“There is something perfect to be found in the imperfect: the law keeps balance through the juxtaposition of beauty, which gains perfection through nurtured imperfection.”
― Dejan Stojanovic
This is my response to the weekly photo challenge: juxtaposition.
“In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.” Dante Alighieri
I certainly lost myself in this lovely wooded forest in Aggius, Sardinia.
This is my response to the weekly travel theme: wood.
Hand-crafted silver bladed knives, in every size from the heart of Sardinia – Mamoiada.
Upon further investigation I have found that Opinel knives originate from France. Can anyone of my followers confirm this? A few months ago I made the voyage to Mamoiada and noticed this display outside a shop window. The three knives under the Opinels look like they were made in Sardinia. My husband has a small collection and they resemble these.
This is my response to the Weekly Travel Theme: Silver.
I’m not going to lie. I love Cannonau so much that it runs through my veins like blood. Heck, even Dr. Oz spoke about the health benefits of the Cannonau variety on his show – stating that if you drink Cannonau you could live to 100 years of age! I must admit, the amount of Cannonau I’ve drunk in the last week will skyrocket me to 200 years of age!
Cannonau grape varieties are the most common variety found on the island. All Cannonau must be made with 90% Cannonau grapes to be certified with the Cannonau name. Cannonau is aged in oak barrels for one year before gracing tables with its strong elegance.
Cagnulari 2010 – Alghero, Sardinia, Italy. This is a rare grape type grown in the north-western part of Sardinia and is used to produce a sexy, full-bodied red wine. This variety is seldom found outside of Sardinia and considered a regional speciality. Be sure to try it!
Terre Rare 2010 – Alghero, Sardinia, Italy. This grape variety was introduced to Sardinia by Provence or eastern Spain. Carignano del Sulcis vines grow abundantly in the south-west corner of Sardinia.
Cannonau di Sardegna 2010 – Alghero, Sardinia, Italy. Sardinia’s most popular variety is this sensuous full-bodied wine. Some say the Cannonau grape variety was introduced by the Spaniards in the 1400′s during Spanish rule. Others argue that Cannonau is indigenous to Sardinia. It doesn’t matter who is right in this battle, as one thing remains clear: Cannonau is one spectacular wine not to be missed on the island of Sardinia.
The last three months of 2013 were absolute hell for me, I’m glad 2014 is here and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a healthy new year. At the beginning of October I came down with ‘colpo d’aria’ which roughly translates into a ‘stiff neck’. Now, this wasn’t just a little stitch in my neck it was a HUGE pain in my ass neck; you know the kind where your ear is glued to your shoulder and any movement you make sends shivering, painful shocks down your neck, back and arms. Heck, even sitting on the toilet was painful.
Then, I came down with a head cold which lasted two weeks. All that sneezing didn’t help the pain in my neck. By the middle of October my stiff neck was finally back to normal but I was still suffering from a serious bout of influenza which was now attacking my chest and lungs – I was a beautiful snotty, coughing mess.
Protecting myself from potential viruses.
By mid-November I was slowly getting back to my normal healthy self when I caught a nasty stomach virus which lasted a good three weeks. I thank the heavens above that I didn’t spill the contents of my stomach but the pain was enough to send me to the doctor for antibiotics, which I was instructed to take for a month. I dutifully took my medication and was beginning to feel better, at least I was finally eating full meals and enjoying a little Nutella on the side.
Just when I thought I was getting back to normal; one early, dark morning I awoke to make the morning coffee when the coffee pot fell from its perch on the stove sending the boiling contents down the top of my leg and onto the side of my calf. You can read all about it here, it was horrible. I couldn’t walk, sleep or shower for a good two weeks and the pain was incredible!
Four days after the scalding accident, I stubbornly threw on a pair of old track pants and limped into town for coffee at my favourite bar. It was nice chatting and catching up with some friends I hadn’t seen in a few weeks due to my illnesses. As I made my way out of the bar I slammed my thumb in the door causing blood to splatter on the door and the side of my good leg. I cried, and hid in the bathroom for a few minutes until I gathered enough courage to limp back home.
During the Christmas holidays I discovered a womanly problem that only a doctor could diagnose. The following morning I made my way down to the local doctor and this is what happened:
Me: Buongiorno.
Doc: Buongiorno.
Me: Oh, um … Dr. Fantastic isn’t in today?
Doc: No, he is on holiday and will be back on the 4th. You can leave and come back then if you prefer.
I wasn’t mentally prepared to tell this very young and rather stubborn doctor my womanly problem. I was used to Dr. Fantastic, who usually visits me in my home if I call him and smiles and laughs and makes me feel comfortable. This temporary doctor had me flustered from the moment I walked into the office.
Me: Okay. Um. I have a little problem, here, and I think I need to take an exam.
Doc: Who sent you here?
Me: Uhh, huh? No one sent me here, I came on my own. I found this little problem and maybe I need to have an exam done.
Doc: Okay, but who sent you here?
Seriously, at this point I wanted to sucker punch him. What was he trying to get at with this question? I was beginning to think I was in the wrong office – it felt all Godfather-ish.
Me: Umm, uhh. No one sent me here. However, I would like to have an exam done please.
Doc: Yes, but I asked you WHO sent you here?
Me: No one told me to come here, no one! This is a doctor’s office right? And you are a doctor, correct? I have a problem, please …
Doc: WHO SENT YOU HERE?
Internally I made this face at the doctor.
At this point I was a little freaked out and wished my husband was with me, cause one swift look from Hub the doc would have shut his idiotic trap.
Me: Listen. Dr. Fantastic is my doctor. I live in this town and I have a health problem.
Doc: What is your name?
Me: Jennifer Avventura.
Doc: Write it down.
He quickly throws a pen and paper in my direction and I write my name down.
Doc: So, what is your problem?
Me: I’ve already told you, three times!
Doc: Oh, then you will need an ultrasound?
Me: I don’t know what type of exam I need. I am not a doctor, you are.
He rudely types away at the computer, then the printer starts. Dr. Stronzo throws the la ricetta medica in my direction and tells me to have a nice day.
Without an examination!
More in the Learning Italian series can be found here:
“The window to the universe opens inward and outward.” Daniel Lee Edstrom
This is my response to the weekly photo challenge: window.
Okay, so my version of illuminated is probably the polar opposite of your illuminated with bright lights and bright skies, but let me explain: I’ve wanted to visit this little pond for six years, as from the road you can see an inkling of water – and yesterday my six-year dream came true. I was illuminated with excitement and giggles like a child when I found this pure white swan, I jumped up and down and sang “Duck, Duck, Goose” as I ran around the pond with my hands up in the air. Needless to say my heavily embarrassed Sard stayed in the car laughing his butt off while this lovely goose followed me around the pond honking.
You can find this pond in the quaint little town of Aggius.
This is my response to the weekly travel theme: illuminated.
Several bloggers from around the world have documented their skies and questioned themselves on the same thing I find myself questioning – chemical trails or simply contrails?
I’ve photographed Sardinia’s stunning blue sky and documented my past findings here, here and here. I’m back today to show you a new discovery which made me open my eyes wide open and continue to seek answers.
The following is a lovely photograph showing you how beautiful and blue the sky in Sardinia is when the jets are not busy making tic-tac-toe boards.
And here, you will see the same view of the Bay of Asinara with one LARGE exception … the sky is filled with trails left by jets completely blanketing the sky. Underneath all that mess you can see the blue, blue natural sky trying to breathe.
These two photos were taken forty-eight hours apart and the difference is disgusting and staggering. Why do some trails dissipate after sometime, while other trails grow in size thus changing the atmosphere from a beautiful blue day to a seemingly hazy day?
A few months ago I took a nice drive to the center of Sardinia and found this graffiti:
Now, I’m not sure what the artist was trying to say. Do they believe chemtrails are real or are just a conspiracy theory? This is something only the author will know. I did, however, spot two of these graffiti while in the center of Sardinia.
I understand the contrails, and watch them dissipate from my front window. It’s those chemtrails which leave perplexed and wanting answers. I am neither a scientist nor a nephologist. I’m just a woman watching the curious sky.
Only in Sardinia …
This week has been exceptionally beautiful with temps reaching 20 degrees; perfect for beach hikes!
How’s the weather in your neck of the woods? I promise I won’t laugh. 😉
“You and I are essentially infinite choice-makers. In every moment of our existence, we are in that field of all possibilities where we have access to an infinity of choices.” – Deepak Chopra
“Fortunately for children, the uncertainties of the present always give way to the enchanted possibilities of the future.” – Gelsey Kirkland
This is my response to the weekly travel theme: possibility.
My Sardinian Life 