Day 4: Mountain respite

Oliena was the only area we stayed for more than one night, and I think it was a good location to do so. The mountains, parks, small towns and deep caves were calling our names.

Running up Mount Corrasi

The view of a neighboring village

Our hotel (the Tourist Coop Eni) a few kilometers from Oliena along a steep, squiggly road on Monte Maccione

The town of Oliena

Murals are very popular in these mountain towns

The pure sorgenti, or springs, of Su Gologone

We took a walk along the nearby hill

This beetle was rolling his prize backwards down the hill. So disgusting yet so fascinating...

A tap of that wonderful spring water. Cars were pulled alongside and people were actually filling jugs to take home. From here you can see the Valle di Lanaitho down below.

We were the only ones down in the valley, besides a couple maintenance vehicles. This area has several grotte (caves), gorges, and ancient villages, but they were closed. We were content just to do a bit of poking around instead.

Giants' Tomb (Nuraghic burial site)

A hike up to one of the caves
Lunch on a wall

Heading back up the mountains, we stopped for a peek inside La Grotta del Guano, named for the bats that flew out of it when we came by.

Another place to fill up on spring water

We spent the rest of the afternoon lazying around Oliena. We found a nice bench to watch cars roll by, which is when we saw the fellow who gave us directions earlier in the morning.

Yes, this is some punk kid galloping his horse alongside the traffic.

Lady in the traditional black widow's dress