There I am - arrived in Milazzo, Sicilia, Italia via train! Then checked into the hotel with a sea-view (the Tyrrhenian Sea (yet another name I will learn to not only say but also spell before I leave here LOL - remember Aberystwyth? It's now about 18:00 - where can I get something to eat? I ask the very nice Italian woman at the reception desk. It's been a long day - train ride from 9:42 Napoli to 16:23 Milazzo. Ahhh...a restaurant just there she says - on "la spiaggia", and shakes her head as she looks at her watch - not open now.
Ahh, yes, how soon I forget..."mangiare per la sena" begins around 20:00 -- way past my usual eatting time for "la sena". Oh well, it is what it is! As I do not feel like walking into town (wherever that is).
Anywho, I can certainly amuse myself for an hour or so until the restaurant opens, especially since I have this cough and congested sinuses to keep me company.
So I walk into the restaurant sometime after 19:00. Large place overlooking "la spiaggia e la mare". Empty - but of course, it's 19:00. Yes, I am a tourist. Yes, I stand out. So what's new, you say? Anywho, not feeling so well, I am not up to speaking in Italian. Yet my comprehension is far better. So I manage to say I'm here for dinner. One man sends me out to the patio. Where the man there sends me back inside. LOL. So I sit inside and order. "Caponate al formaggio y orrechetti al fruitte de mare!" YUMMMMMM! Even with congested sinuses, these two dishes were delightful and tasty. And a huge portion as I was STUFFED!
As I wait for my order, I realize folks are not in a good mood. So I ask Source - please replace all of our etheric grids now. And as for me, let me be as fun as possible. As time went by, I noticed that the waiter was a bit nicer to me. Thank you Source. And then when they put on a movie - I asked in broken Italian and pantomine, to move outside because I did not want watch the movie. What followed was so comical. The waiter handed me my wine glass while he and another waiter lifted up my table and moved it out into the patio. LOL LOL. I got to sit outside after all.
So what's the coincidence you ask? Ok, ok...the waiter makes the usual small talk only it's in Italian. So I surprise myself that I'm able to have a conversation with him off & on as he walks past my table. And towards the end, I introduce myself.
Mi chiama Nina, et tu? Nino. Come e scrivi? N..I..N..O. I laugh at the coincidence. And tell him Nino. Maschile. Nina. Femminile. And point to each of us. He's somewhat amused, yet does not break a smile. Oh well, I was amused at the coincidence of it all. And the fact that I am remembering maschile and femminile for the Italian nouns.
And the coincidence with names continues...
So I'm walking to l'ufficio postale one day ... and thinking, I need to find something herbal for the last bits of my cough. I pass by this small shop and notice the word "erboristeria" and something tells me to go in. I did not make it to the l'ufficio postale because for the next hour or so, the lovely shop owner and I managed to "converse". She knowing no English. Me minimal Italian. Yet we did it - thank you Italian dictionary & intensive Italian class! Turns out her name is Pena rhymes with the Italian pronunciation of Nina. She's a naturapath. Also teaches yoga and is familiar with Reiki. So I show her how to use a pendalum.
From the erboristeria I move to my manicure appointment ... the manicurist knows a little English, so I end up managing to chat with her in Italian. Turns out her name is Lina. LOL LOL. Pena. Now Lina.
This is not the end of coincidences with names...
Days later I take day tour via ferry to two of the local isolas (islands)...Panarea and Stromboli. As I stand at the front of the boat a-awaitng our departure, the woman next me strikes up a conversation. She's Philipino and lives in Germany with her husband (who's standing next to her). So after a good while of chatting, I tell her my name and she laughs and says 'that's my name also'. I laugh and tell her she's kidding. No, seriously, that's my name. Only she spells it Nena which in Italian would be pronounced Neh-na. And I spell mine Nina. We got a good laugh out of all this. Especially when her husband was calling Nina later and we both turned around.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
i just love the italian way of...
...wrapping your food items up for you to carry home. See next two photos of la mia sena (dinner) tonight & salume e bresaola per a dimani. So pretty and neat. And I have now eatten one of the two items (the 3rd photo). YUMMMMM! I have to say, whatever I have eatten here in Milazzo, Sicilia has been DELICIOUS! Could not say that for Napoli.
...i negozi chiuso dal 1:30 al 4:30 per un pranzo (lunch) - see next photo. Milazza is a town and definitely, like Napoli, abides with the closing from generally 1:30 TO 4:30 per il pranzo. Given my experience of the last three years, that's about the time when the body slows down and wants nourishment AND a rest. Three hours definitely allows for un pranzo e un pisolino. The Queen of Sleep definitely approves! America, will you adopt?
Ciao! Baci! Abbracci! Luce!
...i negozi chiuso dal 1:30 al 4:30 per un pranzo (lunch) - see next photo. Milazza is a town and definitely, like Napoli, abides with the closing from generally 1:30 TO 4:30 per il pranzo. Given my experience of the last three years, that's about the time when the body slows down and wants nourishment AND a rest. Three hours definitely allows for un pranzo e un pisolino. The Queen of Sleep definitely approves! America, will you adopt?
Ciao! Baci! Abbracci! Luce!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Scotland East Coast -- 31 July to 7 August 2010 + another reminder LOL
What other things do I remember from Tanfield, England? The ARGHHHH morning that stretched into the afternoon, sitting in front of Jan's computer looking for the next place to sleep. The tedious and frustrating and NOT FUN time!
So there I was @ Jan & Justin's on that Wed - searching. searching. searching. Asking Jan & Justin what they thought. Weighing the pros & cons of staying here versus there. Was I using my intuitive sense. Yes. No. Yes. No. I was dancing. Mostly with the Not Using. Which contributed to Me, end of day, no closer to a place to sleep than when I began! I kept going back and forth. I pretty much had ruled out heading to Sicilia as I had planned. Yet finding a place in Eastern Scotland was really testing me.
Oh well, reminder #XX (lost track of the numbering) - when ARG, frustrating, non-productive moments come (AND they certainly will), take a break instead of continuing with the ARG, frustrating, non-productive stuff I'm doing. HMM, easier said than done (which is the reason I probably created these moments again later on this walkabout LOL).
AMAZING what happens when I let go and just flow with what's before me. For the next day, I did not get jump right in front of the computer. Instead I did my balancing. Then some energy processes to clear my system of non-bene stuff. And then it was time to find the next place to sleep. And thus it happened, that I landed in Perth, Scotland for the next 8 days to experience Scotland for the first time. And explore its East Coast.
Yes, my walkabout is for among a lot of things -- using & honing my 1st sense. The one we are born with & then develop the others. And at least for me, relegate it to my 6th sense. Perhaps that's the reason I use a dowsing tool when I'm balancing or doing energy processes, to help me hone my 1st sense. Because as I've seen time & time again with myself, my mind, my ego, my brain, can & will override the 1st sense IF I allow them. So as Diane once told me, the dowsing tool keeps her honest. And for me, it keeps my mind, brain, ego in check.
Anywho...Scotland is BEAUTIFUL! And Perth was perfect. The weather was great. Thank you Source. A city yet small enough that I did not feel urban! The train and bus station were walking distance so I was happy (and so was my back) that I physically was able to walk and go up/down stairs without the body going "what the hell are you doing to us?" So thankful for the restorative time at Linda, Jan & Justin's!
Now to use the 1st sense to guide me on what to do each day.
That's how my planned train ride to Aberdeen turned into a train ride to Inverness. 1st sense plus asking the ticket person which destination he would chose. The Scottish countryside & mountains, even viewing from the train, is so BEAUTIFUL. And all that Mother Nature..Gaia..Beauty is joyful in and of itself. Thus the train ride to/from Perth/Inverness was FAB! Relaxing. Not a lot of folks on the train that day so it was fun to just sit and stare out the window. Or videotape (Zackti the videorecorder I bought back in June, is getting a work out)...and I see I can add a video to this post...later LOL.
And this lovely couple I met while eatting dinner one night in Perth -- when I asked them what was the one thing in Perth that I should do, did not respond. Instead they said I should go to St. Andrews. They had been there that day and liked to visit. So I went there one day. And in the process, got a lesson in what it's like when things do NOT go the way I, yes I, planned them. I laugh at myself even now as I type. And shake my head at myself.
Now I'm using public transport the entire time I'm in England, unless someone else is driving. And the one thing about using public transport, is that you flow with that schedule. To get to St. Andrews via public transport, requires a train ride to Dundee, then a bus to St. Andrews. Well, when I finally figured out where the bus stop was (thanks to the GREAT info point on the pedestrian mall), there I was standing at the bus stop. AND the bus sails past. ARGH! So I look at the posted bus schedule..next bus in one hour. HMMM...time for bathroom break and return to the info point to see if there's another option. There is...return to the train station, take a train to Lechuars, then a bus to St. Andrews. At this point, I'm still in my ARGH state. And once I decide to take this route, then as I walk to the train station, I tell myself, I do NOT need to be in St. Andrews at a particular time. I will get there when I get there. I will see what I need to see. And this ARGH state is not helping so please go into the Light. Reminder: When things do not go as I plan, I can choose. Hmm? ARGH? AHHH? The 1st sense chooses AHHH! The other senses are all over the board LOL LOL LOL LOL. Thus contributing to me being in ARGH state longer than I need to be.
Anywho...what do I remember about East Coast Scotland? The sense of peace & groundness as I viewed and traveled the countryside. The strong mountains. Or walked the beach at St. Andrews.
The interesting people I met: the couple who sat at the table next to me at dinner & struck up a conversation with me. Delightful dinner conversation & we'll stay in touch. The woman who owns a crystal shoppe in Crieff. That's the most pendulums I've ever seen in a shoppe before. And she taught me how to use a pendulum. We'll stay in touch. The bellman @ the hotel who made me laugh - what are you carrying in that bag, a dead body? he said with a stern, serious look & then laughed.
The food? Haggis & tates is very tasty. I like it. Then again, I grew up eatting scrapple, which is probably a Southern USA cousin of Haggis. And it's common to find lamb burgers on the pub menu, which I love lamb.
At some point, I'll update this post with photos and videos. Until then...onward to Mallaig, Scotland on the West Coast...
So there I was @ Jan & Justin's on that Wed - searching. searching. searching. Asking Jan & Justin what they thought. Weighing the pros & cons of staying here versus there. Was I using my intuitive sense. Yes. No. Yes. No. I was dancing. Mostly with the Not Using. Which contributed to Me, end of day, no closer to a place to sleep than when I began! I kept going back and forth. I pretty much had ruled out heading to Sicilia as I had planned. Yet finding a place in Eastern Scotland was really testing me.
Oh well, reminder #XX (lost track of the numbering) - when ARG, frustrating, non-productive moments come (AND they certainly will), take a break instead of continuing with the ARG, frustrating, non-productive stuff I'm doing. HMM, easier said than done (which is the reason I probably created these moments again later on this walkabout LOL).
AMAZING what happens when I let go and just flow with what's before me. For the next day, I did not get jump right in front of the computer. Instead I did my balancing. Then some energy processes to clear my system of non-bene stuff. And then it was time to find the next place to sleep. And thus it happened, that I landed in Perth, Scotland for the next 8 days to experience Scotland for the first time. And explore its East Coast.
Yes, my walkabout is for among a lot of things -- using & honing my 1st sense. The one we are born with & then develop the others. And at least for me, relegate it to my 6th sense. Perhaps that's the reason I use a dowsing tool when I'm balancing or doing energy processes, to help me hone my 1st sense. Because as I've seen time & time again with myself, my mind, my ego, my brain, can & will override the 1st sense IF I allow them. So as Diane once told me, the dowsing tool keeps her honest. And for me, it keeps my mind, brain, ego in check.
Anywho...Scotland is BEAUTIFUL! And Perth was perfect. The weather was great. Thank you Source. A city yet small enough that I did not feel urban! The train and bus station were walking distance so I was happy (and so was my back) that I physically was able to walk and go up/down stairs without the body going "what the hell are you doing to us?" So thankful for the restorative time at Linda, Jan & Justin's!
Now to use the 1st sense to guide me on what to do each day.
That's how my planned train ride to Aberdeen turned into a train ride to Inverness. 1st sense plus asking the ticket person which destination he would chose. The Scottish countryside & mountains, even viewing from the train, is so BEAUTIFUL. And all that Mother Nature..Gaia..Beauty is joyful in and of itself. Thus the train ride to/from Perth/Inverness was FAB! Relaxing. Not a lot of folks on the train that day so it was fun to just sit and stare out the window. Or videotape (Zackti the videorecorder I bought back in June, is getting a work out)...and I see I can add a video to this post...later LOL.
And this lovely couple I met while eatting dinner one night in Perth -- when I asked them what was the one thing in Perth that I should do, did not respond. Instead they said I should go to St. Andrews. They had been there that day and liked to visit. So I went there one day. And in the process, got a lesson in what it's like when things do NOT go the way I, yes I, planned them. I laugh at myself even now as I type. And shake my head at myself.
Now I'm using public transport the entire time I'm in England, unless someone else is driving. And the one thing about using public transport, is that you flow with that schedule. To get to St. Andrews via public transport, requires a train ride to Dundee, then a bus to St. Andrews. Well, when I finally figured out where the bus stop was (thanks to the GREAT info point on the pedestrian mall), there I was standing at the bus stop. AND the bus sails past. ARGH! So I look at the posted bus schedule..next bus in one hour. HMMM...time for bathroom break and return to the info point to see if there's another option. There is...return to the train station, take a train to Lechuars, then a bus to St. Andrews. At this point, I'm still in my ARGH state. And once I decide to take this route, then as I walk to the train station, I tell myself, I do NOT need to be in St. Andrews at a particular time. I will get there when I get there. I will see what I need to see. And this ARGH state is not helping so please go into the Light. Reminder: When things do not go as I plan, I can choose. Hmm? ARGH? AHHH? The 1st sense chooses AHHH! The other senses are all over the board LOL LOL LOL LOL. Thus contributing to me being in ARGH state longer than I need to be.
Anywho...what do I remember about East Coast Scotland? The sense of peace & groundness as I viewed and traveled the countryside. The strong mountains. Or walked the beach at St. Andrews.
The interesting people I met: the couple who sat at the table next to me at dinner & struck up a conversation with me. Delightful dinner conversation & we'll stay in touch. The woman who owns a crystal shoppe in Crieff. That's the most pendulums I've ever seen in a shoppe before. And she taught me how to use a pendulum. We'll stay in touch. The bellman @ the hotel who made me laugh - what are you carrying in that bag, a dead body? he said with a stern, serious look & then laughed.
The food? Haggis & tates is very tasty. I like it. Then again, I grew up eatting scrapple, which is probably a Southern USA cousin of Haggis. And it's common to find lamb burgers on the pub menu, which I love lamb.
At some point, I'll update this post with photos and videos. Until then...onward to Mallaig, Scotland on the West Coast...
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Todmorden & Tanfield, England 21 to 31 July AND reminders
I was asked along the way -- what would take me to Todmorden, England? Or Tanfield, England?
Fabulous-os Linda, Jan, Justin!
It’s been 5 years since Linda & I have seen each other. And where she lives is a new place to visit -- she just moved from London to Todmorden (north-east of Manchester, England). Anywho, I stepped off the train. And there was Linda, NOT changed a bit. Her fabulous smile. Her smiling energy. Her lovely quirkiness. All that met & embraced me. And it seemed like yesterday that we’d seen each other. That's what I LOVE about Linda and a lot of my friends. That feeling of having just seen or talked to them, when in chrono-time, it's been ages. Thank you Source for this reminder #1.
We managed to pack in a lot in such a short visit. Lots of cava, eatting, shopping and catch-up conversation. For on 23 July, we two were heading via train to Tanfield in County Durham, England to visit our mutual two friends Jan & Justin. AND in that short visit, it was WONDERFUL to just sit and chat about all sorts of things. Besides my back really appreciated the rest. Drink cava. Eat. Get caught up. Shop - the kyanite pendant I'm wearing now is a fab reminder of my fab visit with Linda. Yes, this walkabout is re-inforcing in me what is important in my life. Friends – definitely! Bubbly – definitely! Vegetables – definitely! Thank you Source for reminder #2.
Which brings me to Tanfield, England...Jan & Justin! Being at their loving home from 23 to 31 July was EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you Source! For my back still was not happy. So between a chiro visit and just relaxing at their home, my entire being was ready to continue my walkabout.
I still hear Jan now...wanting to have more time to take me sight-seeing, yet needing to attend to her work. And Justin not feeling well before and while I was there. It is what it is AND all was what it needed to be for Justin and I to get our well-being nurtured and nourished. And Jan to get her work completed.
Ah, speaking of nourished! I took FULL advantage of Jan & Justin's invite to their icebox. Each day was an foraging adventure to see what veggies I could take out and turn into breakfast or lunch. Breakfast for me is a protein and a veggie. So I knew on this walkabout, I would be challenged at breakfast time as veggies are a-typical breakfast foods. My host and hostess were often amused at my foraging and what I would come up with. I LOVE THIS! Thank you Source for reminder #3 - enjoy what you love while you have it for there will be times when you don't have it! Like veggies! Or a bathtub!
Visiting with Jan & Justin also seemed like it was yesterday. Although I saw them last year when they were in San Francisco and we had dinner. I love how we each take each other as we are - warts and all! Going with the flow of the moment. Holding the space for each other. Reminder #4 - sometimes just being with another person is what each of you needs - no words, no fixes, just being.
Aside from my visit with my fabulous-o friends. Hmm what do I remember?
The garden centers. These are NOT the garden centers I've been to in America where all they sell is garden stuff. Oh NO! Jan needed something so I went with her to one. And voila, a place to eat. Clothing. Luggage. Cards. Food products. Dishes. WOW, I just enjoyed wandering about to see what was there.
Also a theme forming...a momento purchased in each place I visited! I was introduced to Desigual designs in Aberystwyth - one coat in a small store there. The next time was in Newcastle near Tanfield, where the department store had a Desigual department. With the aid and subtle prompting of Jan on two occasions, Lady Blue Coat is traveling with me! And as I was to learn on this walkabout, sychronicities abound! For Desigual translates from Spanish to English as UNEQUAL which certainly describes each of us (and moi!). Plus Lady Blue Coat loves me! And I love her! And a friend once told me that both you and the clothing need to choose each other! Plus this saying embroderied in a corner of the coat definitely speaks to me in general: cazador de adventuras!
Onward ho...
Fabulous-os Linda, Jan, Justin!
It’s been 5 years since Linda & I have seen each other. And where she lives is a new place to visit -- she just moved from London to Todmorden (north-east of Manchester, England). Anywho, I stepped off the train. And there was Linda, NOT changed a bit. Her fabulous smile. Her smiling energy. Her lovely quirkiness. All that met & embraced me. And it seemed like yesterday that we’d seen each other. That's what I LOVE about Linda and a lot of my friends. That feeling of having just seen or talked to them, when in chrono-time, it's been ages. Thank you Source for this reminder #1.
We managed to pack in a lot in such a short visit. Lots of cava, eatting, shopping and catch-up conversation. For on 23 July, we two were heading via train to Tanfield in County Durham, England to visit our mutual two friends Jan & Justin. AND in that short visit, it was WONDERFUL to just sit and chat about all sorts of things. Besides my back really appreciated the rest. Drink cava. Eat. Get caught up. Shop - the kyanite pendant I'm wearing now is a fab reminder of my fab visit with Linda. Yes, this walkabout is re-inforcing in me what is important in my life. Friends – definitely! Bubbly – definitely! Vegetables – definitely! Thank you Source for reminder #2.
Which brings me to Tanfield, England...Jan & Justin! Being at their loving home from 23 to 31 July was EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you Source! For my back still was not happy. So between a chiro visit and just relaxing at their home, my entire being was ready to continue my walkabout.
I still hear Jan now...wanting to have more time to take me sight-seeing, yet needing to attend to her work. And Justin not feeling well before and while I was there. It is what it is AND all was what it needed to be for Justin and I to get our well-being nurtured and nourished. And Jan to get her work completed.
Ah, speaking of nourished! I took FULL advantage of Jan & Justin's invite to their icebox. Each day was an foraging adventure to see what veggies I could take out and turn into breakfast or lunch. Breakfast for me is a protein and a veggie. So I knew on this walkabout, I would be challenged at breakfast time as veggies are a-typical breakfast foods. My host and hostess were often amused at my foraging and what I would come up with. I LOVE THIS! Thank you Source for reminder #3 - enjoy what you love while you have it for there will be times when you don't have it! Like veggies! Or a bathtub!
Visiting with Jan & Justin also seemed like it was yesterday. Although I saw them last year when they were in San Francisco and we had dinner. I love how we each take each other as we are - warts and all! Going with the flow of the moment. Holding the space for each other. Reminder #4 - sometimes just being with another person is what each of you needs - no words, no fixes, just being.
Aside from my visit with my fabulous-o friends. Hmm what do I remember?
The garden centers. These are NOT the garden centers I've been to in America where all they sell is garden stuff. Oh NO! Jan needed something so I went with her to one. And voila, a place to eat. Clothing. Luggage. Cards. Food products. Dishes. WOW, I just enjoyed wandering about to see what was there.
Also a theme forming...a momento purchased in each place I visited! I was introduced to Desigual designs in Aberystwyth - one coat in a small store there. The next time was in Newcastle near Tanfield, where the department store had a Desigual department. With the aid and subtle prompting of Jan on two occasions, Lady Blue Coat is traveling with me! And as I was to learn on this walkabout, sychronicities abound! For Desigual translates from Spanish to English as UNEQUAL which certainly describes each of us (and moi!). Plus Lady Blue Coat loves me! And I love her! And a friend once told me that both you and the clothing need to choose each other! Plus this saying embroderied in a corner of the coat definitely speaks to me in general: cazador de adventuras!
Onward ho...
things when I need them
Have been noticing on this walkabout...how I happen upon things as I need them. And ask for them. Thank You Source!
Such as...
The chiropractor. First in Aberstywyth, Wales – the only one was two doors down from the natural foods store where I inquired to see if they knew of a chiropractor in town. And in Tanfield, England, there was one less than a mile from where my friends lived.
The fleece shirt. It was getting cool in Oare, England. And since it seemed I was being guided towards Scotland, I thought I have all these great fleece shirts...AT HOME...NOT HERE. Please let me NOT pay an arm & a leg for something. The local store in Marlborough was having a sale and voila, a fleece shirt in my size. AND it was buy-one-get-the-second-free.
The packable waterproof rain jacket. The one item on my packing list that I forgot to pack LOL - how did that happen? The one at home does me no good here LOL. So I happened down this one street in Aberystwyth. There was this multi-purpose store with no store display windows. So I wandered in and, YUP, you got it, in the corner was a huge selection of raingear AND a GREAT sale on all sorts of rain jackets. Found one in my size. AND at a fabulous-o low price.
Wonderful weather. Thank You Source for all the wonderful weather I’ve had given the various locations I've been to thus far.
WCs. Thank You Source especially for this.
The Italian Intensive course that started on the day I called the school.
The umbrella. It was starting to rain in Napoli one day. AND, you guessed it, my umbrella was at the hotel (quite a distance away). Voila, I was near a shop where the week before I saw a fun umbrella for 2 euro, yet decided at that time--I have lots of umbrellas, why get another. Now I have another fun umbrella LOL LOL! Source, you're too funny!
And YES, there are those times when I needed something, like internet access, and did NOT find it. Those ARGHH! times. LOL LOL, yet focusing on my have-nots is not as productive as focusing on my haves. Besides I love living this saying of mine..."Awareness is a great teacher!"
Luce & Baci & Abbracci & Amore!
Such as...
The chiropractor. First in Aberstywyth, Wales – the only one was two doors down from the natural foods store where I inquired to see if they knew of a chiropractor in town. And in Tanfield, England, there was one less than a mile from where my friends lived.
The fleece shirt. It was getting cool in Oare, England. And since it seemed I was being guided towards Scotland, I thought I have all these great fleece shirts...AT HOME...NOT HERE. Please let me NOT pay an arm & a leg for something. The local store in Marlborough was having a sale and voila, a fleece shirt in my size. AND it was buy-one-get-the-second-free.
The packable waterproof rain jacket. The one item on my packing list that I forgot to pack LOL - how did that happen? The one at home does me no good here LOL. So I happened down this one street in Aberystwyth. There was this multi-purpose store with no store display windows. So I wandered in and, YUP, you got it, in the corner was a huge selection of raingear AND a GREAT sale on all sorts of rain jackets. Found one in my size. AND at a fabulous-o low price.
Wonderful weather. Thank You Source for all the wonderful weather I’ve had given the various locations I've been to thus far.
WCs. Thank You Source especially for this.
The Italian Intensive course that started on the day I called the school.
The umbrella. It was starting to rain in Napoli one day. AND, you guessed it, my umbrella was at the hotel (quite a distance away). Voila, I was near a shop where the week before I saw a fun umbrella for 2 euro, yet decided at that time--I have lots of umbrellas, why get another. Now I have another fun umbrella LOL LOL! Source, you're too funny!
And YES, there are those times when I needed something, like internet access, and did NOT find it. Those ARGHH! times. LOL LOL, yet focusing on my have-nots is not as productive as focusing on my haves. Besides I love living this saying of mine..."Awareness is a great teacher!"
Luce & Baci & Abbracci & Amore!
14 to 20 July 2010...Wales -- Aberystwyth
Well, today is giovedi, 7 ottobre 2010, 10:48 pm...
Taking the time to fill in the gap between 14 July…when I was in Oare, England s..l..o..w..l..y moving around..after I somehow threw my lower back out of balance that day..until I arrived in Napoli, Italia on 27 August.
Anywho, as the ole saying goes "hindsight is always 20/20". And so it is for as I look back, being in the all the places for those 14 days after the Martinsell Centre (Oare, England) greatly helped me go s..l..o..w. AND that is exactly what I needed (albeit not what I wanted - hey I'm on holiday and lots of things to see & do - HA!)
There I am with five days after the Martinsell Centre (16 to 20 July) and no plans and as importantly to the Queen of Sleep (moi!) -- no place to sleep.
Where to go? Where to go? The water was calling me since I’d been land-locked for now 13 days. I casually asked the massage therapist I saw in Marlborough on 13 July where she would go. She quickly responded with a look of longing -- North Wales. Aberaeron. Even though she’d not been there herself, she’d heard it was beautiful. Hmmm, I thought, never been to Wales. And it's on the water. And it's in the general direction of my friend Linda who's expecting me on 21 July). Sounds like a destination. And so began the first of my sit-down-in-front-of-a-computer-and-search-for-a-place-to-sleep-several-days-before-I-am-to-be-there. One where I could easily get to via public transport. Yes, the agony & ecstacy had begun LOL!
And as importantly, MY walkabout had truly begun!
Many hours later (my back was definitely NOT happy), actually more like 48 hours later, I had a place to sleep. And transportation almost booked. Not the Aberaeron I had thought of, Aberystwyth – yes, by the time I left there, I could not only spell the name without looking it up each time, but also pronounce it. LOL LOL
Yup, things happen for the best. For I was still moving pretty slowly and NOT looking forward to the train trip. On the other hand, being by the water was what I wanted. Being by the water always seems to replenish me. Thus finding a place to stay in Aberystwyth worked out since the train stopped there. Whereas Aberaeron was a bus ride from Aberystwyth.
By the end of 16 July, my body, especially my back, was extremely HAPPY, after two train changes, to finally arrive in Aberystwyth AND NOT get on bus! A big Thank You AGAIN to all those wonderful folks who helped me get my bag on and off the train!
Wales is definitely beautiful. Riding the train allows me to en-joy the countryside and whatever interesting things are happening (or not) out the window. There is a wonderful trail along the Welsh coast & includes Aberystwyth. Had I been there longer AND with a back that was well for walking, then it would have been a beautiful hike.
Oh well, it is what it is as Ekhardt Tolle says. Instead, I strolled or sat along the promenade, en-joying the wonderful sound of the waves. AHHHH, HEAVEN on earth for me!
Onward ho to Todmorden for a visit with a dear friend...
Taking the time to fill in the gap between 14 July…when I was in Oare, England s..l..o..w..l..y moving around..after I somehow threw my lower back out of balance that day..until I arrived in Napoli, Italia on 27 August.
Anywho, as the ole saying goes "hindsight is always 20/20". And so it is for as I look back, being in the all the places for those 14 days after the Martinsell Centre (Oare, England) greatly helped me go s..l..o..w. AND that is exactly what I needed (albeit not what I wanted - hey I'm on holiday and lots of things to see & do - HA!)
There I am with five days after the Martinsell Centre (16 to 20 July) and no plans and as importantly to the Queen of Sleep (moi!) -- no place to sleep.
Where to go? Where to go? The water was calling me since I’d been land-locked for now 13 days. I casually asked the massage therapist I saw in Marlborough on 13 July where she would go. She quickly responded with a look of longing -- North Wales. Aberaeron. Even though she’d not been there herself, she’d heard it was beautiful. Hmmm, I thought, never been to Wales. And it's on the water. And it's in the general direction of my friend Linda who's expecting me on 21 July). Sounds like a destination. And so began the first of my sit-down-in-front-of-a-computer-and-search-for-a-place-to-sleep-several-days-before-I-am-to-be-there. One where I could easily get to via public transport. Yes, the agony & ecstacy had begun LOL!
And as importantly, MY walkabout had truly begun!
Many hours later (my back was definitely NOT happy), actually more like 48 hours later, I had a place to sleep. And transportation almost booked. Not the Aberaeron I had thought of, Aberystwyth – yes, by the time I left there, I could not only spell the name without looking it up each time, but also pronounce it. LOL LOL
Yup, things happen for the best. For I was still moving pretty slowly and NOT looking forward to the train trip. On the other hand, being by the water was what I wanted. Being by the water always seems to replenish me. Thus finding a place to stay in Aberystwyth worked out since the train stopped there. Whereas Aberaeron was a bus ride from Aberystwyth.
By the end of 16 July, my body, especially my back, was extremely HAPPY, after two train changes, to finally arrive in Aberystwyth AND NOT get on bus! A big Thank You AGAIN to all those wonderful folks who helped me get my bag on and off the train!
Wales is definitely beautiful. Riding the train allows me to en-joy the countryside and whatever interesting things are happening (or not) out the window. There is a wonderful trail along the Welsh coast & includes Aberystwyth. Had I been there longer AND with a back that was well for walking, then it would have been a beautiful hike.
Oh well, it is what it is as Ekhardt Tolle says. Instead, I strolled or sat along the promenade, en-joying the wonderful sound of the waves. AHHHH, HEAVEN on earth for me!
Onward ho to Todmorden for a visit with a dear friend...
Saturday, September 18, 2010
3 Settembre 2010 - le foto di gruppo della classe
Learn something new each day my mother would tell me.
And voila...Google Translate is pretty darn handy if you have something to translate into your first language.
In my case, below is what Google Translate gave me in Italian so I could e-mail the 3 Settembre group photo to my classmates. One is Russian and knows English - piccolo... WOW, what courage she has! And finally some photos from me LOL LOL...
I wish I could capture the fabulous expressions of each of my classmates and 2 insegnanti (teachers). Priceless..funny..great as we learn Italian grammar and practice pronunciation/conversation for four hours daily -- lunedi to venerdi. And Ray's favorite - verbi irregulari. And what a work-out as I'm ready for pranzo after class.
Yes...for inquiring minds who want to know LOL...my spontaneous enrollment in a one week Italian intensive language class. WOW, has it been three weeks already. Turned into me completing the full four week course. Thus continue to be in Napoli. Now in a self-catering appartemento in the Quartieri Spagnoli. Lively. Noisy. Interesting. Great to hear the language and use it. What fun that has been.
Will at some point fill in the gap between Oare, England 16 July and today...a dimani...
Baci & Abbracci for now!
Nina
====
Ciao,
Ecco le foto di gruppo della classe.
Tanto divertimento riunione ognuno di voi. Grazie a ciascuno di voi per fare il divertimento di classe.
Trust Olga tornò in Russia in modo sicuro. Meglio Lydia con i suoi studi di lingua italiana presso l'università. Felice per l'insegnamento Bretagna con i suoi studenti italiani. Buona fortuna con il tuo Yuki test TOEFL.
Si prega di rimanere in contatto. E se qualcuno vuole visitare San Francisco, hai un posto dove stare.
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