How I was "Swept Away" in Sardinia

This post is part of the Italian #FWT a.k.a Food, Wine & Travel. Today me and my  fellow bloggers take you all to Sardinia (Sardegna)!

In order to feed my wanderlust for Italy, every now and then, I engage myself in activities related to Italy. For instance- reading books or watching movies based in Italy. It really is wonderful to find yourself in Bel Paese in words or in media. 

Among my recent activities was watching the movie "Swept Away". Now don't confuse Swept Away with the 2002 movie of the same name starring Madonna, as this one was made way back in 1974. 

Swept Away has been extensively shot in Tortoli, Sardinia. The movie's story centres on a rich woman who is vacationing with her friends on a yatch. She has a huge attitude and arrogance that pesters a deckhand. But he does not want to upset his boss so keeps quiet and manages with her. When the woman's friends leave her and head out on their own, he agrees to take her in search for them. The story follows of the both of them getting swept away and stranded in an uninhabited island of Sardinia. Although the scenes got quite erotic and were not upto my taste I loved how it showed me another side of Italy.

Images Courtesy: Google

Tortoli:

The movie was made more than 30 years ago so it is different from the ones we see these days. But it captures the essence of Sardinia. After some reading I found out that Tortoli is located in the area of Ogliastra and is known as Paese delle Tortore or the Village of the Turtle Doves. How fascinating! 

It houses several historic remains and natural wonders and has an Open Air Museum of Contemporary Art, which sounds quite intriguing. I was totally smitten by its beauty in the movie and the coastline and beaches. Like all regions of Italy, it is also well known for its wine and food.

Tortoli definitely looks and sounds magical, I would love to visit it someday and maybe get swept away too! ;-)

Are you curious to watch the movie??

Wait! There's more!

My fellow bloggers have lots more to share with you so check out their blogs below.  If you're reading this in time also you can join us live on Twitter at 11am EST at #ItalianFWT and tell us all about your experiences with the island of Sardegna or come and learn something new about this region.



Vino Travels - The Native Grapes of Sardinia with Argiolas Cannonau

Italophia - How I was "Swept Away" in Sardinia

Enofylz - Sardinia Style Seafood Paella and Cantina di Gallura Canayli Vermentino #ItalianFWT

Vino in Love - Exploring Sardinian Wine

Rockin Red Blog - Mountainous Food & Wine of Sardegna 

Confessions of a Culinary Diva - The Food & Wine of Sardegna

Cooking Chat - Summer Spaghetti with Garlicky Shrimp and a Vermentino

Food Wine Click - What Wines Goes with Octopus?  A Sardinian Investigation

Culinary Adventures with Camilla - Grano Saraceno Risotto con Funghi e Miele



Thanks for joining us today! Next month September 5th we feature the region of Abruzzo.  Let me know if you'd like to join our group.  Ciao ciao for now!

                      Morning Photography in Perugia

It was a beautiful day when I went for some morning photography towards the piazza in Perugia. Not only did I have the piazza to myself but also the entire town. Here are some shots from that day:

View of Perugia from my window

Love these neat windows

Man at work

Closed shops

Love this empty vicoli

When people started to come

Seems forlorn

Another empty vicoli

The tiniest and cutest car in Perugia

I love absorbing the vibe a town at its best time- morning. Do you have a special time too?

                    For the People of Italy and Beyond

As I write this post, I feel a mixture of emotions. It is soul-rending feeling not be in Italy but at the same time I feel happy to remember all the moments I spent this summer in Bel Paese.

This post is to all the people of Italy and beyond who helped me when I was in the country. Strangers who smiled at me and made me feel safe in a foreign land, thank you. I want to thank each and every one of them through this post and hope someday I get to become a part of someone's blog post just like these people have become a part of mine.

Thank you to the couple at the train station who made sure I reached Perugia safely and who also provided me numbers of taxis in case I missed my connecting train. I couldn't have been in Perugia without your help and guidance. 

I am grateful to the lady from Bologna who knew very little English but still helped me when I asked her.

Grazie to the people of Gubbio for helping me know more about Festa dei ceri. I am beaming thinking about the girl from Sicily who took a lovely picture of me amongst a horde of people in Gubbio. The girl was travelling with her father (in the background) who completely refused to move away so that I could get a picture. I somehow ended up loving it!

Thank you to the Baglioni Hotels for their love and support throughout my stay in Venice. 

I am indebted to my lovely host at my B&B in Trieste who made sure that every morning I had warm breakfast and coffee. 

Thanks to the man in the train who helped me with my luggage. I appreciate it. I loved the thoughtfulness of the woman who made sure I reached Orvieto safely.

On the train to Orvieto, I met a couple from Australia who shared their precious Perugina chocolates with me. 

I smile when I think of the caffe owner in Florence made my day when he sang a song. Italy travels give everyone such beautiful moments that its hard to remember all. 

These are a few of my heart-warming experiences that I remember with a smile. They deserve every mention and will always be in my prayers.

Grazie mille, amici.. A presto!

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           Lake Bled, Slovenia: Out of Grimms' Fairy Tale

I remember going through pictures of Slovenia before visiting it this summer. Lake Bled, one of the most popular tourist destinations of Slovenia, evoked a sense of fantasy, as if it was a place right out of a Grimms' fairy tale. 

The town of Bled

Located in the town of Bled, Lake Bled is only an hour and a half drive's from the capital city of Ljubljana and an easy day trip. 

I reached the town of Bled quite early in the morning to use the entire day to my advantage. As I walked through the town of Bled, I saw a hoard of Japanese tourists who were accompanied by a tour guide and were all, it seemed, making their way to see the majestic Lake Bled. I followed.

The view left me breathless! 

Lake Bled and the Church of Assumption

I was astounded by the emerald green color of the lake and the small island. Lake Bled is a really right out of a fairy tale that houses a beautiful church along with stunning views of the Julian Alps. 

I hovered around the area, clicked probably a hundred pictures of Bled and relaxed myself on a bench. It was truly a sight to behold and one that ignites inspiration, romanticism and creativity.

The entire area of the lake is laden with caffes and tourist activities not to forget a casino, a mini train for the kids and an Irish pub. It is easy to grab a bite and sit in one of the caffes and continue walking along the course of the lake. A must eat from the Bled is the popular Bled Cream Cake- which is literally a slice of heaven and droolsome!

The Bled Castle

Then there is also the medieval Castle of Bled, perched on a hilltop. Although almost every other person hikes to the castle, I chose to give it a miss and instead just wandered around the circumference of the lake.

It turned out to be the best and most ideal way to see the lake and also quiet simple. Only a 5 km walk gave me the best views of Bled as I got nearer.

If one is spending a day in Lake Bled, it is good to see the better of Bled with a traditional "pletna" ride (maximum of 8 people for EUR 12 each) and visit the Church of Assumption. It is also possible to rent a personal pletna to make it fancier and more relishing. 

The Church of Assumption is very charismatic with 14th century frescoes along with a very famous "wishing bell". According to a legend, anyone who rings the bell gets their wishes fulfilled. Worth a shot, I'd say!

Tell me what you think about this post? Also, have you been to Bled?

The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli

The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (St. Mary of the Angels) is a colossal church located just at the foothill of Assisi. While passing it on my way to Assisi I was awestruck. I am not a Catholic but churches have always intrigued me, probably much more than temples. So while returning from Assisi I visited the basilica.

The dome of Santa Maria degl Angelica from Assisi (look closely)

Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli 

Santa Maria Degli Angeli is a Mecca for the followers of St. Francis of Assisi. Situated in the town with the same name, the basilica was built in the 13th century.

The Porziuncola

Followers of St. Francis visit the basilica to for the Porziuncola, a sacred place where Francis spent his last days. The Porziuncola is believed to have been built in the 4th century and is a small chapel painted by several unknown Umbrian artists.

The rest of the basilica is stupendous and beautiful. I recently learnt from the online world that this church also happens to be the 7th largest Christian church in the world. 

Flanked by a thornless rose garden where it is believed St. Francis of Assisi talked to turtle doves, Santa Maria degli Angeli stands out from all the churches I have visited so far in Italy. It has intricate interiors and stunning exteriors with different stone inscriptions and frescoes.

The dome of basilica from outside

Opening Hours: 

7:00 am to 6:00 p.m. (Summer) & 7:00 am to 5:00 p.m. (Winter)

On Sundays, the basilica opens at 6 a.m in summer and winter both.

How to reach:

From Assisi- Take a bus from the Piazza Matteotti (5-7 minutes)

From Perugia- Take a bus from Piazza Partigiani (25-30 minutes)

From Florence or anywhere else- Direct trains to the town. Visit Trenitalia for more info.

The town of Santa Maria degli Angelica is quite small but vibrant. Here are some pictures of the town:

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