Sassy Sassari a Photographic Day Trip

Sassy Sassari, Sardinia, Italy

Sassari – a sprawling city on the northwest coast of Sardinia, population 130,000. Sassari is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Sardinia. Sassari is a city rich in art, history and culture and the economy relies heavily on tourism.

Duomo di Sassari – San Nicola

During the day, in the summer months, these steps are filled with tourists, locals and young children enjoying a refreshing gelato. But at night, when the tourists, locals and children are in bed is when this duomo comes to life.

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Travel Theme: Sunset by Jennifer Avventura

Gallery

This gallery contains 5 photos.

Another fantastic travel theme this week: Sunset. Follow me on a voyage of some of the best island sunsets our world has to offer. And be sure to check out Ailsa’s blog Where’s my backpack for more great submissions. Sardinia, … Continue reading

Weekly Photo Challenge: Merge

Duomo di Sassari (San Nicola.) Sardinia, Italy.

This weeks photo challenge is yet again, another challenge! I don’t have fancy photo editing software so I can’t merge photos together.

I took this photo during a late night party session in Sassari this past week. We silently walked past the duomo at a quarter to midnight when I noticed the dancing shadows on the wall. It was the most natural, beautifully placed shadow I had ever seen. And I knew I could use it for an upcoming photo challenge.

I edited the photo with a slight crop, changing it from an off yellow colour to black & white, and I put in a soft focal zoom.

Here’s what the original post says about this weeks theme:

Merge. The world is made up of many things. There is a saying that opposites attract, and this is true for relationships and other things. What about photography? Many surprises can come out of merging two different entities into one. Sometimes this fusion of the elements is what we call art.

For instance, try placing an object where it does not belong. Or, juxtapose two different objects. The statements they make together may be contradictory, but remember: break the rules and experiment. As for me, I love merging the arts, especially two distinctly different types of art. On one side, there is the performing arts—a ballerina, for instance—and on the other side, there is architecture.

Let’s see what you can MERGE in a photo!

Click here to see what other bloggers are merging this week.

Happy Merging!

VIDEO – The Kiss | I Candelieri 2012

Sassari – The kiss between two guilds. The Carpenters (Gremio dei Falegnami) and The Peasants (Gremio dei Contadini.)

You can read my full article on this great event here: The Descent of the Candle Bearers | I Candelieri 2012

Have you seen Sardinia’s 2nd largest festival?

The Descent of the Candle Bearers | I Candelieri 2012

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 dialect. The last stop, at midnight, is St. Rosario’s Church where every Candelieri receives a midnight blessing from the church.

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The Monday Farmers Market | Sardinia, Italy

Welcome to the Monday Farmers Market.

It’s my favourite time of week, Monday Market Day! It’s where I load up on local fruit, vegetables, cheese, rice and local salami. I’ve been going to the same vendors for years; we joke, exchange recipes, and banter on about the usual, weather. It’s a wonderful experience and I enjoy speaking with the local people, they have taught me so much about their culture, land and traditions, all I have to do is buy their fruit. It’s an intellectual exchange of homemade goodness.

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Le Grand Bleu | The Super Mega Yacht

One of the world’s largest, super-mega yachts, Le Grand Bleu was seen floating off the north-west coast of Sardinia, Italy on August 12, 2012.

She’s big, she’s beautiful and she is estimated to be worth $85-$90 million! I was there to capture her in all her splendid, expensive glory. I couldn’t help but stare at this beautiful beast silently floating in the Bay of Asinara (Donkey Bay) for the entire three hours we were at the beach.

Le Grand Bleu is a 370-foot mega yacht, launched in 2000 and originally owned by American business person John McCaw Jr.

In 2002 the McCaw family sold Le Grand Bleu to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Roman had le grand bleu lengthened (yes lengthened! cause you know 370-feet is just too small) and refitted with a 16-foot swim platform! Snap!

There is very little known on the interior of the yacht for privacy reasons. However, what we do know is this: a 74-foot sailboat AND a 67-foot speed boat are stored on deck, for emergencies, of course. As well as a personal helicopter, for those shopping trips to Costa Smeralda. Le Grand Bleu has a crew of 50.

Click here to read my post from July 29th’s sighting of Le Grand Bleu.

What method of transportation do you take to work?

The Daily Groceries | Sardinia, Italy

At the beginning of June, I wrote a post about the cost of living in Sardinia, Italy where I have listed the cost of internet, electricity, gas, water, eating out and cell phone bills.

This morning I did a little shopping and by little, I mean very little, just the necessities to get though the next few days plus a few cleaning products.

A grand total of €37,08 or $45.95 Canadian dollars.

The most expensive items on my list:

4 Yogurt €2,98 and freshly made hamburgers – €2,46.

The cheapest items:

Canned chickpeas and canned lentils – €0,55.

I think it’s rather expensive but that comes with island life.

Curious to see what the Daily Groceries cost in China? Check out my blogger friend –  The World According to Woman – Come grocery shopping with woman.

How does it compare to where you live?

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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Just Me, My Yacht & Helicopter | Le Grand Bleu

It was a wonderful hazy day in Isola Rossa yesterday and I decided to take my yacht to the beach, along with my helicopter because you just never know.

It was a hazy, lazy day on the beach and this was the best photo I could snap of this super yacht.

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