My Expat Lives | Celebrating 4 Years in Sardinia, Italy

My Expat Lives | 4 Years in Sardinia, Italy

On May 6th 2008, I left my home and native land for Sardinia, Italy.

How is it possible that four years have passed? I can’t believe it! I made the long trip back to Canada several times in the last few years. The time never enough, and some of my family have come to visit us in Sardinia and again, the time was never enough, but the memories will stay forever.

This will be one of my longer posts, so grab a glass of wine, some popcorn or a jar of Nutella. Just get comfortable.

Find out the ups and downs of expat life in Sardinia, Italy.

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Sardinian Spring Skies | Travel Photography

Posted on April 12 by Jennifer Avventura

Spectacularly blue spring skies

wisps of white that float on by.

It’s a slow start to spring this year in Sardinia. Rather cold and windy too. This time last year we were basking on the beach, this year, I’m wrapped up in two sweaters, a scarf and furry slippers!

Here’s hoping the heat breaks on though, soon.

How is spring shaping up in your neck of the woods?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Journey #2

Posted on April 7 by Jennifer Avventura

Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia

In 1997 I journeyed all the way to Australia. This photo was taken on Fraser Island, just off the coast of Queensland. We spent four days journeying around the largest sand island in the world.

It was spectacular! And I can’t wait to do it again.

I love you Australia, you are forever in my heart.

These photos are not the best. I was 20 years old and had no clue about cameras. And I’m pretty sure digital cameras didn’t exist then. I remember clearly carrying around dozens of film tubes, taking them for printing, waiting a week, sometimes longer.

Have you been to Fraser Island? Tell me your story.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Journey

Posted on April 6 by Jennifer Avventura

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” Lao Tzu

New Years Eve 2010 was spent in Bern, Switzerland. Under the sparkling fireworks of the frosty Swiss sky, we saluted to journeys past, present and future.

I snapped this photo towards the end of the evening, and no … this is not my husband.

Happy and Safe Journeys.

Can’t get enough of the journey? Follow other bloggers on their Weekly Photo Challenge: journey.

Let Your Emotions Fly | Sardinia, Italy

Posted on March 29 by Jennifer Avventura

Sometimes in life we need to take a moment, a moment to reflect, a moment to breathe and a moment to feel alive. As most of you know, I love Sardinia. Never in my life have I seen such natural beauty, such diverse land and spectacular coasts.

I’d like to share this video with you, on a Sardinia rarely seen. This IS a must see.

Let your emotions fly, above Sardinia sky.

For more information visit their Facebook page: Pedhuris – Escursioni aeree sulla Sardegna. Sardinia Flight Excursions.

**this is not a paid advertisement. Sometimes in life things give you goosebumps, I want to share those things, and those goosebumps. Passing good vibes your way.*

How do you feel after watching the video?

How to Arrive in Sunny Sardinia, Italy

Posted on March 19 by Jennifer Avventura

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, and has three international airports which service major cities in Italy and many other European destinations like: Spain, England, Ireland and Germany.

International Airports in Sardinia, Italy

Alghero Airport (AHO)
Oblia Airport (OLB)
Cagliari-Elmas Airport (CAG)

Airlines with direct routes to Sardinia from Europe:

Meridiana Fly – is based in Olbia, Sardinia. Meridiana connects the traveler to major cities in Italy, Germany, Spain, England, France and Russia.
EasyJet is a British airline with its headquarters at the London Luton Airport. EasyJet services Sardinia with Gatwick-Olbia and Stansted-Cagliari flights.
Ryanair is Europe’s leading discount airline. Daily flights from all over Europe to Alghero and Cagliari.
Alitalia is based in Fiumicino, Italy and operates at Rome’s major international airport Fiumicino (FCO). Alitalia connects to many major large cities around the world. Alitalia connects the traveler, daily to Sardinia through: Olbia, Alghero and Cagliari.
SmartWings is another low cost airline based out of Prague. They have direct flights from Prague to all three main airports in Sardinia.
British Airways offers charter flights in collaboration with Sardatur Holidays from London Heathrow/Manchester to Olbia/Cagliari.

By Sea:

Moby Lines offers daily voyages from these Italian mainland ports: Livorno, Piombino, Genova, Civitavecchia, Bonifacio to Olbia, Santa Teresa di Gallura, and Porto Torres.
Tirrenia offers daily ferries between mainland ports in Italy and Sardinia. Routes include: Porto Torres-Genova, Cagliari-Palmero, Cagliari-Napoli, Oblia-Civitavecchia, Oblia-Genova, Arbatax-Genova and Arbatax-Civitavecchia and many more!
Corsica Ferries offers crossings from Santa Teresa di Gallura to Bonifacio and Olbia to Livorno.

Safe and Happy Travels.

*Please note: during the off-season months some routes and timetables may change. Please check with your carrier of choice for further details.

How will you arrive on this magnificent island in the Mediterranean?

Sardinian Local Experts Award

Posted on March 5 by Jennifer Avventura

Sardinian Local Experts Award

Sardinia Local Expert - CharmingItaly Blog Award

A HUGE thank you to the folks over at Charming Italy who have nominated My Sardinian Life for the Local Experts Award in Sardinia.

“The Local Experts Award was established as a way for potential visitors to Italy, Sardinia, Puglia and Sicily to get an understanding of what to expect and ultimately what to look forward when visiting the mediterranean.

It’s a huge honour to be among some of the best bloggers (on Sardinia) in the industry. Grazie mille!

Charming Italy’s enthusiastic effort in creating this award, has led me to a number of new blogs on Sardinia, which I am currently exploring. Here’s two:

Sipping Sardinia – An awesome expat blog from a Polish woman who lives in Nuoro, Sardinia.
Wandering Sardinia – This blog is written in Italian and English. I hope to make that jump one day!

Why don’t you head over to Charming Italy now and see what all the fuss is about.

One million thank you’s!

How Virtual Tourist Opened My Eyes to Inspiration

Posted on February 9 by Jennifer Avventura

This is a guest post I wrote back in November 2011 for Canada’s Adventure Couple – Dave & Deb it was published on their super fab site earlier this week. This was my first guest post I’ve written and was great to see my post on their site.

How Virtual Tourist Opened My Eyes to Inspiration

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Confucius.

Sometimes, in life there are too many ‘what if’ moments. Moments where we find ourselves questioning motives, desires, yearnings, personal histories, and the what if I do, do it. What then?

Confucius was right in his statement. To become a traveler, you must take that first step. After that, the adventure is yours.

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Sardinia, Italy | A Blue Zones Member

Posted on February 1 by Jennifer Avventura

Last week I wrote an article titled, Top 11 Reasons Why Living in Sardinia, Italy Rocks and my eleventh reason why I thought living in Sardinia is the bee’s knee’s is that Sardinia is one of the world’s healthiest places to live. Pretty fantastic, no?

I’ve dug a little deeper into the study of World’s Healthiest Places to Live and have learned that American explorer Dan Buettner, (who had cycled his way all over the world a few times) had started a study in demographics and longevity thus beginning his research into “the blue zones,” his idea of cultures that have the longest life expectancy.

He found himself in Sardinia at the beginning of the study and soon realized that Sardinia has, and always has had a large population of centenarian’s in the world. It is in these ‘blue zones’ that people reach the age of 100, ten times more than those in the United States.

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Top 11 Reasons Why Living in Sardinia Rocks

Posted on January 23 by Jennifer Avventura

It’s been four years since I set foot on this rugged beautiful island, and I’m still in love with Sardinia. It wasn’t an easy transition, but I did it. I’m proud of the area I now call my home, and I’m proud of myself for learning two new languages.

I have complied a short Top 11 list on why I think Sardinia rocks.

The sun shines on average 300 days a year!
There are endless beautiful beaches on this island oasis.
The food is amazing. There are no other words.
Plenty of activities to choose from, year round: cycling, kayaking, rock climbing, sailing, windsurfing, surfing, nature walks, running, and so much more.
Summer lasts for six, sometimes eight months a year.
The people are happy and friendly.
The locally grown fresh produce is the best I’ve ever tasted.
Even in the winter the sun shines.
The rugged, red landscape leaves the poet in you without words.
Freshly caught dentice – snapper is the bees knees.
In a 2010 study done by International Living, states that Sardinia is one of the worlds healthiest places to live. Sardinia does boost at having the worlds highest concentration of centenarians.