Villa Saracena

Hello from Villa Saracena.  Last evening’s first yoga session of the week was dreamy.  We focused on stretching our lower backs, hip flexors, and shoulders.  We did a lot of side bending and yoga poses to decompress the well-traveled body.  We focused on the breath and what a pleasure to breathe in the clean pure air coming off the bay.

We face the bay and Mount Etna while doing yoga on the lawn.  We watched the sun set and got to see exactly what Homer described as the Wine-Dark Sea.  The water takes on the color of dark wine as the sun sets.  It is breathtaking to see.

So Hum

I am that.

I am the blue sky, the sound of the waves, the fresh air.

I am the fresh air, the wind, the breeze on my skin.

I am Mt. Etna, the birds, the different shades of blue.

So Hum.

I am the Greek stones revealing ancient times, the seahawks circling overhead, the oleander in bloom.

I am present, presence itself.

I am my breath.  I am at peace.  I am love.  I am alive.

All the while I am reminded of the retreat I gave in Pantelleria a few years ago.  The scented air, the flowering oleanders, the caper plants, dwarf palms, the jasmine in bloom, and the wind blowing my hair into chaos, the wind blowing my mat and flipping it again and again until it gathers around my ankles make me feel more rooted than ever on this ancient soil.

The grounds are beautiful.  Greek amphora decorate the residence.  When the villa was built 40 years ago, the construction crew came across an archaeological site made of marble.  The site  today is cleverly integrated into the design of the garden.  We will meet the owner of the villa on Wednesday and will have a chance to ask more about the site findings.  The stones lead me to believe the site could be the remains from when Sicily was a part of Greece.  I wonder if I am looking at the foundation and stone remnants from the columns of a Greek temple?

The weather is fantastic, warm and sunny.  I hope this gorgeous weather continues into next week!  There is a path, just beyond the archaeological ruins that leads down to the beach.  A few of us will swim in the bay in a little while.  The Bay of Catania is part of the Ionian Sea and the Ionian Sea is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea. I am happy to report that there are no jelly fish in these waters…at least that is what the caretaker told me.  I will report otherwise if I come across a single one!

So a few photos:

Our view at the villa while doing yoga! Mount Etna across the bay.

Dinner: Starters

Topping for the bruschetta

Sicilian Porro Tart (Leek Pie)

Insalata ..and yes, there were other dishes such as roasted chicken and later, pistacchio ice-cream made with old fashioned way, with real pistacchio.

7am this morning..on my way to lead meditation

morning coffee

Drew, Ursula, Tom, and Ursula this morning after yoga