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Patricia Sands

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Italy

Travel Theme: Sweet

July 30, 2013 by Patricia Sands 20 Comments

July has been busy! As a true Leo, I’ve loved every minute of all the action, sharing the good news, releases, reviews of other authors and friends as well as my own France Book Tour.

My special writing group, Her Books, pulled our resources together and published a FREE Book Club Picks sampler that features excerpts from some of our newest novels. If your book club is looking for suggestions, you can sample some of the work here first.

Then there was the fabulous RWA National Conference in Atlanta (see the effervescent Tameri Etherton’s equally fabulous post about it – she has photos!), followed by my own birthday celebrations last week ~ time with my family was the best gift of all!

Now it’s time to slow down, catch my breath and get comfy in my cosy writing den as my next book begins to take shape.

One thing that always grounds me is the good karma that wraps around me as I relive memories flipping through my photo albums. Today I’m responding to Ailsa’s Where’s My Backpack Travel Theme “Sweet”.

The sweet window of my favourite patisserie in Antibes ~

Antibes-PSandsPhotos
Antibes-PSandsPhotos

A sweet local young cat adopted us for a week in a hilltop village in Italy ~

Gingolo/Sermonetta-PSandsPhotos
Gingolo/Sermonetta-PSandsPhotos

The sweetest thing of all … grandchildren …

The Adorables-PSandsPhotos
The Adorables-PSandsPhotos

To see more photos about “sweet”, pop on over to Ailsa’s blog. Just click here.

Here are a couple of my favourite sites with this theme: Ese’s Voice , Picture Perfect Memories For Life,

ShootnGo,  The Urge to Wander,  My Sardinian Life

What are some of the sweetest things in your life?

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Filed Under: Blog, News Tagged With: Ailsa's Where's My Backpack, France, grandchildren, Italy, Patricia Sands, photo challenge, postaday, sweet, travel theme

Travel Photo Theme: Multiples

January 7, 2013 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

Who doesn’t love digital photography? I’ve been having a lot of fun with photo challenges lately, either by going out and taking new photos or scrolling through my ridiculously enormous fairly large photo library.

It’s also a relaxing break from my obsessive addiction writing.

This week several websites I visit regularly led me, from one to another, with the same topic as the theme … which, in itself was rather appropriate.

(A simple click on any photo will enlarge it for you.)

Multiples/Multiples/Multiples/Multiples/Multiples/Multiples/Multi

Candied Pears~Nice Market-PSandsPhotos
Candied Pears~Nice Market-PSandsPhotos
Venice~masks-PSandsPhotos
Venice~masks-PSandsPhotos
Herbes de Provence-PSandsPhotos
Herbes de Provence-PSandsPhotos
Alhambra windows~Granada,Spain-PSandsPhotos
Alhambra windows~Granada,Spain-PSandsPhotos
Spain-PSandsPhotos
Spain-PSandsPhotos
Walnuts~France-PSandsPhotos
Walnuts~France-PSandsPhotos
Granada,Spain-PSandsPhotos
Granada,Spain-PSandsPhotos
Chapeaux,France-PSandsPhotos
Chapeaux,France-PSandsPhotos
Lovers' notes,Verona,Italy-PSandsPhotos
Lovers’ notes,Verona,Italy-PSandsPhotos

This last photo captures just a small portion of the entire wall of the walkway into the garden in Verona, Italy, where people imagine Juliet called out to Romeo from her balcony. The fact that Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers are fictional does not appear to matter.

I was kind of shocked when we first saw this display but after looking at the notes and considering the motive behind them, we reconsidered … but didn’t add our own.

It’s become a tradition for people to  express their love for each other, or to ask Juliet’s spirit to help in their quest for love, and they stick the notes on the walls. (I won’t tell you how most of these notes are attached to the wall but you can read this attached article to find out.) I guess, depending on your state of mind, this could be considered littering or perhaps la passione!

Which would you choose?

Movie tip – A couple of years ago, the film “Letters To Juliet” with Vanessa Redgrave and Amanda Seyfried was based on these very notes.

Take a few minutes to visit with:

Marianne in the south of Spain at her fabulous East of Malaga blog

Meg Travels, who is always off on another jaunt

Ailsa at Where’s My Backpack

to link to many more participating photo blogs like the ones below – 

http://stefanoscheda.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/travel-theme-multiples/

http://thephotoseye.wordpress.com/2013/01/05/travel-theme-multiples/

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Filed Under: Blog, General Travel, Photo blogs Tagged With: France, Italy, Juliet's balcony, letters to Juliet, multiples, photo challenge, photos, postaday, Spain, travel photo theme, Verona

Weekly Photo Challenge: GEOMETRY

November 6, 2012 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

This week’s photo challenge is guest hosted by Quintin Lake of Quintin Lake Architectural Photography. Click on the link  for more about this week’s theme and his photography tips!

Geometry: This challenge is about the shapes and rhythms that make up the geometry of our world.

Here’s my shot looking through the porches of the change huts at a beach in the beautiful town Forte Dei Marmi on the Italian Riviera. End of season! Nobody does geometric on beaches better than the Italians.

Forte Dei Marmi-PSandsPhotos

Consider this quote from Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908 – 2004), a French photographer, painter and draughtsman, generally considered to be the father of modern photojournalism.

“For me photography is to place one’s head, heart and eye along the same line of sight. It is a way of life. This attitude requires concentration, sensitivity, a discipline of mind and a sense of geometry.”

Head on over to The Daily Post at WordPress to check out more fabulous photos!

Here are a couple of my favourites this week:

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/weekly-photo-challenge-geometry/

http://thepetalpusher.wordpress.com/2012/11/02/weekly-photo-challenge-geometry/

http://wordsandpeace.com/2012/11/02/i-love-france-33-weekly-photo-challenge-geometry/#comment-4472  – How could I possibly not have found a blog entitled “I Love France” before this?

How do you see geometry in the world around you? Got a photo? I would love to see it!

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Filed Under: Blog, If it is France..., Photo blogs Tagged With: follow your dreams, Forte Dei Marmi, Italian Riviera, Italy, living in the south of France, Patricia Sands, photography, postaday, The Bridge Club, travel

A little taste of Italy continued …

July 3, 2012 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment

Last week author Barbara Conelli dropped by and wrote a fabulous post about being a travel writer. Today she’s taking a little time out from searching for Rome’s best secrets, to answer a few questions. She’s not staying here long and I don’t blame her … in fact I’m still working on beaming myself over to Italy to hang out there with her … Who else wants to come?

PS  –  Your new book, Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore, is filled with so many fantastic tips and secrets that only a native would know. How long did it take you to compile all of this delicious and delightful information?

Thank you very much, Patricia! It’s been an ongoing process. Milan has been my long-time companion and my home away from home. My grandma was born there, I lived, studied and worked there for years, and the city is full of memories of friends, loves and delicious adventures. I’ve been collecting those urban and gastronomic secrets for years, writing them down in my travel journals. I love becoming a part of the city and simply submerging myself in its vibe and magic. When I decided to write the books, it was actually hard to choose what to use and what to leave out. I could write five more book about Milan, and I’d probably still have lots of material left.

PS –  The people who own and run the establishments you mention, must be delighted with the lovely write-ups in your book. Do you receive much feedback from them?

Yes! It’s so wonderful, and it touches my heart each time it happens. They send me beautiful e-mails, they are my fans on Facebook and follow me on Twitter, and many of them have become my friends. They appreciate the fact I have written about them with genuine love and interest, and seeing their joy is a wonderful reward. It always surprises me to hear from them, and it makes me happy.

PS –  While this book focuses on Milan, your first book Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita, covered a wider range of places including Cinque Terre and Lake Como. Do you have a third book planned and is your summer stay in Rome giving us a hint as to the topic?

Yes! My next Chique Travel Book is going to be about Rome, and I have a feeling it will be even more delightful. I’ve been to Rome many times before, but this time I’m really exploring the city off the beaten track, and what I have found and discovered so far is just fantastic. I believe no book has ever shown Rome the way I’m going to show it to my readers.

PS – There are so many good things to talk about when the topic of visiting Italy arises and eating is very close to the top of the list. If you could only choose one dish to eat in an Italian restaurant, what would it be?

Oh, this is a really difficult question! I’m a gourmet, and food is my lifelong passion. I love eating out and I enjoy exploring new restaurants and dishes. Choosing just one is very hard, but right now I would say it is fish soup the way it’s made at a very special place in Rome. I’m not going to reveal it yet because it’s an upcoming topic for my blog, and maybe for my book as well, but it is absolutely one of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted, and one of the most amazing restaurants I’ve ever visited.

PS –  The blog post you wrote last week for us was filled with excellent information for aspiring travel writers … and travellers, for that matter. When you look back at your early days, is there anything you would have done differently in getting to where you are today?

Thank you for this question! You know, I totally believe that at each moment we are exactly where we are meant to be. Every single moment crafts our personality, helps us grow and become better. Looking back, I can see that I could have made different choices on many occasions, but at the same time, I understand the impact that particular choice had on my life, and I would never ever want to change that life experience. It hasn’t always been easy, as I seem to have a knack for drama ;), but it has always been delicious and very Chique; and I hope to keep it that way.

Grazie mille,Barb! Thanks so much for taking time from your very exciting stay in Rome to chat with us. I check into your blog regularly to see what adventures you have been having and I’m sure many of my dear readers will be doing the same. If we can’t actually be there right now, we can have some fun that way! I can’t wait until you move on to Venice in August! Safe travels, my friend.

Have you, dear readers, visited Italy? What is your favourite memory from there? If you haven’t made it over there yet, is there a fantastic Italian restaurant near you? Tell us about it and share your favourite Italian dish. Hmm, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it and we have a magnifico Italian bistro within walking distance. Ciao for now!

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Filed Under: Blog, General Travel Tagged With: Barbara Conelli, Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore, Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita, friendship, Italy, Patricia Sands, Rome, The Bridge Club, the power of friendship, travel, travel to Italy, Women

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