Catherine’s Cagliari Travel Blog 2022

  Foresta di Is Cannoneris We took the LandRovers up through the Foresta di Is Cannoneris Sunday morning. It is an ancient forest and it is one of the oldest in the Mediterranean basin. The ride was very bumpy as we trekked our way higher and higher. As we looked behind us we had a nice view of the ocean and a little glimpse of the city we were leaving behind. After a long and almost car sick ride, we made it to the top of the mountain. The wind was extremely fast and aggressive. It felt as though we were on a roller coaster. It was funny to look around and watch everyone stumble around on the greenery and rocks. We enjoyed a little pastry at the top of the mountain and then hopped back into the LandRovers to make our way on over to our next destination.  Cheese Making, Farm Animals, and Lunch Our next stop was a farm where we learned how to make cheese! The cheese man stirred a ginormous put of fresh milk and a special enzyme. He showed us that is had somewhat congealed and t...

 Arborea Waste Management Complex   Trash time! On Thursday we headed out to Arborea to explore their waste management complex. The first part of our tour consisted of exploring the plastic sorting center. In this area, they sift through loads of plastic and separate it into sections that are usable/unusable and different kinds of plastic. We learned about optical separators which function as a device that sort the plastic into different types using sensors. Once the plastic type is sensed it gets shot with a jet to go one path or it does not to go down the other path. As the plastic moves along the different conveyor belts it gets sifted through so that the plant can eventually sell certain types and so that it can deal with the unusable plastic. After learning about the plastic sorting we explored the compost and landfill at the plant. We learned about the way the plant deals with the odor that the air can carry. They send the air through a thick layer of compost where micro...

 Sulcis Sulcis is a region in the South of Sardinia. It is especially known for its mining and the rich history behind it. We started off our ride to the mines in LandRovers! We drove through the countryside to see the vast green hills and never-ending ocean. Along the way we made a few stops. Our first stop was at a little coffee shop where we enjoyed the sun and some of us even hopped in on a little soccer game. For the rest of our drive, we explored the "ghost world" of the mining complexes in Sardinia. We stopped at a town on top of the mountains that was extremely quiet. We only saw a handful of people during our entire time there. It used to be a very lively city but after the mines shut down many people left. There were many abandoned mines and mine towns that were starting to crumble. It was interesting to see the impact of these mines. We saw streams that were red due to the iron mining and piles and piles of waste from the mining.  Piscinas Beach After our LandRover...

Finally in Italy! After so much anticipation we have finally made it to our destination. Even through the jetlag, we have managed to have a great start to our five weeks in Cagliari. Here is how it has been going: Food The first thing we did as soon as we landed was grab a quick bite to eat.  Quick actually wouldn't be the right way to describe it! Italians spend quite a long time enjoying their meals with family and friends. We have had many great sit down lunches and dinners spending time getting to know each other. Every morning we go to the cafe next door and enjoy a coffee and a pastry. For lunch and dinner we have enjoyed many plates of pasta and pizza. Beach Something that I was really looking forward to was the beach! They are so different to those in Connecticut. When we first got to the beach the sand was so soft and warm. The water is warm but also very salty which means it is very easy to float! It is so relaxing to lay in the water and relax, especially after so much t...

  I think that Italian culture will be a lot more relaxed compared to the culture that we have in the US. Especially since we are traveling during summertime I think we will get a really good glimpse at how Italians can relax and take in the world. I'm not sure if I have any preconceived notions about Italy and Italians specifically but I think I may with Europe. I think that I tend to think they are less work oriented and more family oriented. From my own experience in Europe and from the things I have heard from friends and family I think that the the trip will be very eye opening and that I will learn a lot of new things. It will probably be a little bit scary to be in a country where I am not familiar with the language or the customs. I'm sure there will be a little bit of an adjustment period and perhaps it will be a little bit scary. But overall I think that it is really important to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try new things. Traveling and staying in a cou...