Árdís - 01.01.1964, Page 28

26
ÁRDÍS
in the Poetto section less than two blocks from the sea. We spent
much time there trying to cool off as we found the climate very
hot. No one would attempt to lie on the beach without an umbrella
or a shade of some sort. The sun would burn one to a crisp, especial-
ly if one had been in the water which is very salty. From the
beach was plainly visible a peculiar formation in a low mountain
near by called the “Devil’s Saddle.”
Our son-in-law had pre-arranged everything for us including
his own holidays so that we might be together. After viewing the
principal places of interest in the city such as old churches, an ex-
cavated amphitheatre which held ten thousand people etc., we
drove north on very good roads to visit old Roman ruins at Nora.
On the way we were impressed by the many varieties of trees
and vegetation. The trees most outstanding in my mind are: the
cypress, the eucalyptus, the olive trees and the cork trees. The
people’s gardens and fruit orchards were fenced in with tall grow-
ing cactus plants or prickly pear. This seemed very practical as no
animal and much less a man would attempt to get through it!
These Roman ruins at Nora are at least two thousand years old. The
site was excavated of course and is not completed yet. Let me say
right here that for two main reasons progress in Sardinia has been
slow for many centuries. First malaria was very prevalent causing
lack of ambition and initiative among the inhabitants. The second
was banditry, especially in the mountainous regions on the east
coast. During the last world war the island was heavily bombed
by the Allies as it harbored an enemy base. To make amends for
the destruction the Allied nations sprayed the whole island to rid
it of malaria. Banditry has also ceased for the most part and the
island is experiencing a transformation of its economic and social
structure unequalled in its history. Land is being bought by
wealthy people such as: Aly Khan and Ingrid Bergman especially
on the beautiful east coast. Irrigation is to be seen all over and
good roads are being built. The old Roman ruins revealed an ancient
civilization with a water system and sewage, old stone roads,
temples and tiled floors. The tiles were very small but still showed
plainly the intricate design. There were many bath facilities, both
public and private, for which the Romans have been so noted. A
few days later we drove farther and this time we went to Barumini