Green are the farmer’s pastures where animals lazily graze. Sardinia, Italy.
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Weekly Photo Challenge: Green
11
Monthly Archives: November 2012
Notes from 1997 | An Australian Maverick
This is a second installment on my series Notes from 1997. To read the first chapter click here. Enjoy.
“Bondi beach stop,” yelled the handsome bus driver in his smooth Australian accent. I didn’t want to get off that bus … because the driver was the spitting image of Tom Cruise from the 1986 film Top Gun. With his silver aviator shades and black tussle hair he gave me a slight wink as I gathered my backpack and headed for the exit. Images of being whisked away in fighter jets to exotic locations around the world while Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone played in the background; I found my young head disrupted and my motor skills failed.
“Ma’am, you okay?” He grabbed me by the elbow and helped me up. “Uh – thanks. Just got in yesterday, I’m a little jet lagged.”
“Welcome to Australia. Is this your stop – Bondi Beach?” Was it my stop? I couldn’t even remember what day it was; he was nice and über cute in a young Tom Cruise-ish way and a sex-bomb – eat your heart out Kelly Mcgillis.
“Yes, yes, this is my stop. Thank you.” Embarrassed I turned to get one last look at his beautiful Australian perfection. His blue bus driver uniform was perfectly pressed, probably thanks to Momma; his arm muscles bulged under his shirt; his chest muscles, pumped from hours at the gym and his name tag read – Maverick.
My eyes did not deceive me. I read it right and I read it twice – Maverick. I tried to look through his aviator shades at his eyes as the sun reflected the twinkle that was already displayed in his smile. He smiled a beautiful smile as I swung my backpack over my shoulder and asked “You’re name is Maverick? You look like …” He didn’t give me a chance to finish “Maverick is my nickname on the bus my real name is Tom Crusher.” He held out his rugged, tanned hand.
“Well, nice to meet you T-T-Tom.” I held out my hand – goshdarnnit he was beautifully beautiful. “If you’d like to get a drink sometime … here’s my card.” I handed him my business/travel card which was complete with email, Canadian address, Mom’s phone number and a huge Canadian Maple Leaf image.
“I feel the need …” His pause was dramatic and the heavy sighs from the bus patrons grew with each passing moment. I pinched myself, this is not a movie – this is for real; he feels the need to … oh god! I’m never leaving Australia or this bus.
“I feel the need for speed. Do you like Harley Davidson’s – you know the 
motorcycle? If ya do … I’d like to take you on a tour of Sydney, on the back of my hog. How about tomorrow? It’s my day off; we could pack a light picnic and check out the sights on the other side of the harbour.”
“I do feel the need, the need for speed. Tomorrow sounds great! Where shall we meet?” My heart pulsated and my knees grew weak for tomorrow could not come fast enough.
“I’ll pick you up, right here, at this bus stop. I’ll be here at eleven-thirty. I look forward to seeing you. Oh – and wear those jeans.”
Applause erupted from within the bus, romantic hope applause or hurry up and get off the bus applause, it didn’t matter.
“Eleven-thirty, I’ll be here … in these jeans and don’t forget those specks and you can leave your cowboy boots on.”
I walked off the bus to the rush of fresh salt air; beach-goers busied themselves burying umbrella poles in the sand when I heard the sound of the closing bus doors. I raised my hand to wave goodbye. Maverick beeped the buses’ horn, smiled a Cheshire smile, waved and drove away.
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I hope you enjoyed the story. I am open to positive critique, thank you for reading.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal
The Reality and 100% Affidabile (Reliable) Blog Awards
I am overwhelmed that people from all over the world tune in to read the tales from My Sardinian Life. Thank you, World! When I started this blog, two years ago, it was with the sole intention to share my photos and daily life with my family and friends who are scattered all over the globe. It was also an outlet to try on my writer’s voice and publish some of the songs and poetry that I’d kept locked up tight.
Travel Theme: Soft
Soft felines, flowers and donkeys.
New kitten in town.
Soft little kitties spreading messages of hope.
Soft donkeys in Sardinia
Lest we forget
Hey – I’m getting my soft on … leave me alone!
Soft cat hats hide in the box.
Soft cool black cat
Soft … huh? What’s this flower’s name?
Soft flutterbyes fly on by.
This is my response to Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Soft.
40 ways you know you’ve lived in Sardinia too long
I recently read a hilarious meme on Eupedia titled: you know you’ve lived in Italy too long when... It was an awesome read and made me think about the past five years of my life; holed up in small-town Sardinia. So, I decided to write a list about living in Sardinia, Italy.
40 ways you know you’ve lived in Sardinia too long
- Time ceases to exist in all matters of urgency and you learn patience really is a virtue.
- You talk with your hands and a few facial expressions to get your daily bread.
- The deli clerk, butcher, bartender and painter know what colour your underwear is.
- You don’t care when people push in front of you while waiting in line as you now have this iron clad patience.
- You hear multiple gunshots go off in the near distance signalling that it’s October & hunting season has begun.
- Casu Marzu intrigues you and you are tempted to ask the local shepherd about it but can’t stomach the thought.
- You notice a community poster stating that construction will begin on your street in a months time. The following morning construction begins.
- You find a job and work like a horse only to be paid months down the road.
- You go for a 6k run and finally have the courage to flip the finger and shout asshole to anyone that drives past you faster than 30mph.
- You get irritable if you miss your 3 hour siesta.
- You stop comparing prices against the Canadian dollar because fuck, everything is expensive on an island, in Italy.
- You foolishly believe that Sardinia is a country on to her own and are shocked by the shenanigans of the ‘mainlanders.’
- You drink only purified spring water from the mountains high up because plastic bottled water freaks you out.
- You walk 3km up-hill to collect this precious spring water; carrying 10 litres on your back on the way back down-hill.
- You say ‘only if He permits’ as you gaze sky-wards when old ladies ask you why you’ve not created life.
- You carry little old ladies groceries home from the supermarket, cause well, they remind you of your Nana.
- You speak more of the local dialect than you do in the national language.
- You hitchhike and people pick you up because you’re that crazy Australian, American, Canadian girl and they want to know more about you.
- You are a converted espresso drinker; you drink three cups of espresso before 11am.
- You realize that one mirto is okay but two mirto will knock you out for days.
- You go mushroom hunting in the mountains and step in cow dung; you don’t squeal like a girl because tonight you are cooking a mushroom risotto for 8 people.
- You go wild asparagus hunting and fend off wild dogs with a stare down.
- You eat pecorino cheese for breakfast, lunch and dinner because it’s just that good.
- You don’t own a cell phone because all your friends & family are on Skype.
- You have no real girlfriends here because they are all jealous of your Australian, American, Canadian heritage.
- You show up an hour late to every appointment because that’s just the way the cookie crumbles in Italy.
- You are scheduled for a pap smear while menstruating and when you try to protest the doctor asks you – what’s your problem?
- You pay €100 for every gynaecologist visit which lasts seven minutes and involves two doctors a nurse and your husband.
- You befriend every local cat, kitten and dog even when the locals tell you not to.
- Other expats reach out to you who are living/lived in Sardinia and they confirm that it’s not easy to live & work in Sardinia.
- You have a few haters because of your blog; they want you to shut the hell up and stop talking smack about the reality of living on a small island in the Med.
- After 5 years you realize the grass is the same colour all over the world.
- You receive baked goods, canned goods, fresh fruit & vegetables instead of iStuff for Christmas, Thanksgiving and your birthday.
- You stop a friendship with an elderly man because he asks you how many times you “lay under your husband.”
- You hear and see jet fighter planes that soar too low and think the world is coming to an end and hide under the bed for the rest of the afternoon.
- You wear the same clothes for five days in a row and sometimes sleep in them.
- You refuse to work for € 3.90 an hour because it’s unethical and against your Australian, American, Canadian rights.
- You are chastised for refusing the above payment – you should be grateful to even have a job at all – but you aren’t.
- You pee in the bushes, even on the side of the road and you don’t care who see’s you.
- You respond to yes questions with Eja and say Ajo all the time.
Did you laugh out loud at any of these points? Which ones? Tell me below.
Travel Theme: A Bright Sardinian Pomegranate
Sardinian pomegranates are ripe for picking. They are bright, delicious and have been a symbol of prosperity and hope, all over the world for centuries.
Did you know?
During the Persian wedding ceremony, a basket of pomegranates is placed on the ceremonial cloth to symbolize a joyous future. In Turkey, after the marriage ceremony, the bride throws a pomegranate on the ground. The number of arils that fall out are believed to indicate how many children she will have. In Crete, when a bride enters her new home, the groom hands her a pomegranate. In China, a picture of a ripe, open pomegranate is a popular wedding present, expressing the wish, “May you have as many children as there are seeds!”¹
I love pomegranates; when I was a child I remember my mother bringing this brightly coloured fruit home; always an Autumn fruit and always perfect. I devoured every last aril, often staining my fingers, table-cloth, face and fingers in the process. It was a delicious childhood.
Did you know?
Pomegranates are a SUPER food. That’s right, this brightly coloured fruit is packed with vitamin C, potassium AND it’s a fantastic source of protein.
Are you searching for a pomegranate recipe? Look no further – I’ve done the searching for you. Check out this awesome site POMEGRANATES Recipes which is full of delicious pomegranate recipes from main courses to desserts and drinks. I will definitely be trying the grilled eggplant with pomegranate sauce recipe.
Pomegranate Art in HDR
Tips on peeling a pomegranate:
Do not wear white!
This is my response to the weekly travel theme from Ailsa – Bright
How do you like your pomegranate?
Related articles:
Pomegranate yogurt Parfait via Jillian in Italy
Source¹: Say “I Do” to pomegranates
Weekly Photo Challenge: Geometry
I got a little funky in Photoshop, for this week’s photo challenge – Geometry.
To tip or not to tip in Italy?
In one of my online expat forums a few good questions about tipping in Italy were posted: Do we tip in Italy? What is the coperto? Why did the restaurant automatically add 15%?
A tip (also called a gratuity) is a sum of money tendered to certain service sector workers for a service performed or anticipated. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry.¹
This is a rare sight in Italy but I found it at one restaurant just yesterday.
Many travelers who are from countries where tipping is customary; and are visiting non-tipping countries are often left wondering – to tip or not to tip? I’ve seen graphs from five years ago, stating that it’s customary to tip 10% (in addition to a service charge) in Italian restaurants. I disagree with this, five years ago and today. We have never left a 10% tip in any restaurant in Italy and I know other Italians who never tip the 10% which is stated in these charts.
To tip or not to tip? That is the question on everyone’s mind.
Do we tip in Italy?
There is really no straight forward answer to this. If it’s in your means to tip, then tip; but make sure that the hotel or restaurant has not already included an automatic service charge to your bill. Read all fine print.
I worked in a fancy hotel/restaurant this past summer and on occasion the customer did slip a few €10’s into my pocket. The tips came from the Brits and Italians – two countries not accustomed to tipping but they tipped anyway. I’ve also worked in a little coffee-house, not one tip, ever.
What is a coperto?
The coperto perfectly translated means cover charge. Most restaurants add an automatic, per person coperto. The €1-3 coperto is charged for taking up space in the restaurant; it goes towards the cleaning of the linens, glassware and sometimes it’s divided among the staff.
In Sardinia the average coperto is €2.50. From up-scale, posh restaurants to Mom and Pop diners with paper place-mats and plastic cutlery will charge the coperto. Be sure to check the small print on your menu. Some regions in Italy have tried to ban the coperto but to no avail. It still exists and people are still paying it.
Why did the restaurant add and automatic 15% to my bill at a restaurant in Venice, Florence or Rome?
The truth – you’re a tourist and they know it. Most locals are not given the automatic 10-15% when they dine in these tourist spots. However it’s illegal … unless it is written in the menu.
What is the difference between a service charge and the coperto?
A service charge is based on the customers discretion of service rendered. The service charge is divided among the wait staff, bartenders, kitchen staff and sometimes even the management. Generally the service charge is an extra 10-15% of your total bill.
A coperto is an automatic charge that goes towards the cleaning and repairing of linens, glassware and taking up space in a restaurant. Between €1-3.
What if the restaurant added a 15% service charge and the coperto?
Be sure to read all the fine print on the menu before handing the menu back to the staff. Then be ready to fight it, if you have it in you. It’s illegal and they are taking advantage of the unknowing tourist.
What to look for on the menu or bill:
Aggiungere – To add
10-15% automaticamente aggiunto per servizio.
10-15% automatically added for service.
Coperto – cover charge
I have never tipped extra in the 5 years I have lived in Sardinia. We didn’t tip extra when we went to Rome or Padova. Why? Because of the coperto. If we are dining with 10 friends at a fabulous restaurant by the sea the total coperto charge will come to €25. That’s a lot of extra money for cleaning linens or replacing broken glassware. Generally in a posh place the wage it somewhat higher than say a beach bar. Some servers in these posh establishments will take offence at your extra tip.
However – if you find yourself at a wonderful wooden beach bar which is packed with tourists, generally there is no coperto. The staff in these type of establishments make poor, poor wages.
How do I know this?
I was offered to work in such a beach bar this year and was offered the following:
€1000 a month; 7 days a week; 8-10 hours a day for 5 months (May-September is high season in Italy.) Pretty crappy, eh? So, tip that bartender or waitress who has run around making fancy cocktails and bringing you the local beer. They will be grateful.
To tip or not to tip in Italy? That’s up to you – the traveler, businessperson, backpacker or tourist. Just remember to read all the fine print otherwise you may find that you’ve been double charged a service fee.
What is the custom of tipping in your country?
Source: Wikipedia¹
Related articles from around the globe:
How to order like a local at restaurants in Portugal
How much to tip the waitress in Hawaii
Final voting in the 2012 Canadian blog awards
Check out my awesome new Nominee badge for the 2012 Canadian Blog Awards! Thanks to everyone that helped me get this far now I have just one more small favour to ask – help me win it!
Final voting for the 2012 Canadian blog awards runs from November 1st, 2012 to December 1st, 2012.
My Sardinian Life is nominated for Best Travel & Expat Blog. Please help me to reach my dream in winning this Canadian award, eh!
CLICK HERE TO VOTE
You will be whisked away to Jonathan Kleiman’s site to vote. He’s the wonderful Toronto business lawyer who founded this award for Canadian bloggers – all over the world. Thank you, Jonathan.
Once on the Canadian Blog Awards page; scroll down and on the bottom right hand corner is the category: Best Travel and Expat Blog. Click to open, select My Sardinian Life and click VOTE!
The competition is fierce; from local travelers in Nova Scotia to a newfound expat friend in China. I am overwhelmed to be in the same group as these fabulous travelers, bloggers and photographers.
Thank you all, for your wonderful support over the last two years. If it wasn’t for your comments and words of encouragement – I would have given up long ago. You have all humbled me. Blessed be.
Thank you for voting.
My Sardinian Life 