Sicily and Sardinia

Sicily to this day is still a quasi-hidden gem. I hope it stays that way. Palermo is one of the Top 5 street food cities in the world along with Bangkok, Mexico City and others.

Amazing low-traffic beaches, authentic people who aren’t the usual Euro-snotty, and beautiful women, make it a top spot.

Thanks for the insight. Getting a bit older and trying to figure a way to spend up to 3 months in Europe on a easy pace. Never have been and it is been on the bucket list since I was a teen.
Only problem is I am not that well off to spend big bucks.
I don't want to Hobo it but figure out ways to keep costs down.
Trying to figure out a way to rent apartments in central areas for a few weeks at a time. Figured on lodging outside of the high dollar cities to save money.
Then rent a car long term. Try to do short trips to keep costs down, returning to the apartment most nights.
Not big into fancy restaurants and such, mostly into history, scenery and outdoor adventures.
Figure 2 weeks in southern Italy, 2 in northern Italy, 2 in southwest Germany, 2 in southwest France, and then north central Spain.

I lived on Sardinia while in the Navy. I was on the northern coast, actually on La Maddelena, a small island between Sardinia and Corsica. The Gold Coast is beautiful and as someone said, you need a car to see the sights. One of the James Bond films was filmed partly on Sardinia, The Spy Who Loved Me IIRC

We drove from Rome to Paestum, spent the night, then drove from Paestum all the way to Giardini Naxos (near Taormina) over about 6-7 hrs. Made a couple of pit stops, and caught the ferry over to Messina. Ferry ride is quick....10-15mins of loading, 20mins crossing. Just enough time for a quick espresso and an arancino in the snack bar.

Gas is expensive, so it’s probably not cheaper for a single person to drive vs a cheap flight to Catania, if your goal is to see Etna. You should def see Etna, both up close and from afar, and from Taormina’s Roman amphitheater. Staying in one of the slightly shabby 1970s towns below Taormina will save $$ and you can drive up to T for the day.

The northern coast from Palermo back to Messina has two big wilderness parks, with lots of rugged coast. Roads were good and new, and there are lots of small towns if slightly larger places like Cefalu don’t appeal. Palermo is super fascinating, esp the street market of Ballaro, and food culture there in general.

Dolomites are gorgeous, but Sicily has better food. Not that you’ll starve in the Dolomites!

No shite, one of the guys I work with was in the Navy for a good amount of years. Said he does not want to go anywhere after all that travleing.
I guess I should have done a better job at saving my money. Poor stupid me

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No shite, one of the guys I work with was in the Navy for a good amount of years

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I've done the Med several times and the Baltic area once..Pretty sure I've never stopped in the same place twice, and would price that kind of trip to that area in the 10s of thousands..We could leave the ship and take trains pretty much anywhere and be back in 2-3 days