When nostalgia gets the better of me, I turn to her …
Sardinia!
Inside Sardinia – Feelings of Nostalgia
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Author Archives: Jennifer Avventura
New life, New blog
I’ve had a few long time followers of My Sardinian Life email me asking how I’m doing in the great white north, and if I’m blogging about it. The good news is that YES, I am blogging about Victoria, Canada and you can check it out here:
Victoriaology – by Jennifer Avventura
The sights, sounds and adventures of my new life in Victoria, BC, Canada.
My latest post on this beautiful city is about stealing sunshine and how Victoria and Sardinia are very similar. I hope you have the time to stop by and check it out – even give Victoriaology a follow.
A big shout out to those that have emailed me about my new life here in Victoria, I am eternally grateful and wish you well.
A heavy price tag for Sardinian Gold – San Giuliano Extra Virgin Olive Oil
I found an out-of-the-way Italian food import store the other day, and decided to check it out as I was craving flavours from the Med. The prices are very similar to the prices in Sardinia, Italy and I’m aware that on most products we are also paying an import fee.
Colour me surprised when I found my all-time favourite Sardinian extra virgin olive oil.
San Giuliano Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Alghero, Sardinia, Italy
One litre of San Giuliano Olive Oil
3 litres of fine Sardinian Olive Oil
I’m biased; I just can’t get enough of San Giuliano’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and when the time is right, I will pay those hefty import fees for something I so admire. It makes my mouth water and heart sing. It’s the perfect complement to any dish and heck yeah, it’s made in Sardinia.
Have you tried this delicious olive oil?
A wrote a little article for a big on-line magazine
I’m proud to have been included in the quarterly on-line magazine known as Insiders Abroad. It’s a magazine from the English-speaking community with inside information and a yellow page directory for Italy, Spain and France.
It was such a pleasure to write a piece for this established on-line magazine that I burst with joy and did the happy dance all over the cobblestone streets of Sardinia.
You can delightfully view the colourful on-line magazine here:
A BIG thank you to the Insiders Abroad team for featuring my article in the magazine.
A retired expat
It has taken me months to come to terms with this difficult decision, weeks to accept its fate and countless hours on how I would pen a letter to the island and islanders who opened their hearts and doors to the expat Canadian who tried to make it work.
My fingers linger over the keyboard, trying to find the right momentum, trying to find the right words while internally I struggle. Continue reading
Weekly Photo Challenge: A Sardinian Perspective
Meet Floppy and his Ass.
A wonderful perspective into the lives of two beastly friends.
This is my response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Abandoned in Sardinia
“Art is never finished, only abandoned.” Leonardo da Vinci
“Basic human contact – the meeting of eyes, the exchanging of words – is to the psyche what oxygen is to the brain. If you’re feeling abandoned by the world, interact with anyone you can.” Martha Beck
This is my response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Abandoned.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Threes never a crowd in Sardinia
It was an overcast and cold February afternoon when I looked out my living-room window.
The panorama leaves me breathless, always wanting more. The sheep gracefully grazed their afternoon snack while wild boars were secretly and quietly coming out of hiding. It’s not often we get to see a wild boar roaming free in these hilly lands but this day was a Sunday and more often than not they come out on this day just to torture the hunter who tries so skillfully to kill them.
Mom and Pop hung their heads low not sure in which direction the next shot will blow. When the coast was all clear, they gathered their young not knowing were the next hunter might appear.
Delightfully in tow, not one, nor two, not three nor four, not even five could keep this tribe happily revived. There were six in all, following along the safety of mother’s hooves step. They were gone in a flash, deep in the bush leaving but a line of silhouettes.
This is my response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Threes.
“In a nutshell, a three-picture story is a way to help you think about storytelling with images. To create a three-picture story, gather:
- An establishing shot: a broad photo of your subject.
- A relationship: two elements interacting with one another.
- A detail: a close-up of one part of your subject.”
How often do wild boars gaze in your front yard?
Learning Italian: The verb to like
Welcome back for another installment of Learning Italian with Jennifer Avventura. This week we take a close look at the verb to like – Piacere. I hate this verb with every fiber in my being. I started to study Italian 5 years ago using a fabulous work book called Italian Now Level 1 by Marcel Danesi and I have just dusted it off in hopes to get this one verb mastered. This book has been a god send and I recommend it to anyone who is just beginning to learn Italian.
Piacere – to like
I’m tired of asking people “piace?” when I should say “ti piace” or “vi piace” depending on whom I’m speaking to.
Then things get really confusing if the noun is plural, not only do you have to change the article, you also have to change the noun and the verb! In English we have one article ‘the,’ however, in Italian there are seven and they are gender specific – il, i, lo, l’, gli, la, le.
Here’s a little exercise I did using the verb ‘piacere.’
Can you see all the eraser marks? It wasn’t an easy chapter to master and I’m still learning the basics of this very difficult verb.
Here’s a little hint:
Are you left confused by all this madness? Don’t worry, so am I.
Non mi piace il verbo piacere. Non e facile a imparare questo verbo e la mia testa gira quando devo pensare per piacere! Pero, mi piace mangiare pizza. Vi piace mangiare pizza?
How did I do above?
Can you offer any advice on how to master this difficult Italian verb?
For more in this series:
Learning Italian – At the local doctor’s office
Learning Italian – The ancient Italian coffee machine and an expat accident
Learning Italian – Studying for the Italian driving permit
Learning Italian – At the Gynecologist
Learning Italian – You said what?
Learning Italian – An attempt to learn Italian prepositions
How to buy property in North Sardinia
The search engines have spoken and thousands of you want to know how to buy property in Sardinia, Italy.
I’m here to show you the easy way.
How to buy property in Sardinia, Italy
The easy way is to find an agent you trust; and I know a lot of you trust me otherwise my inbox wouldn’t be filled with questions like:
- How do I buy a small house in Sardinia with a plot of land for a garden?
- I’d like to retire to Sardinia but I don’t speak Italian?
- My husband and I would like to move to Sardinia with our family but we don’t speak Italian and haven’t a bank account in Italy, what do we do?
How do you find an agent you can trust and one that speaks fluent Italian and fluent English?
That’s another easy question that I can answer. I’ve worked closely with a company based in Budoni, Sardinia who have helped English speakers just like you find their dream home in paradise, and who have gone above and beyond their agent duties to make sure every last-minute detail is taken care of.
Immobiliare Orizzonte Casa Sardegna is the agent for you.
Bruno Pala is the owner and agent of Immobiliare Orizzonte Casa and is fluent in Italian and English. British born, he has over 15 years’ experience living, working and selling property from the coast to mountain towns in Sardinia.
He has successfully helped British buyers find their dream house and these buyers now call Sardinia home, all year round.
Immobiliare Orizzonte Casa Sardegna will help you:
- Get your Italian tax code
- Set up an Italian bank account
- Will prepare for the purchase and sale of the home
I live on the Northwest coast of Sardinia and am totally biased to the emerald hues, red granite pillars of strength and the gracious hospitality from the Islanders. For the last six years, Sardinia has been my home, my sanctuary, my life force and the place my soul has found to rest.
She can also be yours.
Sardinia’s rugged, unspoilt coastlines are unforgettable moments you can make last a lifetime, and your first move is to decide where in the north you’d like to call home.
The two major airports in North Sardinia are Alghero and Olbia. Both are serviced by low-cost airlines and national carriers. The driving distance between the two airports is roughly 2 hours, but if you’re like me and stop to smell the roses, and you will here in paradise, the drive will be enjoyable.
North Sardinia’s Hot Property Spots
- Budoni
- Costa Paradiso
- Golfo Aranci
- Porto Cervo
- San Teodoro
- Santa Teresa di Gallura
There are no restrictions on foreign buyers and, as of January 1st, 2014 the Italian resale tax on property has been lowered making this the time to buy your dream property in Sardinia.
What’s in your wallet is none of my business but expect to buy a property from €65,000 to €3 million; the latter price tag was bought by Roman Abramovich who last year bought a whopper of a villa in Costa Smeralda.
There are also plenty of moderately priced properties for sale with stunning views and mountainous terrain outside the glitz and glamour of the Emerald Coast in areas like:
- Alghero
- San Teodoro
- Budoni
Now that you have decided to call Sardinia your home, why not give Immobiliare Orizzonte Casa Sardegna a call. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed, you can even tell them that I sent you.
Bruno Pala – Agent & Owner
Orizzonte Casa Sardegna – Budoni
Via De Gasperi, 18 Budoni
Tel: +39 07841896176
Cel: +39 3932364058
email: orizzontecasasardegna@gmail.com
web: orizzontecasasardegna.com
Happy house hunting from our home to yours.
My Sardinian Life 