Franca arrived at Launceston Airport happy and smiling ready to commence the challenge of becoming an “Aussie” for six months. We soon discovered that she could not speak English, having learnt French as her second language at her Italian school. So the English/Italian dictionary became very useful as did sign language and pen and paper. In a few short weeks Franca was speaking and writing English – a great deal of credit must be given to her teachers at her new Tasmanian school the wonderful Newstead College. There were many International students at Newstead College and the only way they could communicate was with the “International” language English.
Franca was just 17 she arrived at our home – she was a beautiful teenager, happy, charming, outgoing and gregarious hey she is Italian! Franca had a great desire to learn all about Australia and in particular Tasmania and displayed maturity beyond her years. How many 17 year olds would appreciate the beautiful farming country, our unique native animals, our pristine wilderness – Franca did and she developed a great love for the work of Peter Dombrovkis which is now one of her much loved books back home in Italy.
Franca made a huge success of her stay in Tasmania – every one who met her was suitably charmed and all her new Tasmanian friends remember her.

Sardinia.

Sardinia is a beautiful and fascinating island steeped in history beyond my belief. I was fortunate enough to spend three weeks with Franca and her family in Sardinia July 2000 – three weeks of the most amazing experiences I am likely to encounter in my life. What really blew me away was the history of the island which dates back to the Nuraghic people from the early Bronze Age (1500BC) To walk around these huge stone Nuraghic buildings still standing today was an amazing feeling and made me think how they were built, the skills they had for them to remain standing 3,500 years later, such is the history.
To visit ancient cities like beautiful Alghero (one of my very favourite places on earth) with it’s old Spanish architecture, old cobble stoned streets, the huge forts and stone defences built around the city centre to protect it from sea invaders, it’s magnificent beaches and sparkling seas now make it one of the great holiday attractions in Sardinia.
To visit Cagliari the capital city in the south of Sardinia with it’s Roman influence, the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Nora and the beautiful Pula beach nearby will never be forgotten.
Many of the older buildings are naturally churches – for instance St Pietro's at Borutta was built in 1112, Nostra del Regno at Ardara was built in 1065 and the magnificent Basilica de Saccargia with it’s black and white stone built in 1116.

Pecorino Sardo cheese made from sheeps milk

Sardinia like Tasmania is renowned for it’s fine wine and foods. As mentioned Pecorino cheese is a very important export as are the Sardinian wines. Pecorino Sardo cheese is protected by International law and can only be produced in Sardinia from ewe’s milk. Fruit and vegetables are also a very important export. Cagliari is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in Italy and beautiful seafood can be enjoyed in many parts of Sardinia. It is also a little known fact that Sardinia is one of the largest cork producers in the world. The cork trees grow wild and the cork harvesters come to Pietro’s farm every eight years and harvest the cork from the trees – this must be a welcome bonus to look forward to.
Sardinia like Tasmania has had problems with enough water for domestic and farm use and is an on going problem.
Pietro and Silvestra make a popular Sardinian drink called Mirto Liquore, which is very nice and very strong (28% alcohol) whilst Sardinian beer is very good. I have to admit that no wine compares with our Australian wines, for me the Italians do not chill the white wine enough.

Three years on and Franca is now 21 and about to complete her second year at the University of Torino in the north of Italy. Silvestra is still missing her daughter a great deal as one would expect with the close knit Italian family culture. Franca looks forward to Christmas, Easter and the long mid year vacation to return to her beloved Sardinia to be with family and friends.
To me the memories of Sardinia are as clear and strong today as they were when I was on the island, the history, the beauty and the friendly Sardi people will never be forgotten. The hospitality and kindness of Pietro and Silvestra and their families was quite overwhelming and something I will always remember and appreciate. I only hope one day I can return – if it were not for that “bloody” Italian language I would have returned to see my Sardi friends.