Welcome to Cagliari

On the first day, I had difficulties connecting to the university wifi and my SIM card was not working. I embraced this disconnect as a moment to explore the city center to get my bearings. Cagliari has all the enchantment of a Mediterranean city and more. I relished in the small squares where families and friends take time to have coffee and aperitifs; the beautifully preserved historic stone architecture and the omnipresent street art. My favorite street art had an element of social commentary.

After a long day of travel, all I craved was seafood, pasta or both. I meandered from one restaurant to the next, gauging their popularity, whether the clientele seemed local or foreign, and whether the price range was reasonable. So filled with anticipation, I struggled to decide on a restaurant. As my hunger grew ever stronger, I had to buy a gelato to help tide me over. Gelateria Stefino, a hole-in-the-wall establishment in a small, central square, offers unique flavors such as zabaione, a custard-like dessert made from egg-yolks, sugar and sweet wine. As a child, I frequently ate zabione but never had I tasted zabaione gelato. A cone split between zabaione and nocciola seemed to be a good decision; however, the richness of the nocciola overpowered the delicate custard. I conversed in broken Italian with the ice cream server and asked him for a restaurant recommendation. He referred me to a restaurant near the marina, Anticca Cagliari. The restaurant was packed with locals, I tried to get a table but to no avail. Unable to bear my hunger any longer, I settled on Luigi Pomata, a restaurant down the road with an extensive offering of both seafood and pasta. The food was delicious, but heavy. For the past two years, I have observed a primarily plant-based diet, which I have decided to forgo for the duration of my travels. The emphasis the Cagliari diet places on meat, fish and cheese will be a large adjustment.

Tomorrow I intend to explore the San Benedetto Market, the largest covered fish market in Europe! I can hardly contain my excitement!