Travel Theme: Roads

Posted on March 5 by Jennifer Avventura

This week’s travel theme by Ailsa at Where’s my backpack is roads. Sardinian roads are curvy, fast, mountainous and covered with little surprises.

My favourite road in Sardinia with a Nuraghe.

Jennifer Avventura My Sardinian Life (37)

A favourite hiking road.

Cascabraga by Jennifer Avventura 2012 (6)

A very curvy mountain road – taken from the top of a mountain.

Jennifer Avventura My Sardinian Life (49)

My Sardinian running road.

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A typical farm road, leading to paradise.

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My favourite Sardinian road scene; covered with sheep.

Road by Jennifer Avventura 2013

What are the roads like in your neck of the woods?

Don`t forget to check out my new blog My Caymanian Life.

My Sardinian Life at My Caymanian Life

Posted on January 3 by Jennifer Avventura

Don’t forget to give me a follow over at my other blog: My Caymanian Life. I’m in Cayman Islands giving work a go for a little while and I’ll be blogging about life on this tiny island in the Caribbean. Hope to see you over there.

The famous Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Click the image to be swiftly taken to the Caribbean. See ya on the other side my friends.

Happy blogging.

My Sardinian Life’s Top 12 Posts of 2012

Posted on December 31 by Jennifer Avventura

It’s been a busy and exciting year at My Sardinian Life; I’ve witnessed traditional festivals high up in the mountains and had the pleasure of being crushed by i Candelieri at the fantastic, energetic festival in Sassari, Sardinia. I’ve virtually met some of the most fantastic bloggers out there today and you’ve all inspired me to blog on; you’ve humbled me and made me laugh out loud one too many times and you’ve even made me shed a few tears. Thank you.

I’ve put this little post together to highlight My Sardinian Life’s top posts and pages of 2012. I’ve already done a year review of my favourite photos from 2012 and you can see it here. According to the wonderful stats by WordPress, here are …

My Sardinian Life’s Top 12 posts or pages of 2012.

1. Home page / Archives with 45,928 hits!
2. Top 7 Shirtless Italian Soccer Players with 5,283 hits.
3. The naked truth on nude beaches in Sardinia, Italy with 2,854 hits.
4. Aboot me (thanks for checking me out) with 2,413 hits.
5. A Mediterranean Medusa | Sardinia, Italy with 1,696 hits.
6. Cost of Living | Sardinia, Italy with 1,618 hits.
7. How to make tomato sauce like an Italian with 1,402 hits.
8. My Expat job struggles | Sardinia, Italy with 1,095 hits.
9. Contact page with 1,088 hits.
10. Start Here page with 1,053 hits.
11. Top 11 Reasons why Living in Sardinia Rocks with 869 hits.
12. The Raw Reality of Expat Life in Small Town Sardinia with 862 hits.

My Sardinian Life’s Top 12 Search Terms.

1. Medusa with 657 searches.
2. My Sardinian Life with 438 searches.
3. Living in Sardinia with 259 searches.
4. Rossella Urru with 207 searches.
5. Gianluigi Buffon with 164 searches.
6. life before the interner with 164 searches.
7. jennifer avventura with 153 searches.
8. Andrea Pirlo with 144 searches.
9. Andrea Pirlo shirtless with 143 searches.
10. Buffon with 141 searches.
11. Sardinia with 131 searches.
12. forza Italia 2012 with 129 searches.

I’m SUPER stoked that people searched more for me than Andrea Pirlo! Snaperiffic!

Wishing you all a safe and successful new year. Thank you for sticking with me these last two years – each day I learn something new.

What’s your most popular post? Drop the link in the comment section below.

My best kept secret at My Sardinian Life

Posted on December 5 by Jennifer Avventura

Besides my immediate family; only two of you, in the internet world know about my best kept secret. It’s been a secret for so long that I’m bursting at the seams with excitement, anticipation and nervousness. I mean – this is something I’ve done before, I’m no rookie. I know the ins and the outs of this game; I’ve played it many times in my career.

But now, it’s just a bit different – because my heart and soul are here, in Sardinia.

In the last several years I have struggled with finding decent employment to the point of frustration, tears and hopelessness. I have written about it several times in the past and you can read about it here and here.

This post is not about what happened in the past – it’s about what’s going to happen in the very near future.

My Sardinian Life’s best kept secret is …

Continue reading →

1st Place for My Sardinian Life in the 2012 Canadian Blog Awards

Posted on December 4 by Jennifer Avventura

The votes are in and My Sardinian Life takes 1st place in the 2012 Canadian Blog Awards – in the category of Best Travel & Expat Blog – snaperiffic! It was a close one; so close in fact that there was only a 3 vote difference between 1st & 2nd places!

And now, on with the acceptance speech:

Firstly, I would like to thank Jonathan Kleiman who took copious amounts of time to organize this award for Canadian bloggers across the globe. Jonathan is a Toronto Business Lawyer and a Small Claims Lawyer and his side gig is organizing fantastic blogging awards. I wonder how he does it? If you need a lawyer, be sure to click Jonathan’s name above – and I’m sure he can sort you right on out. So, thank you Jonathan. I appreciate all the hard work you’ve done in the last year to make this award a reality.

I would also like to thank all of those that took time out to vote for My Sardinian Life – you helped make this award a reality and to you I am grateful.

Thanks to you!

My number one fan – my Mom.
Every family member that voted.
My virtual friends from Sardinia – grazie per il vostro continuo supporto. Ho imparato molto da voi in questi ultimi anni sulla tua terra, il tuo mare e delle vostre tradizioni. Grazie. La Sardegna è la nostra da scoprire.
My Italian Reflections group – if it weren’t for you lot I would have gone bonkers long ago!
The Virtual Tourist crew.
My Twitter followers.
My first real life blogging buddy in Bagni – you showed me that anything is possible.
All my Facebook fans & friends and to all the expats around the world, who are living their dream.

2012 Canadian Blog Awards 1st

Raise your glass high; I salute you.

From the bottom of my heart – thank you!
Jennifer Avventura

2nd Blogiversary at My Sardinian Life

Posted on November 22 by Jennifer Avventura

There was a wonderful little reminder from WordPress this morning:

Thank you for reminding me WordPress!

Today, November 22nd, 2012 is the two-year blogiversary for My Sardinian Life! I can’t believe that I’ve written about this lovely island in the Mediterranean for this long. It seems like just yesterday when I took the leap of faith and signed up for a blog on WordPress – now two years have gone by. It’s been a fun and interesting adventure where I’ve learned about Sardinia – her people, cultures and magical traditions.

To my readers, followers and stalkers – thank you. If it weren’t for your words of encouragement in these last two years – in all honestly, I would have given up. I have virtually met so many wonderful, inspirational, courageous and brilliantly fantastic people via My Sardinian Life – I have learned from each of you. You have made dark days seem brighter and even managed to turn already sparkling days into moments of magic. It humbles me to be among your followers. Thank you.

And now I have a little treat for you all, and I do hope you enjoy.

The Best of My Sardinian Life (according to you … and the stats.)

1496 followers spread across various social media outlets.
394 posts – 395 after this article is posted. Wow, I remember having to write a 500-page essay as a teenager and the thought of getting a tooth pulled was more appealing, how things have changed – for the better.
Top 5 search terms:
1. medusa – 591
2. my sardinian life – 428
3. living in sardinia – 222
4. gianluigi buffon – 164 (you’re welcome)
5. jennifer avventura – 153 (thanks Mom)
Top 5 pages & posts:
1. Top 7 Shirtless Italian Soccer Players – 4,897.
2. Aboot me – 2,278
3. A Mediterranean Medusa | Sardinia, Italy – 1,546
4. The naked truth on nude beaches in Sardinia, Italy – 1,518
5. Cost of Living | Sardinia, Italy – 1,336
Top 5 Views by Country
1. United States of America – 23,027 views.
2. Italy – 13,768 views.
3. United Kingdom – 9,081 views.
4. Spain – 8,329 views.
5. Canada – 6,386 views.

The best of My Sardinian Life’s photography – enjoy the show.

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Thank you for sticking with me these last two years. My aim in the coming years is to give you the best Sardinia can offer. Come on over – she’s waiting for you.

Why did you start to blog?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Green

Posted on November 17 by Jennifer Avventura

Green are the farmer’s pastures where animals lazily graze. Sardinia, Italy.

Want to see more green things? Click here to check out more awesome green submissions!

The Reality and 100% Affidabile (Reliable) Blog Awards

Posted on November 12 by Jennifer Avventura

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.

Continue reading →

Vote for My Sardinian Life in the 2012 Canadian Blog Awards

Posted on October 9 by Jennifer Avventura

Voting is now open for the 2012 Canadian Blog Awards. This is just round 1 and voting closes November 1st, 2012.

My Sardinian Life has been nominated for Best Travel and Expat Blog and now it’s time to make your votes count!

Click the following link to vote for My Sardinian Life. On the bottom right hand column you will see Best Travel and Expat Blog>click to open>select My Sardinian Life. You can only vote once, so make it count.

Vote Here! For My Sardinian Life – Best Travel and Expat Blog

Remember this is just Round 1 and voting closes November 1st, 2012.

My Sardinian Life thanks all voters from the bottom of my expat Canadian heart.

La Madonna di Trinita D’Agultu | 365m Above Sea Level

Posted on September 28 by Jennifer Avventura

The Madonna statue of Trinita D’Agultu and Vignola sits 365 meters above sea level. She protects her surrounding area and its 2184 inhabitants.

Trinita D’Agultu and Vignola is in the north-western part of Sardinia and compromises about 136.6km of the beautiful coastline. The inhabitants have conserved the local dialect – Gallurese and ancient traditions for centuries.