Italy Retreat

Earth Day is always my birthday, April 22, so I celebrated in 2 ways. First, I had a wonderful day sitting outside Revelations Bookstore Cafe in the morning with my friends enjoying the sunshine (we worship the sun here in Iowa because we don't see much more than gray for 6 months). Then continued inside for the rest of the day with lunch and carrot cake until 4pm. My one request to honor my birthday was for everyone to do something special for Earth Day (and beyond).

The second way I celebrated my birthday was to give thanks for the Italy Retreat that is filling up. Re-visiting Italy was my birthday wish last year and to Santa when I sat on his lap this Christmas. So, I'm inspired for today's post to touch on some Travel Tips for Italy.

1.) Enjoy the slower pace of life in Europe. Do not be in a rush. Having the ability to be flexible and go with the flow of the day is very helpful in enjoying the rhythm of Italy. Italy has its own way with time, and it's usually not your way.

2.) Hotels are different than those in the US. They are usually much smaller, and often there are no elevators. I found the beds very hard even in the nicest hotels I've stayed in. A small price to pay for spending your day in paradise!

3.) Don't expect the food to be like the Italian food in America. They don't serve butter with your bread or olive oil to dip the bread in. Embrace the unique experience and the delicious food.

4.) Pack lightly. There may be someone to help with your luggage, but don't expect it. You will be traveling from the airport to the train stations, so at the bare minimum, you'll need to carry your suitcases up and down the steps of the train. Italy is a mountainous country full of hills and steps. Rick Steve's hints to light packing for women and his website in general is filled with helpful ideas.

5.) Invest in an Italian Phrase Book, so you can speak at least a few words when you're in Italy. I'm enjoying the Berlitz Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary.

6.) Robin over at My Melange has lots of great tips. Her first one that I think is so true and hilarious is: "Don't bring your spiffy-white New Balance sneaks, your addidas track suit, your fanny pack, your cargo shorts or your Hawiian shirt. Save those for a retirement home in Florida. Europeans dress smartly. Do bring comfy yet stylish walking shoes, dark wash denim, black pants, scarves and a belted trench. Bring solid-colored items that can be layered. And though neon pink and lime green spandex may indeed be comfortable, for the love of God, if you know what's good for you- you'll leave those home. Or better yet, at the Salvation Army." You must read the rest of the tips: MyMelangeBlog


Travel tips: http://www.bellasugar.com/3045747

Similarly, when you return home, don't wish you were in Italy. Be present in Italy and savor it and do the same when you return to your homes.

Any Travel Tips to share? Just click on 'comment'

I was talking to my friend, Kate, who owns a bed and breakfast in Iowa, yesterday about her trip to Italy, especially her visit to Portofino. She got this faraway look in her eyes, and said, "It was my favorite place in Italy. This is where the breath stops. The feeling there is indescribable."

When she was having lunch near the water in Portofino, she described a very conservatively dressed woman who got up from the table, walked across the road, and jumped in the water with dress, nylons, and shoes still on. She swam back and forth as her husband was yelling from the shore, in German to get out. She eventually did and came back to the table and finished eating dessert. I imagined everyone there clapping and cheering. I just don't think that would happen in the U.S without someone calling 'the authorities.' My interpretation is that she was so overtaken with the beauty and the 'feeling' there that she wanted to break out from the old ways and enjoy life and the turquoise water.

Even though Portofino is a small area, there are very exclusive shops, especially expensive negligee stores.

Castello Brown sits on a hill above the village. You can reach the castle by a path near the Botanical Garden. The castle is open from 10AM until 7PM in summer and until 5PM in winter. The castle has a nice garden with great views of Portofino and the sea. The medieval castle became the residence of Yeats Brown, British consul to Genoa, in 1870.

On the way to the castle, you can visit San Giorgio Church, rebuilt after the last war. Another scenic pathway takes you clear out to the lighthouse, faro, on Punta del Capo.

As you would imagine, Portofino's restaurants specialize in seafood. You'll also find Genovese specialties such as the green minestrone. Most of the restaurants ring the harbor and have a high cover charge. There is a slightly less expensive restaurant called Pizzeria El Portico (no pizza at lunch time), and I hear they have a great seafood antipasto. Fred Plotkin, in Italy for the Gourmet Traveler, recommends the Trattoria U Batti for their pansoti con salsa di noci (ligurian pasta filled with greens and herbs, served with walnut sauce), and trenette genovesi (flat strands of pasta like linguini).

I know that Portofino is a major tourist area, but as I mentioned in my other Portofino post, I just want to experience it. Have you been there? Any tips?

Portofino picture © 2006 by James Martin, Europe for Visitors

Vernazza, considered by many to be the most charming of the five Cinque Terre towns was documented for the first time in 1080. It is the second most northern of the Cinque Terre villages. You can reach it by boat, trails, or train.
The architecture, the extraordinary views, and the quiet way of life all make Vernazza a special place to visit. My friend, Rae, visited a couple summers ago and said, "It was the most magical city I have ever been to - that gorgeous blue color of the sea, the multicolored buildings, the warmest people. Every night the families would congregate in the square - from oldest to babies. There would be singing, dancing or music and so much laughter. The place is small, and intimate. The food is fabulous.It was like being in a movie. It is the one place I would return to, if I could for a visit or longer stay."


Great architectural buildings like lodges, churches, casetorri and arcades have been there since Medieval times. Vernazza is dominated by the remains of the “castrum” a series of Medieval forts dating back to the XI century, with a cylindrical castle and tower. The most important historical monument is Santa Margherita di Antiochia (St. Margaret of Antioch), a Roman-Genovese style church, that dates back to the XIII century.

In his book, "Italy for the Gourmet Traveler", author Fred Plotkin, describes Vernazza in this way: "the main street, Via Roma, as looking like a stage set for an opera. Shuttered windows can open to reveal family vignettes. People call across the narrow street from one window to to another. One afternoon in late October, he was sprawled on the slate rocks near the port basking in the warmth of the setting sun as middle-aged Englishwomen and young Swiss men braved the cold waters. Local fishermen sat at the dock mending nets and cutting bait for the next morning's expedition."
The houses are built on slopes, in a single central street reached by perpendicularly steep flights of steps called “arpaie”. It's these steps and the cliffs that bring me to my usual advice--GET IN SHAPE--Walk, Climb hills and walk up and down steps NOW, so that you can enjoy everyday as we climb the stairways to heaven.
Have you been to Vernazza? Any tips?

This Italy Retreat will help us to focus on what we want, because as we learn to focus on our desires, we will draw that into your life. If we want or desire while at the same time feel fear, worry or doubt, we create destructive interference between the desire and the conflicting feelings. Those feelings stem from a limiting belief.

There have been many women who've expressed interest in attending this Italy Retreat, and then many 'practical' barriers march before their eyes, like soldiers, that stop then in their tracks. I realize that some barriers are just facts of life, but all too often, they can be overcome. A change in our mental state of Being and attitude are the foundation of all that we attract into our life.

When we have thoughts of what we don't want, and we stay focused on that, we will bring more of what we DON'T want into our space. First step is to focus on what we want. Second step is to become conscious of the limiting beliefs operating in our lives, that actually put up the roadblock. When we're in the moment of desire, we are usually happy ( unless we are so attached to the desire we can't move on with our lives). On the other hand, when we focus on the BUTS, we usually FEEL bad. The 'buts' are usually limiting beliefs. If we continue thinking the same old patterned thoughts and beliefs, we keep creating the same situations. It's sometimes difficult to just replace an old belief with a new one because we believe the old ones, and have a vested interest in them. Therefore, if we want a different result, then change the thought that got us here in the first place. Oftentimes it requires courage. Check out the 66 ways to build courage in my The Happiness Zone BLog.

Not used to spontaneous decisions? Be spontaneous anyway. Rarely plan and follow through? Make a plan and stick to it. Afraid of getting outside your comfort zone? Worried you may fail? Now's the time. Courage does not mean "without fear." It means do it anyway, in spite of the fear.

It Italy we will focus on knowing what we want, and on finding possibilities that can manifest in even small ways, like a newborn baby bird leaving her nest, and flapping her wings until she soars like an eagle seeing for miles.

As we focus on what we want, we feel happier, getting in tune with that still quiet voice, as we become more confident.

What do you want? What stops you from going for it in life?

Liguria is known for its healthy excellent tasting olive oil. So, you can pack some in your suitcase to bring home! There are several stores in the villages of Cinque Terre that sell the local products.

The day before we leave Monterosso on September 19 2009, there will be a festival (sagra) called The Salted Anchovy and Olive Oil Feast. It is celebrated in Monterosso al Mare, Italy each year usually over the second weekend of September.

In the states, I only buy high quality olive oil. I don't scrimp on the price or quality. My friends over at PurelyOrganic import wonderful Italian food items, and their olive oil is divine. So, even though I'm in a small rural town in Iowa, I have access to the best.