Chemtrails in Sardinia’s Blue Crossed Sky

Posted on January 10 by Jennifer Avventura

Several bloggers from around the world have documented their skies and questioned themselves on the same thing I find myself questioning – chemical trails or simply contrails?

I’ve photographed Sardinia’s stunning blue sky and documented my past findings here, here and here. I’m back today to show you a new discovery which made me open my eyes wide open and continue to seek answers.

The following is a lovely photograph showing you how beautiful and blue the sky in Sardinia is when the jets are not busy making tic-tac-toe boards.

And here, you will see the same view of the Bay of Asinara with one LARGE exception … the sky is filled with trails left by jets completely blanketing the sky. Underneath all that mess you can see the blue, blue natural sky trying to breathe.

These two photos were taken forty-eight hours apart and the difference is disgusting and staggering. Why do some trails dissipate after sometime, while other trails grow in size thus changing the atmosphere from a beautiful blue day to a seemingly hazy day?

A few months ago I took a nice drive to the center of Sardinia and found this graffiti:

“No chemtrails, no effect.”

Now, I’m not sure what the artist was trying to say. Do they believe chemtrails are real or are just a conspiracy theory? This is something only the author will know. I did, however, spot two of these graffiti while in the center of Sardinia.

I understand the contrails, and watch them dissipate from my front window. It’s those chemtrails which leave perplexed and wanting answers. I am neither a scientist nor a nephologist. I’m just a woman watching the curious sky.

Have you noticed of your sky lately?

Spring weather in January?

Posted on January 9 by Jennifer Avventura

Only in Sardinia …

This week has been exceptionally beautiful with temps reaching 20 degrees; perfect for beach hikes!

How’s the weather in your neck of the woods? I promise I won’t laugh. 😉

Cost of Living 2013 – Sardinia, Italy

Posted on January 3 by Jennifer Avventura

Back by popular demand and another year older … the 2013 Cost of Living Report on Sardinia, Italy. Covering everyday items from tampons to fresh pecorino cheese. This year’s report is jam-packed with daily goodies from my shopping cart. I hope you enjoy.

Cost of Living – Sardinia, Italy 2013

1 liter of gas – €1.65 in Sassari – €1.85 in My Town.
Electricity – every other month this bill arrives. This year we spent €307.06 + the post office fee of €1.30 x 6 = 7.80 for a grand total of €314.86. Last year we spent the first five months working in Cayman Islands; if we would have been here during those first months of deep Mediterranean cold our electric bill would have been a few hundred euro more!
Internet – there are many plans out there and settled on the simplest, paying €15 a month for 10 hours of internet a day.
Cellphone – A basic cell phone which cost €18.99 on sale and spend about €10 a month for the credit.
Water – in the six years I’ve lived here not one water bill has arrived. We’ve asked, searched and done everything in our power to find out, only to come up empty-handed. I’m sure the water bill will arrive one day, very soon and will guesstimate €3500. word!
Eating Out – Two pizzas in the local pizza joint start at €5,00 – €12,00. Then you have your cover charge or coperto which is €2,50 per person (every restaurant has this cover charge, consider it your tip to the restaurant). One liter of wine €8,00. Dessert €4,00 – €10,00. Bottled water €2,00. Coffee €2,00. Mirto, Sambuca or Limoncello €4,00. A grand total for two people: €47,00!
Rent – by the sea per month €700 – €2000+. Interior, in the mountains or several kilometers away from the water, per month €300 – €600.

The Daily Groceries

These prices will vary from town to town across Italy – here I’ve taken the median price from all three supermarkets here in town. And just to give you an example of how much the price differs from supermarket to supermarket, take a look at this:

4 Activia Yogurt in supermarket A sells for €3.39. In supermarket B (which is only a stones throw from supermarket A) the same yogurt sells for €2.89. That’s a whopping .50¢ difference for the same product!

I know that in Sassari 8 Activia yogurt, on sale for … €3.48! HOLLA!

At the Supermarket

Local yogurt .99¢ for two
1 liter of milk .79¢ – €1.77
6 eggs €1.15
300 grams locally baked bread .95¢
500 grams major brand pasta .83¢ and on sale .64¢
500 grams local pasta .68¢ and on sale .43¢
1 kg potatoes €2.50
5 large bananas €2.39
6 two liter bottle of water €1.80
16 regular maxi pads €2.39
8 Tampons €3.29
Major brand toothpaste €2.39 – €3.29
Detergent for clothes €2.50 – €8.99
Dish soap .99¢
Diapers €4.99 to €7.29 (small pack)
1000 grams of Nutella €6.99. SCORE!

At the butcher – La Macelleria

5 thinly sliced chicken breast €5.41
400 grams minced beef €3.85
500 grams local salsicca €5.48
1/4 local pecorino cheese €4.23

That wraps up this year’s report, and I’d like to close it with a comment from a follower, which has left me, uh, beautifully speechless. I applaud his fabulous effort and courage on leaving a comment in English, and am humbled by his simple honesty.

“If you want to live in Sardinia: you want to live with nature, with only the money to stay alive and to stay happy. You will have to give up a lot, but you will be rewarded by the beauty of our land, and our people. “

You can read the post he was referring to here.

How does the cost of living in Sardinia compare to where you live?

*please feel free to add your cost of living links in the comment section below.

Cost of Living 2012 | Sardinia, Italy
The cost of going out – Moscow, Russia via Home & Away

A poem for Sardinia

Posted on January 2 by Jennifer Avventura

This little poem is dedicated to the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to rebuild Sardinia after Cyclone Cleopatra.

Forza Sardinia.

Sardinia’s Blue Flag Beaches 2013

Posted on January 1 by Jennifer Avventura

As winter closes in around us, it’s good to keep in mind our next summer vacation destination, and here are seven reasons to make Sardinia, Italy your holiday destination in 2014!

This past year, Sardinia’s immaculate beaches were awarded with seven blue flags from the non-profit organization – Blue Flag.

What is a Blue Flag?

“The Blue Flag is a voluntary eco-label awarded to more than 3850 beaches and marinas in 48 countries across Europe, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada and the Caribbean.”

Beaches are awarded the blue flag based on 32 criteria which the beach must meet; should the beach fail to comply with these criteria during the year, the blue flag can be withdrawn. Here are just a few of the criteria needed:

Environmental Education and Information.
Water Quality
Environmental Management
Safety and Services
All Blue flags are awarded for one season at a time.

Sardinia’s Seven Blue Flags 2013

Olbia-Tempio – La Maddalena Punta Tegge – Spalmatore
Olbia-Tempio – Palau Vecchio – Scimara
Olbia-Tempio – S. Teresa Gallura – La Rena Bianca
Oristano – Torre Grande
Sassari – Castelsardo – Ampurias
Tortolì – Lido di Orri, Lido di Crea
Quartu S. Elena – Poetto

I’ve only visited one blue flag beach and that was La Rena Bianca, and it was during an August heat wave; it was beautifully packed and spectacularly stunning.

La Rena Bianca on a hot August afternoon.

My mission for summer 2014 is to visit this year’s list of winners. Should be a splendid beach season!

Here’s to 2014 Sardinia – wishing you success in collecting more blue flags.

Have you been to any of Sardinia’s Blue Flag Beaches?

The setting sun on winter solstice 2013 – Sardinia, Italy

Posted on December 22 by Jennifer Avventura

The winter solstice setting sun 21/12/2013. It’s official winter has arrived and depending on where you live the weather will be dramatically different from heavy snow falls to a beautiful bright sun.

The first day of winter in Sardinia felt like a beautiful summer day in July, with temperatures reaching 25 degrees in some parts of the island. I spent the day in shorts and a t-shirt, yes you read that right! On the first day of winter Santa gave to me … a wonderful, colourful winter’s setting sun.

This is my response to the Weekly Travel Theme: Winter.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Honoring the Winter Solstice (dailymuse.spiritlightinsight.com)
A Winter Solstice Morning In Tucson (kenneturner.com)
Winter Solstice (melainiehatt.wordpress.com)

Expat Speaks: The Italian postal system

Posted on December 21 by Jennifer Avventura

At the beginning of September I was commissioned by a book publisher from England to write a detailed 38 hotel listing for Sardinia, Italy. I was over the moon at being asked by such a global brand that I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Heck, I even did the happy dance all over the house for a few days as this project was my first real Freelance job, and I was ecstatic!! I’d like to thank The Travelbunny for recommending me. Holla Girl! Grazie.

Source: Wikimedia

I finished the job and handed in the project two days before the scheduled due date. It was imperative that my contract reach London in time, to get paid. I printed two identical contracts, signed both on the dotted line as asked, and headed to the Italian post office in my town. I inquired about a courier service and she told me the price – €35. I nearly had a coronary. Later, I asked in an Italian expat group – what the mainlanders pay for courier service to England and I was informed – €15. A staggering difference.

I asked the postal worker if there was a cheaper, still secure method to send these ever important documents to England, and she told me that I could send the documents via a Raccomandata Internazionale – an International registered letter, which I could follow with the tracking number on the receipt. The cost of the raccomandata was €7.00. A huge difference in price, and one that I could easily afford. I filled out the necessary documents and waited, and waited and waited. Continue reading →

A still angel captured in the Sardinian sky

Posted on December 14 by Jennifer Avventura

A spectacular still moment captured forever. A guardian angel light as a feather, watches over the islanders … silently from heaven.

This is my response to the Weekly Travel Theme: Still

This photographic is dedicated to the men, women and children who lost their lives during the worst cyclone to ever hit Sardinia, Italy.

May you find peace and continue to soar.

Top 10 reasons to make Sardinia a year-round travel destination

Posted on December 12 by Jennifer Avventura

Top 10 reasons to make Sardinia a year-round travel destination

10. Sardinia’s summer season runs from April – October.

9. The sun shines on average 300 days a year!

8. With 1800km of rugged, emerald coastline you won’t have any troubles finding that secluded, romantic beach.

7. Sardinia is not just a summer destination. Stunning ski slopes greet the visitor in the spectacular Gennargentu mountain range.

6. The local food is out of this world! Be sure to try: suckling pig (the national dish of Sardinia), local pecorino, mirto, seadas, and of course local wine which will knock your socks off.

5. Sardinia is an adventure sporting heaven with rock climbing, mountain biking, road cycling, sailing, hiking, rally car, skiing and kayaking.

4. Sardinia offers the guest year round fantastic festivals for the entire family.

3. Staying with a family at an ‘agriturismo’ (farm-stay) has never been easier with thousands of locally owned and operated agriturismo’s all over the island which cater to skiers, climbers, boaters, beach bums, families and groups.

2. By visiting Sardinia throughout the year you are giving the islanders much-needed jobs, security, well-being and helping to sustain the local economy for longer periods of time.

1. The hospitality of the islanders is second to none, they are generous, humble and extremely kind.

The awesome folks over at Expats Blog held a contest for us expats, all we had to do was write a Top 10 list and submit it by December 11th. On the eve of December 9th I sat down with pen and paper and penned my submission, the following morning I was prepared to type up the list and send it off to Expats Blog – one full day before the due date.

The morning of the 10th I severely burned my thigh, calve and top of my foot with scalding hot coffee, leaving me bedridden and in agony. Needless to say my Top 10 list went un-typed and un-sent which was a total bummer as I was looking forward to ~~winning~~ entering the contest.

Will you make Sardinia your travel destination for 2014?