Travel Theme: Simplicity Sardinia

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La Marinedda, Sardinia, Italy

This is my response to Ailsa’s weekly travel theme: Simplicity

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour

This week the folks controlling the Weekly Photo Challenge have asked us to represent “The Golden Hour.” The golden hour is the first and last hour of the day. I’ve never been a sunset photographer and sunrises are just too early for me. I did however manage to capture a photo of the setting full moon one early morning.

The Golden Hour – Asinara Bay, Sardinia, Italy

The Golden Hour by Jennifer Avventura 2013This photo was shot at 5:03 am using a Sony Cyber-Shot. I think it turned out pretty cool, you can even see the moon’s reflection, shining brightly on Castlesardo. There is nothing golden about this photo but it was shot at the right time for this weeks theme.

Any tips for capturing the perfect golden hour of a sunset?

When paradise turns deadly – Sardinia’s Somber Secret

Jennifer Avventura 2012 (15)Surprise washed over him as he found himself lying on the hard tiled floor of a pharmacy in a small fishing village on the coast of northwest Sardinia, Italy. “What am I doing here?” he thought as people curiously gathered around him. Continue reading

Complete Event Guide to Summer in Sardinia 2013

Here it is folks – the who, what, where and when of summer 2013 in Sardinia, Italy. Concerts, culture, food festivals, jazz festivals, cinema and much, much more! For the first time in five and a half years, I have seen something that gets me so excited that I want to do cartwheels, back-flips and scream from the top of Gennargentu. Never in the almost 6 years that I have lived in Sardinia have I seen something so organized, articulate and thorough! I would like to personally thank the ingenious people at SardegnaEventi24.it for putting together such an elaborate and informative map listing all events in Sardinia for summer 2013.

Event Listings Sardinia JulyAugust 2013

Now you can have your very own event map! Complete with listings for every town and city in Sardinia. Print it, save it, carry it in your back pocket but whatever you do, be sure to download it – it’s super FREE.

To download your FREE event guide for Sardinia Summer 2013 please visit this link: Il Foglio di Sardegna Eventi; tell them I sent you!

So many wonderful events and so little time. Which event(s) will you be going to?

A nostalgic panorama from a Sardinian Snowfall

Snow makes me feel nostalgic. Freshly fallen snow atop Sardinian mountains and valleys gives me feelings of revitalization and reminds me of cold Canadian winters past. I’ve always hated the cold, the deep, long Canadian winters and everything associated with it: wearing a toque, mittens, boots, wet socks, scarves, skiing, shoveling, de-icing the car, plugging the car battery in over night and the dirty wet slush that always comes with a heavy snowstorm.

That is why I’ve spent most of my life living or vacationing in tropical paradises all over the world (Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Australia, Jamaica, Cayman Islands). When I decided to move to Sardinia I convinced myself that it didn’t snow – it couldn’t, could it?

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It did snow, for three lovely weeks.

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And for the snow-bird who always flew the coop when it got too cold; I found myself diving head first into the stunning Sardinian snowfall that had bestowed its beautiful white grace upon the lush green mountain tops of Sardinia.

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This is my response to the Weekly Photo Challenge: Nostalgic.

What gives you feelings of nostalgia?

Travel theme: Motion

I can see a new horizon underneath the blazin’ sky
I’ll be where the eagle’s flying higher and higher
Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels
Take me where my future’s lyin’ – John Parr – St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)

50 shades of blue - Sardinia

This is my response to the weekly travel theme: motion.

8 things you should know before moving to Sardinia, Italy

Sardinia_MapThis blog My Sardinian Life receives daily hits from people looking to move to Sardinia, Italy. So, I’ve compiled a little list for those out there searching for a life less ordinary in paradise. The search engine terms which brought people to my little blog are always written in English: Sardinia cost of living, move to Sardinia, jobs Sardinia and so on.

Canada, England, Australia and America want ‘in’ on this little island secret but before you pack your bags, take these pointers into consideration. My intention with this post is to put into perspective what day-to-day life is like on the most stunning island in the world – Sardinia, Italy. Disclaimer: these are just my opinions.  Continue reading

Travel Theme: Sculpture

It was early morning and the sky was that typical Mediterranean blue when we decided to hit the beach. Normally, we are afternoon beach goers with a full tummy and want nothing more than to sink into the warm afternoon sand and snooze off a traditional Sardinian lunch, but not today. Today we packed our bags earlier than the birds.

Sculpture is the art of intelligence. – Pablo Picasso

Sculpture by Jennifer Avventura 2013

Surprised to find my favourite beach littered with makeshift bamboo sculptures/shade-shelters I knew this was my moment to capture the weekly travel theme. I was even more surprised to find the beach completely … empty.

Sculpture by Jennifer Avventura 2013 My Sardinian life (2)

In the summer months, particularly in the afternoon, this beach is packed with tourists and locals alike. It was a great welcome to have this stretch of beach to ourselves, if only for an hour.

Sculpture by Jennifer Avventura 2013 My Sardinian Life (3)It is not hard to understand modern art. If it hangs on a wall it’s a painting, and if you can walk around it it’s a sculpture. – Tom Stoppard

I got a little lucky with this week’s travel theme. This week I didn’t have to go out searching for objects to photograph. These sculptures just came to me.

This is my response to Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Sculpture.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Companionable

This weeks photo challenge from WordPress is a little, um, difficult. Companionable? Like, really? Are there not enough cute kitten and puppy pictures out there? The photo Gods want more? Must I really succumb to the challenge and post a photo of a furry animal? I think not. Here the definitions provided by WP which was sourced here.

Companion:

  • A person who is frequently in the company of,  associates with, or accompanies another.
  • A mate or match for something.
  • A handbook or guide.
  • A member of the lowest rank in an order of knighthood.

I don’t live with any furry companions nor do I have any associates and I certainly keep the talk about The Hub to a bare minimum – there’s some things I wish to keep sacred. A handbook & guide I have but it seems rather lame to use a photo of the cover of one of the many popular travel guides, and I don’t know a low ranking Knight … yet.

Therefore …

Islands and oceans are my companions.

This was my response to the Weekly WordPress Challenge: Companionable.  In hindsight, I wish I would have taken a photo of my big feet in Jamaica. Oh well, next time.

What does companion mean to you? Is it a loved one, a good book or a spoonful of Nutella?

From the Sardinian recipe box: Gigantic Zucchini … Bread

Zucchini Bread by Jennifer Avventura 2013 (1)A friend who lives 3km down the curvy mountain road cultivates her own vegetables: eggplant, tomatoes, every herb known to man and gigantic zucchini. Each and every year her surplus is big and beautiful and this year I’m able to taste the fruits of her labor.

For the first time in recorded history … I’ve made Zucchini Bread. Many moons ago, my sister went on a zucchini bread making binge which lasted months, she gave zucchini bread away as gifts for birthdays, Christmas and weddings! At the time she was new to gardening and wasn’t aware of the growth potential in zucchini, hence, her gigantic garden of zucchini and the hundreds of loaves that followed. I’ve been a zucchini bread lover since. Here’s the recipe I scoffed off the internet for which, the author is a gigantic zucchini lover too.  Continue reading