The Case of the Mysterious Canadian Ensign Lost & Found in Sardinia

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

English Version

Sweet ManGood Morning. I found a Canadian flag and thought of you. Would you like it?
Me – Oh, good morning. But, you found a Canadian flag? Where?
Sweet ManIn Costa Paradiso. Someone threw it out.
Me – Why would someone throw it out? It’s not right.
Sweet ManI don’t know, but do you want it?
Me – But, certainly. Thank you.
Sweet ManI will give it to you now.
Me – You are very kind. Thank you.

And with that, I am now the owner of a brand spanking new Canadian ensign, for a boat that I don’t have.

Did you know?

To sail from Toronto, Canada to Costa Paradiso, Sardinia, Italy with a pit-stop in Gibraltar Continue reading

The Mysterious Flag of Sardinia

This is not even all of them, I have about 15 collecting dust in my dresser drawer.

I have a fascination with flags. This is not because I am Canadian and wear my flag with pride on my backpack, hat, t-shirt, underwear and socks but I find them truly and utterly beautiful. They flap effortlessly in the wind and they represent their country with amazing pride.

When I first moved to Sardinia 4.5 years ago and noticed the flag of Sardinia floating angelic like against the blue sky, I was shocked. Why shocked? Well, because of the four heads blindfolded. I silently pondered the meaning behind this odd flag and vowed to find out more.

I asked my husband what the flag represents and he told me some fable about four Africans taken into the mountains and shot. This can’t be true. I allowed my Italian language skills to improve over the years and asked the same questions to the same people, no one seemed to know what the flag stands for. I can understand the confusion of the locals as the flag over the years has changed without notice and without explanation adding only increased mystery and confusion.

Over the centuries the 4 Moors have changed at times they are looking left, other times right, sometimes blindfolded other times wearing headbands, eyes open, eyes closed, bareheaded and sometimes with a crown.

I was perplexed and curious. I would get to the bottom of this mystery.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

This weeks photo challenge was rather, well, a challenge. I scoured my archives for photos of things ‘inside,’ but to no avail.

Then the light when on inside the bat house.

Welcome Inside the Home of My Sardinian Life

Just checking out the scene.

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Work, Wine & No Time

This is how I feel after working 60 hours this week:

This is what I’d rather be doing:  Continue reading

Jennifer Avventura is AWOL

Ciao tutti!

I’m just writing to let you know I will be AWOL for about a month. I’ve accepted a one month contact with four stars and I’ve recently been working 10 hour shifts. Leaving me very little time for blogging, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

I’ll be around to stalk read some of your blog posts. I won’t have any new writing material for you in the next month, I really haven’t the time now … I’m crushed.

Who knows … maybe there will be more stories from The Wandering Waitress – A Guide to Traveling the World One Tip at a Time.

Chapter 1 – The Wandering Waitress

Chapter 2 – The Wandering Waitress

(These two chapters have been recently unlocked. I hope you enjoy.)

I will still be participating in the Weekly Photo Challenge and returning emails and comments.

I appreciate all of your comments, advice and kind words.

Thank you for sticking with me.

What are your summer plans?

An interview with La Nuova Sardegna by Silvana Porcu

This past March I was contacted by Silvana Porcu, an English-speaking Sardinian journalist from La Nuova Sardegna. She and her editors were looking for an article on Sardinia but from an outsiders point of view. Silvana found My Sardinian Life and she contacted me. We did the interview via Skype, she in Alghero and I in my adopted hometown in Sardinia.

I would like to thank Silvana for taking the time out to interview me on My Sardinian Life. And another huge thanks to La Nuova Sardegna for printing the article. This was a huge honour for me, thank you.

What joy and exposure! I’ve already been contacted by a woman who lives in Sardinia and she is Canadian! Imagine! I thought I was the only Canadian on the island. I’m looking forward to meeting these newfound friends.

My Sardinian Life – A Canadian blogger reveals the secrets of the island …

Has anything interesting happened to you because of your blog?

My Sardinian Life | 7×7 Blog Award

Another blogging award! Whooppee! Thank you Nia! You can find her fantastic blog by clicking this helpful link: photographyofnia. I appreciate your support and acknowledgment on My Sardinian Life. I know it’s overdue, and here it is …

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The Reader Appreciation Award

The Reader Appreciation Award

The Reader Appreciation Award

I’m giving an award to those that have made this past year of blogging worthwhile. You have kept me on my toes, left comments, advice and tons of encouragement. For this I am grateful. Thank you.

Here’s the rules:

  1. Award your top 6 bloggers who have commented the most.
  2. Be thankful.
  3. You cannot award someone who has already been awarded. And you cannot give the award back to me.
  4. Don’t forget to tell the bloggers you’ve awarded.
  5. If you don’t want to pass on this award, that’s okay to. Just admire it.

The Reader Appreciation Award goes to:

  1. The Hook @ You’ve Been Hooked – thank you for your continued support and encouragement.
  2. Love versus Goliath – thank you for your help in understanding this crazy world we call blogging. Without your wise words I’d still be lost in this cyber space.
  3. The World According to Woman – thank you for all your advice on CELTA, TESOL and EFL. And thank you for thinking about me while in the drive-thu at Tim Horton’s.
  4. Chronicles of Illusion – thank you for ‘loving my style,’ and sticking with me this past year.
  5. Bagni di Lucca and Beyond – from one expat in Italy to the next, thank you for your continued support on My Sardinian Life.
  6. dribblingpensioner – thank you for your continued sarcasm and support in understanding this WordPress platform.

Thank you all. Happy weekend. Happy blogging.

Jennifer Avventura.