ITALY
RETREAT 2008 BLOG
Julia White
Assistant on Living from The Heart
Thursday 29 May 2008
Off to Stansted Airport
bright and early in the morning; will my suitcase fit the 15kg limit, or have I
packed too many yoga clothes? Luckily I am just 15kg so manage to get through,
although others in our party are quickly unpacking and transferring items so
that they can pass the 15kg rule. Finally we are off, or so we thought; after a
long delay the pilot decides to catch up time by flying excessively fast
through turbulence, just as well I packed
good book in which I can bury my head to distract myself.
As we arrive at Ancona, the
warm Italian air hits us, and we realise that rainy England is a long way away.
Giovanni has been sent to meet us and drives like most Italian men up through
the Abruzzian hills with Italian gusto, conversation is amusing with our broken
Italian which seems to consist of more French than Italian, but we seem to be
able to understand each other. It also helps that we have an Italian in our
group so she is called on to explain when our conversation breaks down.
Soon we reach our villa that
will be our home and retreat for the next week; it is simply stunning and the
views take our breath away. After an espresso and unpacking it is time for the
initial Session and details of the weeks retreat.
Dinner is as you would expect
in Italy wonderful and a sumptuous feast and we all enjoy the food and wine and
company before turning in ready for the morning.
Friday 30 May ( or the day of the accident)
Yoga in the morning by the
pool surrounded by the olive trees and hills with breathtaking views all
around. The session is aimed at all levels in the group. A couple of people try
Yoga for the first time.
After breakfast it is time
for the morning session and a chance for everyone to begin their process of
unwinding and healing. People mark where they are at the beginning of the work
and explore what they would like to shift by the end of the week. Aisha does
some dream work with the group, which is met with a beautiful silence or
stilling of the group, a meeting of a non verbal nature.
After that its time for a
quiet meditative walk or swim before lunch to process the morning session.
Another huge banquet of a lunch (memo to self, must have a word in my broken
Italian and see if we can reduce the amount of food or we are going to leave
the retreat 10 stone heavier).
Off to the afternoon session,
Aisha slips in the tropical storm and hurts her back. The afternoon session goes ahead with Aisha in pain but still
managing to do a Drama Therapy workshop which manages to put a smile on
everyone's face.
Aromatherapy massage is
offered to those in the group that feel the need for a bit of pampering.
Then its time for an evening
run; running through the hills exploring the countryside as watching the sun go
down on a very hot day. Unfortunately, I am so lost in the my thoughts that I
end up getting lost in the beautiful landscape and have to seek the help of 2
fellow joggers; a 55 and a 65 year old Italian men who seem to think I can
speak better Italian than I actually can. They escort me at a somewhat vigorous
pace back to my villa and invite me to jog with them another evening.
Dinner is much needed and is
another feast of Italian fare, including a Risotto alla Milanese that everyone
seems to love and we decide that we are going to have to ask for the recipe and
arrange to have it again before the week is up.
After dinner it is time to
reflect on the day and prepare for tomorrow. I decide that a evening swim is
the best way to unwind and relax after a somewhat stressful day. Then it is off
to bed.
Risotto alla Milanese (courtesy of Alda)
Risotto
dates back to the Renaissance and is a descendant of the Spanish paella. The
dish is said to have originated in 1535, when Charles V made his son Philip
duke of Milan, beginning what was to be nearly two centuries of Spanish rule.
Saffron added to the rice turns it a deep yellow and adds a subtle yet pungent
flavour.
The rice for risotto should be Italian superfine Arborio rice, slightly moist
and al dente when done. The rice will continue to cook after it has been
removed from the flame, so be ready to add the butter and freshly grated
Parmigiana cheese immediately.
The entire process of cooking the risotto takes roughly 45 minutes and requires
your full attention.
In Italy we say "Il riso nasce nell'acqua e muore nel vino," meaning
rice is born in water and dies in wine, so have a good dry white wine ready to
serve with the risotto.
6 T
unsalted butter
1/2 onion minced
1 lb Arborio rice
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 to 1 t saffron threads
about 5 cups vegetable stock
6 T freshly grated Parmigiana cheese, plus additional cheese for serving
freshly ground black pepper
Melt
4 tablespoons of the butter in a saucepan large enough to cook the rice.
Add the onion and sauté gently until soft and transparent, about 5 minutes.
Add the rice and stir until every grain is coated and shiny, abut 3 or 4
minutes.
Add the wine and keep stirring until it evaporates.
Dissolve the saffron in 2 tablespoons of the hot broth and set aside.
Add the remaining hot broth to the rice, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring
constantly, waiting until the broth is absorbed before adding more.
The risotto should always be moist.
After about 15 minutes, taste the rice.
It should be done al dente.
Add the saffron, stir, and cook for 3 minutes, adding broth as necessary and
stirring constantly.
Remove from the heat when still moist and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons
butter and the 6 tablespoons Parmigiana.
Cover tightly and allow the risotto to set for 3 minutes.
Turn out onto a heated serving dish and serve with freshly ground black pepper
and more Parmigiana as needed.
Note: The risotto
should be, as we say in Italy, al onda,
or wavy. It should be served slightly moist, not dry.
(I have since
tried this since I got back from Italy and it is bellissimo)
Saturday 31 May
After Breakfast it is time to
go to the beach for the day to spend the day nearer the elements.
Giovanni soon arrives to pick
us up and take us to the hotel by the beach where we have the morning session,
the change of scenery and location seems to but soon we get the view of the sea
and the sand beneath our toes and suddenly we are at one with the elements.
Or in my case take Aisha to
the Italian doctors to look at her back. When we get there the Doctor is out
but soon arrives back with the nurse having been out shopping! Only in Italy.
After some prodding and
translation of ow! we are assured that all is fine.
Lunch is an Italian style
gourmet feast; Risotto ai frutti di mare, Grigliata mista di carne, Pasta al
Pomodoro and Payllard di Vitello ai ferri, and the biggest and most sumptuous
salad bar. After pranzo (lunch, I am learning you see) it is time to wonder
around and do some shopping and take a much needed walk on the beach to help
digest lunch.
It is wonderful to be by the
sea, swimming and dipping our toes in the sea and feeling the sand beneath our
feet.
The afternoon session is held
on the beach so that everyone feels at one with the elements. It is the perfect
time to do a meditation and some voice work with all the fresh sea air around
us, and we all feel so much clearer and refreshed. Everyone seems to be smiling
not only on the outside but within as some people begin to lose themselves in
play and being at one with the elements.
After a glass of Prosecco we are driven back to our villa
for Cena (Dinner) and we feast on another wonderful meal.
Then it is an early night as
the sea air seems to have worn everyone out. I manage to squeeze in a quick
swim before retiring to bed.
Sunday 1 June ( or a Day of quiet Contemplation/Reflection)
Today is to be a quiet day; a
day for meditation and reflection and contemplation. From Breakfast until
Dinner we observe a day of silence.
This gives everyone time to reflect on the work and restore some internal tranquillity.
People's walks are much freer
and the signs of stress and strain leave people's faces.
Italian meals are not
normally quiet and are full of conversation so sitting and eating in silence is
a welcome change, if some what challenging to some.
The morning session and the
afternoon session are the only times the silence is broken, although everyone
seems to be appreciating the quiet contemplation the day allows. People seem to
be more in their bodies and much freer in their manner.
Shiatsu by a local Italian
shiatsu is offered
Some Art Therapy in the
afternoon and visualisation after a day of reflection.
I decide to go for a very hot
run through the hills and a chance to catch up with my fellow Italian joggers.
Dinner is somewhat noisy
after a day of silence, and everyone seems to have found their voice after what
has been a tough day for some. The group have a greater ease with one another.
The work on the Heart Chakra is clearly having an effect.
Another night swim to unwind
and then it is off to bed.
Monday 2 June (The Day off)
Today is a day off from
sessions and a chance for the group to take some time off and relax and go and
explore the countryside.
The group decide to go for a
day trip to the old Market town nearby and so a taxi is ordered for those not
feeling brave enough to hike up the high terrain.
Aisha and I decide to go down
to the beach and relax by the sea for the day. We get thoroughly pampered and
and eat far too much food, but it is our day off and the food really is quite
bellissimo. Filetti di pancasio gratinati, pasta di Bianco, Quadrellli in brodo
and hamburgher alla griglia
It is nice to have some time
off and to sit back and relax taking stock of the week. We have some time to
plan for the next few days.
Dinner back at the Villa gives
us a chance to see what the group has been up to; they seem to have had a
wonderful day and had equally enjoyable day. They even managed to watch a
Wedding at the Cathedral and showed us wonderful photos of a cling-filmed
Bubble car for the Bride and Groom to unwrap!
Another night swim; it is so
beautiful to be able to swim in the warm might air under the stars, it really
is quite magical.