You gotta go there, to come back

Vacations are not about 'getting away' - but about getting in 'touch'. Chinese Proverb

Holidays are a great opportunity to regain focus, balance and get back to basics about what life is really about. Having had the very great gift bestowed upon me last week by a client of a week in italy (!!), I feel very grateful to be able to share with you, what I consider to be the greatest treasures of Italian culture.

1.) Food - obviously!!
2.) Family
3.) Beauty

FOOD; Apart from the fact that Italians take coffee very seriously (ahhh...), the next most obvious thing is that you never - EVER - see an Italian eating on the run. This, is akin to sacreligious behaviour. You must eat, enjoy and allow time for the body to digest, and the energies to restore before undertaking other activities. Each component of the meal is complementary and significant in the order of proceedings; Antipasti, pasta, meats, vegatables, dolci/sweets, digestiv liquor. Elegantly presented and incredibly simplistic, our cilinary experiences brought to mind Leonardo Da Vinci's words, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

FAMILY; Italian families commune together regulary, both at home or in the public domain, in leisure or activity. They openly show their love and appreciation of each other, and share quality time. We saw whole families out on bikes together (as Lucca is well known for its cycling poulation), all ages cycling along; sometimes three generations - and all incredibly fit! On Sunday, the smartly dressed townsfolk flock to the churches for worship, then populate the towns many restaurants with their vibrant, melodic chatter to share the blessing of food together.

BEAUTY; The Italian love of beauty is evident in mounmental proportions - everywhere you look; Fashion - most Italians are effortlessly stylish at any age, and the men are noticable bold in their use of colour and pattern (metro-mania...LOVE it!). Food is always beautifully presented and artistically displayed so as to draw the eye and send you salivating through the doors.

The architecture is sublime! (obvs) Richly detailed, beautifully crafted, thoughtfully presented, balanced magnificently between form and function - ultimately triumphant!

Extreme physical beauty alert! Why are Italians so INSANELY gorgeous?! Walking past living statues of great beauty, it is a constant assault on the senses as you pass through the packed piazza's of perfection. It takes a while to get used to the open and often ardent attention of the male poulation (ohhh...well at least a day!), and quite frankly - one could grow to really LOVE that part of Italian culture :-) It's not only the men either - the women also stare openly and seem to assess you from top to toe as you pass. We took this as admiration ;-)

They are passionate people, it is in everything they do, evidence of love and lust and romance and also of duty and ceremony and ritual. They do not drink or eat too much like too many of us in the western world; Everything in moderation - even moderation (except for love!)

Italy is intensely romantic, it is the fabric of society, they love to love and aren't afraid to show it. How could one not fall in love, in Italy, whilst one still has a pulse?

Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things. Denis Diderot

For me, this holiday was like stepping into a beautiful painted canvas, and becomming part of the scene. Incredible colours, rich reds, golds, greens against a perfect backdrop of ancient stone, clear, blue skies and sublime light. Perfectly temperate at between 26 -28 degrees, we enjoyed the 'siesta' opportunities and late night happenings.

Getting 'back to normality' after a holiday is a habit I have chosen to drop. In its place are integrated aspects of my Italian connection, to balance and continue the celebration of life, love and all the richness there.

Enjoy some amore on me this week! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS6-b7CONDI

Thanks for tuning in...

Ciao ciao!

Jodia xxx

Gratzia grande to Becca, for this wonderful gift. Keep on shining.

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