What a great group! We get to watch the setting sun while doing evening yoga. Most times we are outside enjoying fresh air as we breathe and make our way into a sequence of asanas. This morning, it rained heavily, so we did our yoga indoors. It was incredibly comfortable and comforting to do yoga while listening to the rain. I am deeply moved as I watch everyone put their all into their yoga practice. I am intoxicated by the beauty of Italy and the lovely group I feel privileged to spend this week with. So little time to blog, but I have some photos to post here and will write a bit about each photo, hopefully giving you a sense of this unique yoga adventure!
Ancient remains of a walled in city, Umbria (Umbria is one of the least touriy areas of Italy).
150 year old Olive Oil Containers in Monte del Lago, Umbria ( literary festival was going on this town where a famous Armenian poet lived. Her name was Aganoor and I must look her up to learn more about her! She wrote love poems in the 1800’s.
Chiara, Chef Massimiliano, and Benjamin serving up dishes and dishes of Umbrian delights night after night at the villa.
Dinner at the villa!
Dinner! Photo taken from the other end of the table, same night!
Ty and Rick enjoying a glass of…BEER.
A visit to the DeRuta pottery town.
Jeff gives spinning clay a try! The potter said, “You must wet your hands a lot, but DON’T wet your hands too much!” And he said, “The clay, she is like a woman. She is very strong, but she is also very delicate!”
Karin tries her hand at making pottery for the first time!
Just had to include this…a kitchen scene from Gianni and Andreina’s house, where we had lunch just before our group arrived on Saturday.
Monica, our fantastic and very animated guide on Isola Maggiore on Lake Trasimeno! Some elderly women were making lace outside their doors while Monica was talking. She speaks loudly and clearly. The women said in Italian, “That young girl will certainly need a bottle of water when she is done with this group!”
The island of Isola Maggiore, where we went today, used to be famous for its lace making. Today, there are only 12 people who live on the island compared to 500 who lived on this small island years ago. The few remaining women still make lace, sitting outside.
Yoga on the Isola Maggiore. After seeing frescoes on the walls of a church built in 1200 and walking the main road of the island (where there are no cars), and hearing the story of how the Italians save the Jews from the Nazis on this island during WWII, we had a yoga session, followed by lunch on the island.
Karin and me…we could be cousins.
Our lunch restaurant setting at Isola Maggiore today.
Marilyn!
Jane and Kazuko!
Part of our group gathers outside a 13 Century church on Isola Maggiore.
On our way to Lake Trasimento: Barbara, me, Jeff, and Karin Bigman.
