Going to college in the U.S, the thought of spring break typically brings up images of Florida or Mexico. Being in Italy, with these options thousands of miles away, we had to think more out of the box when considering where to escape to after midterms. After careful consideration (and finding the cheapest flights imaginable with budget airlines) we settled on a two-stage trip. We would begin by staying on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa, and end our trip in Cagliari — the coastal capital of Sardinia.

The flight to the Canaries was long, and after four and a half hours in the air, the massive figure of Mt. Tiede, the third tallest volcano on Earth, jutting out above the clouds was a welcome sight. Landing in Tenerife was like landing on Mars, the red and brown rocky landscape in sharp contrast to the greenery of Tuscany. Our Airbnb in the beach town of Los Cristianos was in the last line of development, perched on the side of the rocky hills. Facing south was the ocean and to the north was barren desert. A tourist town, you couldn’t walk a hundred yards in Los Cristianos without bumping into a sign advertising Irish beer or English breakfasts, and the population seemed to be wholly made up of northern European ex-pats. Tenerife is known for its incredible beaches and it did not disappoint, especially the beach of Los Gigantes which looks to be straight out of a postcard with its black sand and stunning cliffside backdrop.

After exploring the beaches of Tenerife, we were off to Sardinia to see what Cagliari had to offer. We were not disappointed. The city of Cagliari has 250,000 people but has all of the friendliness and intimacy of a small town. The barista at our cafe in the morning remembered our names and orders and every local we encountered seemed eager to share their city with us. In addition to more stunning beaches in Cagliari, the hiking was incredible as well. Just east of the city and accessible by public transport is a fantastic hiking trail with views of the port, the mountains and ancient ruins. After long days spent exploring the city and surrounding natural beauty, we had no trouble finding outstanding restaurants to nourish our bodies and spirits. The local cuisine was heavy on fresh seafood and was accented by the pane carasau, a Sardinian flatbread eaten before the meal, and the typical Sardinian dessert, seadas, a cheese-filled pastry covered in honey. Spring break abroad breaks the mold of a traditional spring break in the United States and allows for the discovery of new and interesting places, as well as the opportunity to eat some great food!