Sardegna (Sardinia) ~ 8th to 15th June 2008

11-6-2008 ~ On our own today as Enrico was working, so we drove to San Giovanni di Sinis and the Roman remains at Tharros. The church at San Giovanni di Sinis was built in the 5th century on the site of a pagan burial area. Most of the church is the result of a 9th century rebuild, though sections of the original are still visible. Leaving here, we went to the remains of the Roman city of Tharros. On a hill adjacent to the site, is one of the Spanish defensive look-out towers. In the evening, Enrico joined us and before taking us to a fish restaurant, showed us 18th Century gates of Cantina Sociale della Vernaccia ~ a vineyard producing the fiest white wine in Sardinia.

Sardegna (Sardinia) ~ 8th to 15th June 2008

........................................... still the Costa Smeralda!

Sardegna (Sardinia) ~ 8th to 15th June 2008

10-6-2008 ~ Beautiful day and Enrico took us first to the archaeological site of Santa Cristina at Paulitatino. Here amongst the olive trees is a nuraghic age village (1000BC) with its famous well, plus a middle age village of small houses clustered round a church. These houses were built for the use of pilgrims visiting the site. Leaving here we travelled on the motorway to the exclusive tourist area of Costa Smeralda on the north-east coast.

Sardegna (Sardinia) ~ 8th to 15th June 2008

9-6-2008 ~ Walked down into the city of Oristano and took many pictures. Enrico joined us in the afternoon and took us to his village of Seneghe on the eastern slopes of Monte Urtigu, and after driving up the mountain road to see a 800 year old Mediterranean Oak tree, we visited the village and went to the magnificent Baroque Church.

Sardegna (Sardinia) ~ 8th to 15th June 2008

8-6-2008 ~ Motored from home to Luton Airport and took an Easyjet flight to Caglieri (Elmas) Airport, where we were met by our dear friend Enrico. After visiting his mother in hospital, he took us to the Il Poetto Beach for a drink before driving on to his flat in Oristano.

steam train in the remote Qianwei,

Foreigners are visiting Sichuan

I have also received this today from the Hotel, so Chenjie and me are keeping our fingers crossed in the hope that we will be able to fly to Juizhaigou. This Chinese "Fairy Land" was undamaged by the 'quake altough road access is impossible at the moment ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Brave foreign tourists are unscared though 8-magnitude earthquake occurred in north Sichuan. With Dreams Travel, they are now paying pilgrimage to Mt E’mei, stone inscriptions at Leshan, Rongxian and Dazu. They are wild with joy hiking in the Bamboo Sea in Yibin and riding the oldest steam train in the remote Qianwei, where they are in the heart of the local life. Chengdu is a city to which they never want to say good-bye because they can’t tear themselves away from the Pandas, Sichuan Cate, Sichuan Opera and easy life style. Cruising on Yangtse River is quite an experience as great Li Bai wrote about some 1200 years ago on the river speed, the ape cry and the beautiful scenery.Ya'an is famous for its delicious fish, pretty girls, fresh drizzle and the dreamy old town. Beside it is a great place for panda tracing. Disaster is gone and life is on. All the staff of Dreams Travel are ready to provide good service."

Chengdu ~ everything back to normal

I have today received this from the hotel Chenjie and me are staying in when we go to Chengdu. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Although Chengdu is so near the disaster area, the earthquake did only affect this city a little. According to the statement published by China Earthquake Bureau, Chengdu is not on the earthquake plate, and the city will not get damaged by earthquakes now and in the future. All social functions are still working normally in the city. Stores, hotels, restaurants, airports are all open as normal. People keep doing their own jobs, and students were back to school. Everybody is living at ease in this city, local residents are doing charity spontaneous after their work. Playing important roles in tourism, Chengdu now is safe and convenient for inboard and international tourists. People from all over the world are highly welcomed! And all our staff in Dreams-Travel, Wenjun Mansion Hotel & Dreams Travel Youth Hostel are working normally and looking forward to serve for our customers! Here is link of Wenjun Mansion hotel."

http://www.dreams-travel.com/wenjun/en/index.htm