Pompeii

We took the train from Sorrento to Pompeii.  The day was hot, clear blue skies and barely a breeze.  We skipped the guided tour and equipped with a good map and the guided audio tour we set off to explore.  The city is HUGE.  I never realized how big the site actually was.  You can explore for days.  We were there for 3 hours and did not even see half of it.  It was amazing to see frescos still on the walls, smooth marble, house numbers, temples still standing.... I think I took 150 pictures.  The energy of the city is still very much alive.  You can imagine rushing through the streets thousands of years ago.  I loved it here.  Pompeii made an incredible impact on me.  It was overwhelming the amount of information they have discovered!  Pompeii was everything I had hoped it would be and more.

Sorrento

After days of whirlwind sightseeing I was looking forward to relaxing on the Amalfi Coast.  From Naples to Sorrento you take a smaller, regional train which was an experience in itself.  There were gypsy children playing accordions for money on the train.  I arrived in Sorrento and it was hot, sunny and stretched along the ocean.  Sorrento thrives on tourism and the people there are falling all over themselves to make your stay enjoyable and happy.  Almost everyone spoke english.  It was so nice to slow down and relax.  The first day was spent exploring this cute little town and eating and drinking at a wonderful little restaurant that had the most wonderful Pinot Grigio and prosciutto wrapped melon, and pizza, and.... yum!  Sorrento was definitely more expensive, but worth the splurge.  Afternoons were spent lounging at the pool.  I met some amazing locals and ate some of the best food I had in all of Italy here.  I will go back for sure next time I am in Italy.

Rome

Rome renders me speechless.  I got the same chills driving through Rome for the first time that I did in New York City.  The power of the city is amazing.  I stayed in a great monastery hotel right outside the walls to Vatican City.  I checked in and took myself out for lunch and who should sit down at the table beside me but this lovely woman also traveling solo from Vancouver!  It was nice to chat to her for a while.  I spent the afternoon touring the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.  The art was stunning.  I thought I would feel a huge spiritual connection to the Vatican, even though I am not catholic, but I felt nothing.  I searched for that connection the whole time I was there, even praying in a temple to the Virgin Mary....nothing.  While I was in Florence my left ankle on the inside started to hurt and I just assumed it was from the run and walking so much.  By the time I got to Rome I was in so much pain I could barely walk.  I spent the night in my hotel icing my ankle and leg and relaxing with some wine.  The next day I did a walking tour of Rome.  We hit the Spanish Steps, Trevi fountain, and the Pantheon. 

As soon as we came around the corner and the Pantheon came into view I got shivers, and it felt like everything around me got quiet.  I felt overwhelmed with emotion and tears came to my eyes.  The Pantheon is quite possibly the most beautiful building I have ever seen in my whole life.  There is was, the spiritual connection I was looking for, and it was beautiful.  I sat at the foot of a large granite column and was transported back to a time where God's and Goddess' were worshipped equally.  There was balance and passion on earth.  I felt calm, reassured and connected - to myself, to Rome, to my beliefs, to the earth.  

I wandered the streets of Rome all afternoon, lunching at this great restaurant close to the Spanish Steps.  You could wander Rome aimlessly all day for weeks on end - in fact that is what I recommend!  In North America we are in such a state of constant hurry.  I had been struggling with the urge to "fill my time", feeling the need to get it all in and cram as much as possible into every day.  This afternoon I stopped.  I enjoyed just being in the city.  Quiet.  Just be.

Florence

After the magic of Venice I found Florence dirty and crowded. I managed to navigate the public bus system up to Pizzale Michelangelo which overlooks the city. From there I set off on foot with a map in hand in search of Villa Agape. I found myself wandering the beautiful Tuscan landscape following winding roads going up higher and higher. The villa was so beautiful! The nuns that run the villa are very sweet and kind and of course speak only italian. Me speaking only english proved to be entertaining, but we figured it out. I had a tour of Florence and the famous Uffuzi museum which was amazing. The next day I spent the whole day on a tour of two beautiful Tuscan towns, Siena and San Gimiarno. I loved Siena so much I actually recommend staying there and taking a day trip to Florence. I picked up a beautiful handmade leather journal in Florence. I can't wait to finish my current journal and start my new one! So far I have been fine traveling alone. I am surprising myself with my fabulous navigational skills and quick understanding of public transit. 

The following is a journal entry from my first night in Florence:

I have caught a glimce of heaven and this is what I saw - luscious rolling hills blanketed in rich shades of velvet green, the sun bouncing off the tops of the trees.  The green ocean of foliage stretched out across the valley and down towards the city.  I am perched on a quiet hilltop off of Piazzale Michelangelo watching the sun go down, enjoying a crisp white wine and a caprese salad.  The tomatoes grown in a garden nearby, the mozzarella so fresh it tastes as if it was made this morning.  In Italy the flavor of olive oil lingers in your mouth caressing the back of your throat.  All of the food is so simple and fresh.  Caprese salad is my new addiction...

Venice

The magic of this city still lingers in my soul. I love everything about Venice. The old, tiny winding streets, the wine bars, the gelato, the people - I could go on and on. The monestary was simple and clean. Kulbinder, Rhonda and I wandered the city for two days, getting lost continuously. A map in no good in Venice, really only useful to to find the approximate area you are in. There are signs pointing to major landmarks so you follow them and wander in that general direction. Often times there is a sign for San Marco and arrows pointing in opposite directions - you can go in either direction to get there following the winding streets - this suits the gemini in me just fine. We went to the island of Burano, which is the island famous for it's lace. Each house is painted a different bright color, a photographers dream! So beautiful. My last night there Gary and I attended an orchestra performance with an operatta in an old church that only seated 75 people at the foot of the Rialo bridge. It was stunning. Their performance of Pachbel's Canon brought tears to my eyes. So beautiful. I love love love love Venice! I can not wait to return...

After the race

I was delirious, thirsty and shaky legged. I somehow stumbled back to the hotel, went to the bathroom, washed my face and lay on the bed for 20 minutes. I really wanted to see Kulbinder finish her marathon and Jo finish the half so I got up and went back out. As I left the hotel Jo was right there so I walked the rest of the way with her. I am so proud of her she finished walking the half marathon over 30 minutes faster than she expected! Kulbinder finished strong at just over 5 hours. We all stayed at the finish line for hours cheering on our fellow JIMers crossing the finish line. Chris, our JIM trainer, always crosses with the last marathoner. Her name was Britney and she came down the main street of Trieste towards the finish line, the last one on the course, a Canada flag draped over her shoulders, with a police and ambulance escort and her sister running at her side. There was not a dry eye in the house. We all ran behind her as she crossed the finish line. We gathered for photos with the race organizers and then sang O Canada together as a group. The Italians then sang their anthem. It was amazing. We were so welcomed and celebrated as the largest international group to attend the race. I am honored to be part of Joints in Motion - what an amazing experience!!!

2:32:13

My first half marathon was amazing! I could not have asked for a more beautiful location! The course was great. The italians said it was a mostly flat course, if by mostly flat they mean 14 kms of steady downhill running then I guess it was mostly flat. Downhill running is really hard on your quads and knees if you have not trained with a lot of hills. I hill trained for three days. Needless to say I was sore the next day. It took about 4 or 5 km to really get into a groove, which is pretty typical for me. The next 11 km were amazing - I ran strong and steady. I stopped to take photos as we were running a route high on the cliff tops above the adriatic winding down towards the ocean. Around 16 km a strong wind came up and blew something (water? a bug?) into my ear. It felt like I had water in my ear and it was quite uncomfortable. It made me dizzy and feeling sick for the next 4 km. I could only run a few minutes at a time and then had to stop and walk to stop the spinning. Around 20 km I was taking my last walk break - so exhausted - I did not think I could run 1.1km without stopping. I thought I would walk for 300 or 400 meters and end the race running. At that moment I felt someone touch my right elbow. I looked up at a tall, Italian angel, a man about 45 or 50 years old, "No, no bella" he said to me and pulled me into a run. I ran the last 1.1 km strong and by his side. We crossed the finish line together. If it was not for him I would not have finished so well. Of course I needed a photo with him afterwards. My marathon angel.