One of the fascinating things about both Corsica and Sardinia is that the various areas have such different historys, and therefore characters. Alghero is no exception, being conquered by Pedro IV of Aragon in the 14th century and became Catalan two centuries later. The city retains its Spanish flavour and is often described as a mini Barcelona (perhaps a slightly over the top). It has a enchanting walled city flanked by modern suburbs and lovely beaches. Well worth a visit by boat or as a tourist.
Right Walkaway lies at the town key marina (excellent in good weather but open to a W or NW gale).
Above left the Walled City as seen from Walkaway
Above right, Laura and Tony on the walls just above Walkaway
Right, the cities most upmarket coffee stop.
The dome of the a city church showing its catalan colours.
The town quay was also famous for the Italian rat who stowed away in
Fertillia!! Despite all attempts to catch it by crew, marina staff and
the local rat catcher (who looked like a rat), all failed. It did enromous
damage, eating the echo sounder cable clean in two and fraying crews'
nerves to breaking point (including running over the skipper in the
middle of the night!!). Finally we followed the advice; take all food
off the boat, and we all starved for two days rat and all. The rat then
"jumped ship" to the better stored and more delectable smells
of the italian boat next door, thereby nearly causing an international
incident worthy of Foreign Office intervention. Our neighbour, who finally
caught the offending rat in a lion sized cage, declared that our failure
to catch the mouse was due to our failure to feed it what it wanted
as an Italian rat - chiobata soaked in olive oil.
So the season was coming to an end so to Fertillia to lift out.
