First day in Sardegna

We woke up in Olbia at the Hotel Panorama and went downstairs to breakfast. We were the only guests. For the first time since I can remember -- or, perhaps the first time since we've been in Italy -- we had bad coffee.

After breakfast, Josh and I contemplated a re-pack. The Hotel had graciously offered to store any luggage we wanted to leave behind -- we would be back in 18days for another night at the Hotel Panoramic before taking an early ferry from Olbia. After some discussion, we scrapped the idea and instead, Josh focused on reloading the car more efficiently. He succeeded!

It was a beautiful, hot and sunny day in Sardegna. We were treated to some great views as we drove the short hour to Palau, and to our hotel for the next five nights -- The Park Hotel Cala di Lepre. As is often the case, our room was not ready when we arrived at lunchtime. No matter, we grabbed some swimsuits from the car, changed in the bathroom and went down to the pool. Hardly a soul was in sight. It was scorching hot - it must have been well over 100 degrees in the sun. We had a brief swim -- even in the pool the sun was too much to take -- and then sat down to lunch in one of the few shaded areas off the pool deck.

Eventually, we made it to our room -- or bungalow, as it were. We had two bedrooms and a living area with club chairs that converted into single beds. The bungalow has two porches -- one off the front and one off the back -- so one is always in the sun while the other is in the shade. When both doors of the living room are opened it creates a nice cross breeze. Thankfully, the bedrooms are also air-conditioned. Altogether, aside from the fact that there is only one bathroom, it's a rather nice set-up for a family.

The property has 160 "rooms" but all are in the single story, bungalow style, and thus the property is a vast maze of walkways and trails. There are two restaurants, a spa, tennis courts, archery, a soccer pitch, a beach volleyball court, a kid's club, swimming pools, and of course the beach. The hotel is built on a hillside in a very natural, pine forest type-of setting. The smells are wonderful. We set about the business of unloading all of our belongings and getting organized. Everyone was tired and took a nap, with the exception of Olivia. I took Olivia for a walk down by the beach and checked out the kids club with her. She stayed at the club, while I walked back up to the room. The property has golf carts running around shuttling guests to and fro -- but only during certain hours. For some inexplicable reason, the golf carts do not run the circuit between 2:30 and 5:30pm in the afternoon. In any case, the children may complain, but we will all get our exercize staying here.

Dinner is served, buffet-style, between 8 and 10pm. We sat on the terrace of the main restaurant and enjoyed the sunset, and the food which was very good. Then, the kids disappeared for the evening's entertainment. There is a large outdoor ampitheater where the "animatores" (recall all the birthday parties with microphones) stage different activities nightly. Charlotte and Olivia joined in the fun, but Avery sat with us. That is, until the cotton candy showed up. Then he wanted in on the action.

As hot as it had been during the day, by 9pm with a cool breeze blowing, I was feeling a bit chilly! I might actually have the occasion to wear a sweater on this vacation after all. Or, as Josh would say, I have become truly "Romanized" to the point where 75degrees feels cool.