Australia’s Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains pic

Blue Mountains
Image: bluemts.com.au

A clinical psychologist, Jene Edwards, PhD, is experienced at treating patients who are victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Outside of work Dr. Jene Edwards, PhD, enjoys traveling, and one of the countries she has visited is Australia.

A popular tourist destination in Australia is the Blue Mountains region. A UNESCO World Heritage Area, it can be reached by car from Sydney with a travel time of around two hours; train and coach tours are also available. Huge eucalyptus trees densely covering the area produce a fine mist of oil that, combined with water vapor, dust particles, and sunlight, produce the blue haze that gives the area its name.

Accessible year-round, the Blue Mountains span 1 million hectares, featuring bushland, canyons, giant forests, waterfalls, rock formations, underground caves, cliffs, and a sandstone plateau towering 1,100 meters. The region has eight linked conservation areas where one can find aboriginal engravings, and outstanding scenic hiking areas through 140 kilometers of walking trails.

The region also boasts resorts, spas, and restaurants. Other tourist attractions include the Scenic Skyway gondola ride traversing Jamison Valley.

Authentic Italian Pizza

Pizza

Pizza

 

Jene Edwards works as a clinical psychologist in California. An avid traveler outside of work, Jene Edwards has enjoyed trips to numerous locations around the world, including Italy.

Known for its food made from fresh, local ingredients, Italy is famous for many dishes. On a list of Italian delicacies one will find pasta, gelato, risotto, tiramisu, coffee, and ravioli. Possibly one of the most famous of all Italian foods is the pizza.

Authentic Italian pizza is much different than its American counterpart. While American pizza is often thick and heavy, loaded down with shredded cheese and toppings, Italians prefer to keep their pizzas simple, with a crisp, flat crust and authentic ingredients such as sauce made from scratch, herbs from the garden, and fresh mozzarella cheese.

One of the most famous pizzas in Italy is the Margherita pizza, named after Italy’s Queen Margherita who visited a pizzeria in Naples in the late 1800s. Upon her arrival, the owner of the pizzeria made a simple pizza made with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil. The pizza, which featured the colors of the new Italian flag, was well received by the queen and grew in popularity throughout the country.

When traveling throughout Italy, pizza will feature regional twists and ingredients. Quattro formaggi, a four-cheese pizza, contains fresh mozzarella along with three local cheeses such as ricotta, gorgonzola, or Parmigiano-Reggiano. Pizza rustica, also very popular, is usually topped with marinated mushrooms, onions, and artichokes.