Travelling to Amalfi

There is a long standing joke in my family that no one will ever get me on a boat. Lots of kidding around that I would rather drive, fly, walk or swim--anything to avoid stepping on a boat.

The teasing is well deserved. The very sight of boats bobbing up and down in a harbour makes me nauseous and the smell of engine petrol causes me to turn positively green.

Not only do I dislike the movement and engine odours, the isolation of being on a boat is very unappealing. Being stuck in the middle of a lake (or horror of horrors, an ocean) and not being able to get off until the boat finally docks in port sounds dreadful.

Unfortunately, on the Amalfi Coast, travelling by boat is just a way of life. I had hoped that while we were there, we could take a bus or a car to the various towns along the coast. But soon after we arrived, I realized that this coastline was not designed for motor travel. (Let us not forget that in Positano there are 200 steps between the beach and the main road.) For many years, this beautiful coastline was dotted with fishing villages.

Because my daughter and I were both worried about potential (and likely) seasickness on my part, we stocked up on lots of Gravol prior to our trip. On the days we were heading out to Amalfi or Capri or Ravello, I dutifully swallowed a pill at least 40 minutes prior to departure (as the airlines advise).

Then we nervously boarded the ferry--and prayed.

Well, that woman in the photo at the top of my blog is me. Yes, relaxing with feet up, looking out the window and having a perfectly lovely time enjoying the ruggedly picturesque coastline.

I spent most of the trip daydreaming and picturing how this part of Italy looked hundreds of years ago when the warm waters of the Mediterranean held dozens of fishing boats. Nowadays, these waters are host to ferries that take tourists to the quaint and historic little towns.

A couple of days later, I swallowed another Gravol pill in preparation for the trip to Capri and was quite proud of myself not only for not being ill but for my complete enjoyment of the boating experience.

On this trip, I actually enjoyed the solitude and the quiet time on the boats.

(I can't wait to go back to Italy!)

Ciao!

Eating in Italy

It would be impossible to talk about a trip to Italy without describing the wonderful food!

What impressed me most was the freshness of all the food. The fish was caught daily in the surrounding warm waters of the Mediterranean and the fruits and vegetables were picked early each morning from the surrounding gardens and sunny hillsides. When I commented on the sweetness and juiciness of all the fruits and vegetables I was given a very interesting explanation.

In 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted, causing great devastation especially for the neighbouring city of Pompeii: the city was actually buried in volcanic ash. But over time that ash was absorbed into the earth creating a very rich soil in which fruits and vegetables would grow in abundance. Today, all the fruits and vegetables are not only very tasty but extra rich in vitamins and minerals.

Of course a trip to Italy would not be complete without sampling Italian pasta so I very enthusiastically ordered one of my favourite dishes: spaghetti. The Italians cook pasta "al dente" which I know is the correct way--not soft and never mushy. But I suppose that deep down I lack an appreciation for fine cuisine because I prefer my pasta a little on the soft side: crunching spaghetti just doesn't feel right.

But somehow, I seriously doubted that the Italian chef would be willing to cook the pasta my way and I didn't care to see the look of disdain on his face when I made the request. So I dutifully ate the crunchy pasta and decided to switch to seafood and vegies for my next meal.

That turned out to be a wise decision: all the seafood was exquisitely delicious! I ordered another favourite: mussels. This dish was flavoured with fresh herbs, a light sauce and accompanied by juicy tomatoes.

For some unknown reason, the waiters took it personally when we decided to pass on the proffered desserts and would still bring us a plate of cookies or little fruit tarts. (I doubt if the Italians even have a word for "diet".)

Mealtimes are meant to be long and enjoyable and the waiters had all the time in the world to explain local food specialties, or describe the wines of the region and make appropriate suggestions for the best wine to accompany the meal. They were also in no hurry to see us leave and we always had to request the cheque so that we could be on our way to explore the churches and museums.

A very relaxed way of life.

Shopping in Positano

The shopping was fun and interesting, the items unique. We loved the fresh look of the pastel coloured cotton sun- dresses, bathing suit cover-ups and bathing suits. If your luggage was lost en route to Italy, not to worry, you could buy whatever you need in the charming little shops.

The prices were reasonable and the salesladies very helpful. Positano is a bustling little town with a relaxed holiday atmosphere.

As lemons and grapes are grown in abundance, there was a huge supply of lemon soaps (which smelled divine) and local white wine (light and delicious). In fact, there were many lemon flavoured alcoholic drinks. A particular lemon liqueur (forced on me by an enthusiastic waiter) gave me a terrible headache but had an unusual taste. I bought a bottle of this liqueur in a bottle shaped like the Italian "boot" for my son but I think he is afraid to drink it. He graciously thanked me but put the bottle on the top of his bookcase, along with a bottle of ouzo that a friend brought him from Greece last year. (He has made no attempt to drink that either.)

There are several perfumes made from the flowers that grow in abundance in the hills. Jasmine, rose, gardenia, camellia and lily of the valley are blended with lemon, orange, mandarin and rosewood to produce fresh, light fragrances.

Amalfi Coast

Since the Corporate Communications class at Sheridan ended, I haven't gotten around to writing in my blog. I am going to take a little detour from my usual "healthy living" and write about my last trip--to Positano on the Amalfi coast in Italy.

What a fabulous trip! My daughter, Gillian and I spent 10 days exploring the region, (We walked for miles and miles!) eating delicious food, shopping, swimming and just relaxing. This photo shows our hotel on the beach and church where I tried to attend mass (It turned out to be a Saturday evening wedding instead.).

The last time we travelled to Italy, I bravely (and stupidly) rented a Vespa. Bad idea. Before I could even get out of the hotel driveway, I lost control of the vespa and it fell on me, tearing the ligament in my foot and scraping the skin of my arms and legs. Never again. This time we walked, took the bus or a boat.

We spent a lot of time roaming around Positano which is built very snuggly into the rocky hills. Cars and scooters are only allowed on the main road (thankfully) and one needs to walk down the cobblestone streets to access shopping or reach the beach. I found the walking a bit strenuous (and I'm in reasonably good shape) so I can't fathom how older people do it. But there were indeed many older ladies strolling up and down the streets and they didn't seem to be huffing and puffing. One woman even had a walker!

Everyone we met was friendly and charming, especially the Italian men. They went nuts for my daughter and her Mediterranean blue eyes. It didn't seem to bother them that she is several inches taller than they. After all, "bella" is still "bella".

Soothing Benefits of Reading

I've always loved to read. My father was a serial reader, always had his nose in a book (would have made a great university prof) and when I was sick, often brought me a book to keep me occupied and cheer me up. Some of the books were too old for me, but I loved the feeling of snuggling into bed with a book on my knees.

I completely understand Book Clubs, and the need people have to talk about their reading experiences. Years ago, I was employed by a large company in Winnipeg. One of the women in the company was also a great reader and whenever we bumped into each other, in the hallways or the elevator, we spoke only about books: books we had read, books we recommended and books that had made an impact on our lives. I know nothing about her personal life, but I can tell you what books she read and loved.

Books connect us to each other in a special, intimate way. The books we choose, like or love say a great deal about us. My friend Marilyn and I both loved the book "Birdsong" by Sebastian Faulk and when we talk about it, we both get that faraway look in our eyes as we travel in our minds' eye back to 1914 France. No, we weren't actually there but we feel like we were and we also feel like we shared a special experience.

When an author actually writes the sensitive words of life experience, I feel that something inside me has been opened up and it helps me to appreciate the tiny moments of life. It's the small things we remember: the sunlight on a flower, the calling of a meadow lark, the stillness of a lake at sunset.

The written word reminds us of the mysteries and magic of life experience.

The woman in the photo of this blog isn't me but she looks just like me when I relaxed on a beach in Prince Edward Island a few years ago. The book I was reading?

Birdsong.

Healthy Eating

The other day I was munching on potato chips when a friend commented that it wasn't a very healthy food choice, especially given that I was blogging about healthy living. Busted!

I sort of shrugged with a, "Yeah well, so what?" attitude but I was actually embarrassed. The irony is that I rarely eat that sort of thing, not due to the obvious health implications but because I honestly don't care for the usual array of junk foods. Even the smell of Cheezies and barbecued chips makes me nauseous, and I cannot bear soft drinks.

While I was growing up, we never had that sort of food in the house. My parents nagged us constantly about healthy food choices and the miraculous benefits of exercise and fresh air. When we turned up our noses at suppertime liver, we got the standard reply about the starving children in Asia (I think it was Asia.). Of course, I repeated the same mantra to my own children.

I'm always perplexed that as a society we often choose not to follow a regime of healthy living. We still have to be coerced into not only joining a gym but using its services and in order to lose weight we have to be cajoled and pushed (Witness groups like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig.). Healthy food is readily available and even restaurant owners design menus for customers who are calorie/fat conscious. There is no shortage of books and articles dealing with nutrition, the dangers of obesity and a myriad of exercises meant to tone and strengthen our bodies. It wears me out just thinking about it.

When I was a kid, the world was much less scientific: you just did what your parents told you to do. You accepted their advice and admonishments based on faith, not scientific research.

Sometimes it boggles my mind to think about the nutritious value of each food group: how many vitamins, how many calories, how much fat and how many times will I need to run around the block in order to burn the calories away.

I still tell my (grown up) kids to eat healthy food and get lots of exercise and fresh air. (I'm sure they never tire of hearing this.) Sound advice doesn't have an expiration date.

Oh, I never did finish that bag of potato chips: I ended up throwing it into the rubbish bin.

The Healing of Lavender

Remember your grandmother (or your mother!) keeping lavender sachets in her lingerie drawers?

I used to have a hard time keeping a straight face watching my grandmother place delicate lavender sachets so carefully between the rows of knickers and bras. Maybe it was an "English thing"?

When I lived in England, masses of lavender grew in my front garden and my daughter and I often cut the stems and placed the fresh lavender in small vases. The house smelled so lovely!

I actually began using lavender when I was suffering terribly with migraines because I found that it made an excellent tonic, not only for the treatment of migraines, but in reducing emotional stress and tension. It has a calming scent.

"Lavender" comes from the Latin word "Lavare" which means to wash (Think of the French verb "laver".) as its aroma fills a room with a clean scent.

I love lavender and have little pots scattered around my house in which I burn several drops of the essence of lavender, mixed with a little water, in tiny "fusion pots". After a rough day, or a good yoga class in which every one of my muscles has been stretched, I luxuriate in the aroma of lavender. I sleep like a log and wake up feeling refreshed.

I wish my grandmother was still with us so that I could tell her that she was right and I was wrong, but I'm sure she already knows that.

Thank you Nana. I'll miss you forever.