In life, I believe everything happens for a reason.

Why did a brand new, ensign of Canada land in my hands yesterday morning? Coincidence? Fate? A message in a bottle ensign? Or just the sweet generosity of the man who found it?

Our conversation went something like this:

The Italian Version

Sweet Man – Boungirono. Ho trovato una bandiera canadese e pensato a te, ti piace?
Me – Oh, buongiorno. Ma, hai trovato una bandiera canadese? Dove?
Sweet Man – In Costa Paradiso. Qualcuno l’ha buttato via.
Me – Perché qualcuno dovrebbe buttarlo fuori? Non e giusto.
Sweet Man – Non lo so, ma vuoi?
Me – Ma, certo. Grazie.
Sweet Man – Io te lo darò a te ora.
Me – Sei molto gentile. Grazie.

English Version

Sweet Man – Good Morning. I found a Canadian flag and thought of you. Would you like it?

Sassari– August 14th, 2012 – The 2nd largest festival in Sardinia owes its name to the large ‘candlesticks’ which men parade though-out town for a six-hour parade of strength, endurance, song and dance.

I Candelieri was born around 1500, a vow to the Virgin Mary; and to give thanks to the survival of three plagues during the 1600’s, which killed thousands of people on the island of Sardinia.

I Candelieri – The Descent of the Candle Bearers is a festival which embodies the spirit and traditions of Sassari. Its origins date back to the Middle Ages, when Sassari, under Pisan domination, adopted a modified version of the Pisan tradition of an offering, similar to a large wooden wax-covered altarpiece to the Madonna on the eve of the Assumption.

10 candlesticks with 8 men per candle parade throughout the town to the beat of drums, clapping and chanting in local…

Are you seeking a private haven where you can sit on the beach and do nothing, for hours? Or maybe, it’s a family beach oasis that you are after. Which ever beach vacation you are looking for The Gallura will fill your senses with peaceful shorelines and endless turquoise waters.

The name ‘Gallura’ derives from a shortened Latin term ‘Galli-Rura‘ or ‘Galilensi Islands.’ The Romans marked the map to show the boundaries of the islands, known as Sardinia. The Gallura is located east of the Tyrrhenian Sea, North of the Straits of Bonifacio and west of The Gulf of Asinara.

The Gallura is family friendly, offering various styles of housing to suit every budget.There are plenty of recreational sports and activities to choose from. It is here that you find unspoilt private havens, coves, bays and inlets. The Gallura is composed of twenty-eight provinces…

“Sardinia is another thing. Much wider, much more ordinary, not up-and-down at all, but running away into the distance. Unremarkable ridges of moor-like hills running away, perhaps to a bunch of dramatic peaks on the southwest. This gives a sense of space … lovely space about one, and traveling distances-nothing finished, nothing final. It is like liberty itself … ” D.H. Lawrence. Sea and Sardinia. 1921.

10 Remarkable Reasons to Visit Sardinia, Italy

Top 10 Sights in Northern Sardinia

In no particular order of importance, as each town, beach and island, is a spectacular assault on the senses. All ten areas will leave you breathless and in awe.

Top 10 Sights in Northern Sardinia

1. Dorgali – with its Giants’ grave, the beach of Cala Gonone, Nuraghic villages, grottos and caves, this area is yours to discover.
2. Grotta di Nettuno – is a spectacular cave just outside of Alghero. Discovered in the 18th century by fishermen, it has since turned into a tourist mecca. Guided tours are provided in Italian and English.
3. Stintino – famous for La Pelosa Beach is just one of Sardinia’s gems. Stintino is a coastal community filled with culture and history. From here you can catch a boat to the next item on the list.
4. Isola Asinara – is one of Sardinia’s National Parks. In English this island is suitably…