A few months ago I traveled to Sardinia, which is one of the world’s Blue Zones to uncover the secrets of how people live long and healthy lives. I had been speaking with different people about my dreams and goals, and again and again, they pointed me toward Golgo. Eventually, I met two incredible people that said they could bring me one day while I was there. They explained that Golgo isn’t a place you can simply walk to and we had to drive up very steep, winding and rough roads up the mountain to reach the plateau.
We drove up the mountains around 3pm to reach the Golgo Plateau which is nestled in a valley in between the mountains. We drove past animals roaming freely such as cows, boars, pigs, dogs, and donkeys that seemed to greet us upon our arrival. When we parked in front of the Church of San Pietro, I immediately felt the peace, serenity, and beauty that you can only experience if you visit this place yourself. It is very difficult to put into words how beautiful and peaceful this place was, as I stood there speechless, surrounded by ancient olive trees, while the sun shone directly on the Church of San Pietro against a backdrop of limestone and blue sky. I couldn’t help but think that the most simple things in life are often the most beautiful. The way the sun shone on the church surrounded by the mountains and God’s creatures roaming freely created an unbelievable and unique experience.
After walking around the church and admiring the trees, animals, and silence, we returned to the car so that my friends could take me to see the natural pools. As we were trying to back out, we were hindered by one of the donkeys that seemed to enjoy our company and did everything to prevent us from leaving. Even when we backed out in the car, the donkey did not want to move. We carefully backed out and tried to stay out of the donkey’s way. After maneuvering around the donkey, we drove to the natural pools. My friend mentioned that the pools were full, which was good for the animals, as they rely on them for drinking water. As we walked, we talked about movies, traveling, and television shows on netflix. She shared her love for the shows Orange Is the New Black and Grey’s Anatomy, and we continued wandering, taking in all that Golgo had to offer.
One of the most intriguing places they showed me was a sinkhole known as Su Terra. It is one of the deepest sinkholes in Europe, descending nearly 270 meters. The area was blocked off by a rail, though my friends told me it had not always been this way and that the sinkhole carries a deep and unsettling history. Some say that, in the past, elderly people, individuals with disabilities, and even those seeking to end their lives were thrown or drawn to this place. I wasn’t surprised by what I heard because while I was standing at the gate, I could feel a heaviness in the air, a darkness that suggested something terrible had once occurred there. After talking and observing for a moment, we quietly walked away and drove on to another part of Golgo.
We continued up a very rocky road and parked below our destination as the sun began to set. We then walked up the mountain, where I noticed an unique berry from the strawberry trees known as corbezzolo. I tasted a few and was surprised by how much I enjoyed them. The small, round berries were covered in fine spikes, while the inside was soft and seedy, with a texture and flavor that reminded me of lychee. I later learned that these strawberry trees also produce a rare honey, traditionally prized in Sardinia for its medicinal qualities. Many locals believe Sardinian honey carries healing properties, passed down through generations.
We continued to walk up to the Nuraghe Coa ‘e Serra. A nuraghe is an ancient stone tower and they are found all throughout Sardinia. We walked through this ancient structure, and I made some jokes about how I could “see some invaders in the distance,” because that is what they were used for. Nuraghi were built for specific purposes and placed in strategic locations where people lived and could see when invaders were approaching. I thought this was incredible. The structure was made entirely of stone, with thick walls and cylindrical shapes. As I stood there looking out into the distance, I could only imagine what it must have been like to live during a time when invaders truly came to take their land. Sardinians are very independent people, and they have had to work hard and fight for everything they have.
The beauty here in Sardinia is unlike anything I have ever seen in my life. It is peaceful and quiet, and as we walked back down, the sun was setting. We began to drive home and were led by a migration of donkeys (about 30 of them) that followed us down the rocky path as we left Golgo, almost as if they were wishing us goodbye.
What made this journey so special is the people I had the opportunity to spend it with. I was so lucky to meet such welcoming, fun, creative, and caring people that have inspired me in so many ways. My two friends have so much talent, intelligence, and most importantly warm empathetic hearts. They feel very deeply and love animals and nature more than anything. When I asked if they had dreams of traveling to certain places, she told me she wanted to travel to the national parks and she dreamed of The Big Sur in California and especially Yellowstone. They dreamed of going to Yellowstone and hopefully one day we can all make that trip together. I loved learning from them and we enjoyed each other’s company. It was like I have known them for a long time and our souls were just reconnecting again in a different life.
