La Ficaccia

La Ficaccia.

For days, my husband Elasio had been repeating this name to me non-stop, a name I knew nothing about. Mind you, it wasn’t that I hadn’t grasped the libertine spirit of Elasio. He was approaching sixty – which, as all women know, is a dangerous age for men. From the height of his knowledge of sex, after countless attempts – many of which had failed: ‘If only I’d known at twenty everything I know now…!’ – and buoyed by his latest testosterone surges, he was suggesting a holiday in Sardinia in a small hamlet of Santa Teresa di Gallura, the name of which had sparked in him a sort of ‘return to his twenties’ with skills that, he believed, were decidedly up to date.

I, too, had been thinking of a holiday in Sardinia, also in the heart of Santa Teresa di Gallura, in a little corner of paradise I’d read about. There was the possibility of renting a flat that seemed perfect for the two of us, just a few minutes from Rena Bianca beach and close to Capo Testa, a place I’d never been to.

I know, some people – and perhaps more than a few – will say I’m advertising a website: it’s true, I am advertising a website. However, when I find a place that’s worth it, I say so and I write about it.

So, convinced that that holiday flat in the blue waters of Gallura was perfect for us, I plucked up the courage and suggested it to my husband. Besides, he’s a great lover of caves, and the granite landscape of Capo Testa and the surrounding inlets are full of natural caverns. Perhaps that’s also why, amongst the various specialist options offered by medicine, he’d chosen gynaecology…

I’d broached the subject of choosing a holiday destination one evening, after a good meal but before going to bed. I’d said to him: ‘Elasio, I’ve found the perfect place for us. I’ve spoken to the owner of a flat in Gallura, a young woman from Turin who—to describe her—I’d be better off telling you what she hasn’t done rather than what she has. It’s in Santa Teresa di Gallura, close to the town centre’s amenities and the harbour, a short distance from Rena Bianca beach and just a few minutes’ drive from Capo Testa. It’s a delightful spot, set against the blue of Gallura. It seems made for us. Just say yes, and then ask me whatever you like.’

I knew I’d almost made it. I could still see he was hesitating, perhaps because he was thinking about what he might ask me later. I was ready for the thrust – the offensive move in fencing that must be executed as quickly as possible, at just the right moment.

‘Ah, Elasio, I nearly forgot. La Ficaccia is just a stone’s throw away.’

Well, you’ll have guessed how it ended, although I can’t tell you what she asked for in the bedroom.

With BluGallura, we’ve gone back to our twenties. And, I can confirm, with the cultural baggage of our sixties!