Talking Our Walk October/November

Why do you go away?… So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colours … Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.

From “A Hat Full of Sky” Terry Pratchett

Andrea & I spent two incredible weeks in Italy. I tell you this not as a “What I did on my summer vacation” first-day-of- school type essay, but rather to share the insights and reminders we’ve brought home from our rich experiences in a different culture.

Our Italy adventure began with a one-week yoga retreat in Tuscany, accompanied by a group from Inner Spirit Yoga Center—the studio where Andrea has been teaching for 15 years. Surrounded by “kilometers” of open, rolling hills covered with grape vines, olive trees, and figs, gloriously bathed under the Tuscan sun, rests (and I mean “rests”) Il Grande prato, an idyllic villa in Castelfiornentino. This peaceful haven has been lovingly, and artistically created from what had been a long-abandoned farmhouse. Looking out from the terrace of our small rustic cabin, Andrea sighed, “this is like being in a painting.” Esattamente!

Upon stepping out of the taxi, we were warmly greeted by Guilia, the proprietor and heart of Il Grande prato. Immediately following the initial pleasantries, Guilia excused herself, leaving us in the charge of her assistant. I initially found this somewhat disconcerting, but then it dawned on me: we arrived in the middle of her meal. Customers or not, Guilia’s siesta, rightfully so, was not to be interrupted. Benvenuti la dolce vita!

Italians (and presumably most Europeans), seem to eat with intention. When they sit down to a meal, the true enjoyment of the meal and the pleasure of good company IS the focus—not the cell phone. Italians live to eat—and with good reason: you can’t get a bad meal in Italy. This food is the freshest I have ever tasted (and I grew up with an Italian farmer grandfather). Most of the produce is locally grown and fresh-picked. It was a real kick to forage on wild arugula, oregano, rosemary and mint, while hiking the cliffs of the Amalfi coast during our second week. And this other treat: although gluten-free for over 30 years, every day I enjoyed Italian bread and pasta made from semolina. Why? It’s a different wheat and no GMOs!

Andrea and I don’t eat dairy products. However, our non-vegan travel companions absolutely marveled over the fresh-made mozzarella, courtesy of the freely-roaming goats. No farm factories here. Incidentally, navigating successfully through this cuisine of molto formaggio proved to be surprisingly easy. Every restaurant included a dedicated vegano menu page. Belissimo!

One of the more startling revelations across our two weeks was that we saw no obese Italians. When we did observe “less fit” people, they were invariably American tourists. Surely, lots of fresh fruit and veggies are enjoyed in this area, but interestingly, it doesn’t seem to be a question of being vegetarian, let alone vegan. Very simply, it is the lifestyle. These folks eat REAL food, freshly prepared. Other than gelato (vegan options, too!) we didn’t see anyone walking around stuffing their faces with chips and other junk. And people are served coffee in classic-sized coffee cups, and drink while sitting down, rather than stumbling through the streets with a paper “bucket” in one hand and a cell phone in the other.

Another component to this lifestyle that contributes just as vitally to overall good health: they spend a lot of time outdoors and they move their bodies. They enjoy dining alfresco, walking is the norm, and they do not fear the life-giving star we call the sun.

My overall takeaways from this experience: I’m glad to be back home and grateful for the opportunities that my European forebears afforded me by immigrating to the the U.S. That said, it is my intention to hold on to some of the life-affirming reminders of the Italian culture. There are wondrous things to be gained from, and shared with, every land, and culture.

Peace All-ways,

Neil & Andrea