Field Study Trip

A short description of a journey to the British island from two travelers         

After six trembling months, filled with preparations, gatherings of information and nervous expectation, the 26th of September has finally arrived. There we stood, in front of hotel Alpi, still tired from the early waking and also shaking, because of the wind blowing through Bolzano at 7 o clock. Then, at 7.15, the moment of departure came; we waved our good bye, and entered the vehicle, which should bring us to our first stage, the airport Milan- Malpensa. So, while we were dozing, clanging ourselves with music, chatting, looking bored out of the window, playing silly games, it seemed, like the four and a half hours we took to arrive there,  were over in  next to no time, only interrupted by few toilet- breaks. Although it wasn’t easy to pass the security check, we managed to get to the airplane safely, complete and replete from our lunch. After a nerve wrecking flight (just kiddingJ), we reached Cardiff airport. But our journey wasn´t over yet; we still had to cross the whole welsh country, driving to our destination: Dale Fort Field Centre, our home for the next four days.                               

The next day we immediately started with our workshops, but not before we were equipped with extra stylish, two sizes too big, deliciously smelling wellingtons and waterproofs; not to mention the amazing colour J. Those were our lifesavers for the next few hours: We namely had to deal with the absolutely dangerous and slippery saltmarsh.  Before we could start our scientific research about vegetation we had to cross the so called River of Doom, a stinky, muddy bog, where it was easy to get stuck. And of course, that’s what happened. But there was our knight in shining armour, or rather our tutor/teacher Rhys in a red, waterproof jumpsuit, who pulled us out of the slush. After this wonderful experience, we drove on a curvy street, passing the green pastureland and numerous hills to our next adventure: The cliffs of Stackpole. Although we learned a lot of English, it’s impossible to describe this amazing landscape, which was formed during the last thousands of years. So we wandered along the coast, astonished of the beautiful rock formations, while the wild sea hit the cliffs with incredible strength.

Extremely curious, what new things we would encounter the second day, we woke up. It was a misty, moist morning, when we went down to the Rocky Shore. There we made a few scientific investigations, and met our new best friends: crabs in every forms, colours and sizes; aggressive females, hyperactive Vampires and little shy ones. Our friendship deepened even more in the afternoon, when we tried to catch them from the ocean bed with little pieces of delicious, raw bacon. This activity was only interrupted by an incredible, adrenergic boat trip with Rhys. While we nearly flew over the gigantic waves, we felt free like a seagull, on top of the world, unstoppable. We wished it would never end.

Then, our last day at Dale Fort came: It was the Project day, where we could decide, on what scientific topic we would make some research. As it happens, all of our three groups were so fascinated by the lovely crabs that they became the main subject of our occupations. But it was really exhausting for the poor crustaceans: They had to run, to eat, and didn’t get enough oxygen. So, it was logical that their effort was low and that the results didn’t meet our expectations. At the end we set them free, without any physical harm, and hopefully they’re able to deal with their traumaJ.

To round everything off we tasted local specialties, like salty seaweed and cockles in vinegar dressing, which were both extremely delicious, and something that you should eat as wellJ.

It was a wonderful last evening, which we spend on the viewing platform, where we could hear the roaring of the sea and see the sparkling of the stars.

Faster than we could have imagined and wanted, the last day, when we had to go back to Bozen, arrived. We would miss so much about Wales, the cliffs, the crabs, the Field Centre… But there was one thing that really gave us nostalgia: The food. It was not as bad as they say. It was worse. And so we came back to Bolzano, ate a big slice of cake and dreamed about our Field Study week in Wales.

Franziska Jud, Sonja Cappello (3a)