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February 23, 2007 |
In this
issue:
The
Italian Spa Experience
Report from Monterosso
Lighten Up (Packing Light)
Easy Recipe
of the Month
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The Italian Spa Experience |
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The Romans themselves viewed baths of mineral and thermal water
as therapeutic. Baths, or spas, were also great social gathering
places. Today the word spa also brings up images of “posh
resorts” where attendants speak in hushed monastery-like tones
and you can stay in your robe all day. Perhaps you’ll have a dip
in the mineral pool and lunch poolside. Then enjoy the relaxing
music that enhances the feel of the masseuse’s fingers as they
dance across your body.
From an Italian point of view spas are not
just relaxing but a part of taking care of their health. Italian
spas are a part of the healthcare system. Thermal springs are
still viewed as places of great medicinal importance. The
Italian government actually subsidizes several days of spa
treatments each year for its citizens as ways to maintain and
improve their health. Even the most luxurious spas have sections
devoted purely to medical treatment. Most spas have doctors on
staff to prescribe treatments to clients. The mineral water is
turned into a mist to help those with respiratory or sinus
conditions. Mud that has been enriched by the minerals in the
water---are used to relax muscles and ease pain caused by
conditions like arthritis. Hydrotherapy increases circulation
while decreasing high blood pressure. Many come to take the
water by the glassful from thermal springs in parks to soothe
liver and digestive problems. In fact, thermal waters are used
by spas to treat a wide range of physical problems.
At one charming spa in the hills of Tuscany a former villa of an
Italian poet has been turned into a luxury hotel with an
attached spa. On the grounds is an underground grotto with a
tiny blue lake that filled the air with minerals and heat that
proved to be especially beneficial for people suffering from
rheumatism and arthritis. This natural wonder has since become
the centerpiece of the spa. As you descend the passage to the
grotto entrance you begin to feel the warm heavy air and as you
enter the grotto an attendant takes your robe and gives you a
white cotton gown to put on while in the grotto.
As you descend from Paradisio (heaven) to the Inferno (hell),
the only sound is the drops of water falling from the
stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Stretched out on a teak
lounge chair all the tension leaves your body during your
natural steam bath. After a swim in the pool you can choose from
dozens of different therapies such as massage, manicures,
facials, and yoga classes. The mix of medicinal and beauty
treatments makes the day feel you feel both healthy and
pampered.
We’re lucky to bring out guests to the spa during our Tuscany
Culinary tour and give them a taste of the Italian spa
experience.
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February 5, 2007 |
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Dear Fellow Traveler,
As you can see our newsletter
has a new look and name. If you take a look at our website
you'll see similar changes. We hope you'll find it informative
and easy to navigate.
We're still in Texas for the
winter but gearing up for our Spring tours. If you haven't made
your travel plans for 2007 this is the optimal time. We still
have a few spaces available on most tours and some great new
options for this year like two different tours in Sicily, and
three other culinary and adventure tours on mainland Italy. Our
Provence tour sold out so we have added another week in June.
Our field report this time is
from our guide in the Cinque Terre. She tells you about the town
of Monterosso that she calls home and explains her affection for
it.
We've also included some
ideas about packing right. We hope you are keeping warm and
stoking your travel dreams. Let us know what we can do to help
make them a reality.
Happy Travels,
Lori and Bob Boyd
Karen and Ron Haas
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February 5, 2007 |
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"In Mare e In Campagna" |
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Report from Monterosso
in the Cinque Terre by
Kate Little.
(Kate is has lived in
Monterosso for about seventeen years and is our guide on the
Italian Riviera Cooking Tour and the Cinque Terre Adventure
Tour.)
Monterosso is a mixture of
old world tradition and modern economy. Tourism has ousted the
traditional occupations of farming and fishing as the number one
economic force. Even so, almost everyone in town goes ‘in mare’
(to sea) and ‘in campagna’ (in the countryside) as often as
possible.
Speaking to the older people in town, you’ll find that they are
amazed by the ‘luxuries’ of today’s Monterosso. For centuries
the population here was confronted with violence, famine and
hard, hard work. Pirate raids, the feuding nobles and the World
Wars made life in Monterosso almost unbearably arduous. Consider
also the difficulties in mobility and the unfriendly steep
cliffs used to farm on and you can imagine the hardships that
these people had to deal with. Surviving here, as in each of the
other five towns, was no easy task.
A few years ago I saw a documentary that showed the farmers
constructing the terraced hillsides that we admire so today. The
men grouped together the large stones to use to make the dry
stone walls while the women sifted the soil to eliminate smaller
rocks. This being all on hillsides that reach a nearly 45 degree
slope. The older generation farmed and fished using handmade
nets and baskets. They ate what they needed and sold the excess
fish, wine and olive oil as far away as La Spezia.
The rare exposure to outsiders and the difficulties of day to
day living created a strong, resilient character in the locals.
Records document Monterosso’s existence as far back as 1056.
Over the years the population has risen and fallen and is now
stable at around 1800 permanent residents. Tourism boomed during
the 1960’s and the Cinque Terre has since then constantly grown
in popularity amongst Italians, other Europeans, Japanese and
North Americans. Even though there are a large number of
tourists during the summer, Monterosso maintains a sense of
small town life. The lady at the grocery store remembers which
cheese you like, the barman gives your child candy, and your
next door neighbor comments on how late you stayed out last
night.
When people ask me if I like living here and why I stay here, I
tell them ‘Monterosso becomes a habit’. It becomes easy to fit
into a society that knows your likes and dislikes, a community
that cares where your children are, a group of people that are
rooted in their traditions and day to day customs. Monterosso is
a return to what I imagine life must have been like in small
town America a hundred years ago; a place where you can belong
without having to feel like you have to prove anything to
anyone. A place where you can live. It’s a place where family,
food and a respect for nature all have a definite importance in
everyday life.
While in Monterosso, do not rush. The beauty of the town is in
being able to enjoy its marvelous nature without feeling like
you’re missing something ‘important’. Enjoy the atmosphere,
wander through the country, spot starfish in the sea and drink
wine with the locals. I guarantee that your time spent here will
remain one of the best memories of your life.
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February 5, 2007 |
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Lighten Up
Packing light is one of those things everyone talks about but
few people really achieve. You’ve waited for months for your
vacation and here you are dragging an oversized suitcase down
cobblestoned streets while searching the street numbers for your
hotel. You vowed to pack light and it started out that way and
then you just lost your confidence and decided better to bring
that extra sweater, pair of shoes, or tennis racquet than be
sorry. Here are some tips to actually get you there with
manageable luggage.
Buy a lightweight suitcase or backpack to begin with. Today some
of these weigh less than a pair of jeans. We recently checked
out an outdoor store to see their new lightweight backpacks.
They’re tough durable material and the whole pack is
feather-light. We prefer backpack suitcases for all the stairs
and train trips. If your backpacking days are over then at least
get a suitcase with a lightweight but strong frame and durable
but lightweight fabric. Suitcases with these features generally
list those qualities prominently on the label.
If you’re traveling for two weeks you don’t need two weeks worth
of clothing. You can send you clothes to be cleaned at the hotel
or spend a couple of hours meeting the locals at the laundromat.
The laundromat in Siena is one of our favorites, all directions
in six languages including Arabic, very near the main square
with a wine bar and free serenading by the local college
students. It helps to bring underwear that you can toss in the
sink with a packet of Woolite and hang up to dry overnight. So
if you wear those pants a second time at least your undies are
fresh. You might even want to factor in new clothes you’ll buy
on your trip. After all if you’re in Florence or Paris who can
resist a couple of purchases.
Remember that the world is getting smaller, meaning that you can
buy most of the things you get at home all over, especially in
Europe. So if you need shampoo then you can easily get it in
almost any grocery store. Except for prescriptions medicines and
a couple of emergency aspirins you don’t need to take your whole
medicine cabinet. In fact pharmacies in Europe come with helpful
(mostly English speaking) pharmacists trained in diagnosing
minor health problems and getting you the right medicine.
I know you’ve heard this before but it really works. Bring
clothes that go together. If you have to have brown shoes to
match your brown pants and all of your other clothes work with
the black shoes then leave the brown stuff at home. Shoes take
up too much room and are heavy so try to bring the ones on your
feet and one other pair … walking shoes and sandals for
instance. Hiking boots are only for those really going hiking.
Do bring (or buy while you’re there) a couple of scarves for
women, broken in shoes, good socks, and a light covering such as
a light sweater or windbreaker., even in the summer. You might
want a skirt or pants that you could wear to the theater or a
nice dinner. You don’t want to pass up an experience because all
your clothes are too casual. Remember that if you are traveling
to different places that the people you meet won’t know you wore
that sweater two days ago. Bring things that wear well, not
linen, and wash well, not jeans, and go with everything else.
Unless you’re traveling on business, don’t bring your laptop,
cell phone (that doesn’t work in Europe), or all your camera
lenses. The idea is to get away from it all anyway. If you want
to check your email you can find an internet café almost
everywhere you go now. They can also usually help you download
your digital pictures, send a fax, or make an online call.
The newest technologies can really lighten your load. We have an
Ereader for taking up to 80 ebooks in a device the size of a
paperback. Our iPod holds hundreds of songs, Podcasts to keep
you informed (if you really want to hear the news while on
vacation), and a digital camera with a large memory card. Some
technology we access from any internet café. Store copies of
credit cards, passports, and reservations in a folder in a
secure site. Download digital pictures to an online site. Keep
your address book in your email program. You can even type your
daily travel journal into an email to yourself or sign up for
one of the many online journal websites. A free blog is a great
way to post pictures with comments. Set up the site before you
leave, try blogspot.com . Then you can update the blog as you go
and it’s like voluntary home movies. Anyone that you invite can
see where in the world you are and how much fun you’re having.
Here’s the trick to finding out if you’ve packed too much. Pack
it all up, then carry the bag down the block and back. If you’re
already wondering who added the bricks when you weren’t looking
then at least you’ll know to rethink some of the items. We've
never had a guest go home saying, "Next time I'll bring more".
In fact a we've had a couple of serious shoppers who said next
time they'd just come with an empty suitcase and fill it up as
they went. Lighten up and enjoy the journey.
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