university town. Several Italian politicians come from Sassari leaders including former Communist Party chief and two presidents of the Republic, a bonus for party leader.

The Cathedral of San Nicolas de Bari (Cathedral) built in the thirteenth century is an example of various styles, Romanesque, Baroque and Gothic Catalan. Why not see if you can identify? Among the other churches are touring the XIII century church of St. Mary of Bethlehem, the twelfth century Church of St. Peter in Silki, and the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Be sure to visit the eighteenth-nineteenth century Palazzo Ducale Palace (Duke), now the Town Hall. No forget the Giordano nineteenth century palace, now headquarters of the Banco di Napoli (Naples, Bank). The Rosello seventeenth century is still a marble fountain decorated with a dozen lions, but no longer serves as an aqueduct.

Sassari is located between Porto Torres and Stintino northwest and northeast of Castelsardo. Porto Torres is known for its Roman ruins, including a bridge that is still functional. Stintino, situated on a narrow promontory that juts into the Gulf of assinado, is famous for its beaches, especially La Pelosa. Such Once you can guess from its name that has a castle Castelsardo. Castelsardo is said that the most interesting Easter procession throughout Sardinia with a torchlight parade, the tradition goes back to the eleventh century.

La Maddalena, the population of twelve thousand, is the only inhabited island in the archipelago of Costa Smeralda, on the coast northeastern Sardinia, in the Strait of Bonifacio. The archipelago has about 125 miles (200 kilometers) of coastline with many small white sand beaches and the famous beach Pink on the island of Budelli. Nature is great in this part of the world, as one might expect in a National Nature Reserve. Most famous citizen of this area was Giuseppe Garibaldi, the hero of Italian unification. You can visit his home and the cemetery where he and his family are buried in the nearby island of Caprera. Capra goat in Italian media and also explains the name of the island of Capri, where goats are now few and far between.

Porto Cervo, the population of about two thousand out of season is a summer resort. The story says more than forty years Aga Khan discovered this area, while seeking refuge from a storm. He liked the place and decided converted into a luxury resort, a favorite of the crowd to sail. Just to refresh the memory of his father, Aga Khan, Aly Khan, was engaged to Hollywood actress Gene Tierney and married Hollywood superstar Rita Hayworth in 1948. They separated in 1951 before divorcing in 1953. Perhaps to drown their sorrows became ambassador of Pakistan to the United Nations in 1958.

What if you, like me, have a yacht? Silly boy / girl, just a rental. With the wonders of the Internet I took no time to find a rental agency yacht in Porto Cervo. I just clicked the first bid, at this point in my life I'm not really in the market yacht rental or purchase. A 2006 forty-nine feet (meter fifteen) four-cabin yacht with a crew bilingual one costs from 3500 to 5900 Euros per week (do not forget to add about 40% exchange rate today for converting euros to dollars.) As everyone has heard: "If you have to wonder, you can not afford a yacht, "even for a rental.

What about food? Many people are surprised that the native Sardinians are not as great on fish and seafood. Could this have something to do with the fact that one third of Italian sheep are raised on the island? A specialty of Sardinia is roasting large animals in a wood-lined pit. When the fire dies down a little charcoal is covered with branches of myrtle. The meat is placed in the trench and covered with more myrtle and herbs. The hole is filled with earth, and a bonfire is lit. After several hours the meat is ready. If ever you are invited to Shindig not miss it. Experts say that Porceddu (Roast Suckling Pig) is the best meat for the roast of this kind.

We will propose a menu of example, one of the many. Start with Fabadda (cabbage and beans Soup). After the sample the Porceddu (Roast Suckling Pig). For dessert Enjoy Copulettas (meringues with jam, honey and almonds). Make sure you increase your pleasure eating by including local wines with food.

We conclude with a quick look at Sardinian wine. Sardinia ranks eighth among Italy's 20 regions in the area devoted to wine grapes and twelfth in total annual wine production. About 57% of their wine production is red or pink (pink not much), leaving 43% for white wine. It stands for Denomination of Controlled Origin, which can be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, probably a high-quality wine. The G is Garantita DOCG, but in reality there is no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. This region is home to 19 wine DOC and DOCG wine, Vermentino di Gallura. About 15% of Sardinian wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation.

Vermentino di Gallura DOCG is produced in northeast Sardinia local grape Vermentino white with up to 5% of other indigenous white grapes. It may be dry or sweet. As you can imagine, Alghero DOC wine is produced near the town of Alghero. It is made in a wide variety of styles from local white grapes or red or more international grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

About the Author

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but between you and me, he prefers fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and good company. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can eat and drink what he wants, in moderation. He loves teaching computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his new wine, diet, health, and nutrition website www.wineinyourdiet.com and his global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com.