Italy as seen from the Women’s Perspective

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Lenora

Pizza Snack in Monterosso, Italy

The women who adventure with me to ITALY are THE BEST. Here are three happy women living the ‘sweet life’, la dolce vita (Cindy, Mary Ellen, Mary G.) enjoying pizza before we hop on the train to Vernazza to shop.

“Traveling to Italy has been on my bucket list for a long time. So happy I went with Lenora who is a compassionate guide and took into consideration our needs. I felt so taken care of. I also pushed my boundaries a little and faced my challenge of fear of heights by walking on some of the trails in the Cinque Terre. Besides experiencing the magic of Italy, I loved learning more about manifesting my dreams, and breaking free of old patterns on this retreat. I loved the deep sharing and closeness created with women also. I highly recommend that you join Lenora and live more of la dolce vita.”
~~Mary Ellen

Janey & Cindy’s first gelato in Italy

Janey, (left) from our 2012 adventure, writes a blog about her adventures during our Retreat on her blog. jmac12.blogspot.com. Check it out! Cindy (on right) shares her experiences and delights in Italy on the Retreat in this short video posted in my blog post from December 2012.

“I loved this trip and have to say it was the best decision I’ve ever made!! Loads of fun. Great preparation by Lenora. So.Much.Fun!!!! and I made the best new friends EVER!
Trip of a lifetime…” ~~Janey

Enjoying the view of Lake Como in 2011. Mary C, Lenora, Betty

We just wanted to have fun and be creative in our picture poses! Girls just wanna have fun.

“I have wanted to join Lenora on her retreats since she began them in 2009, and I kept procrastinating. Now that I have finally experienced the Retreat in 2011, all I can say, is “Go now to Italy with Lenora. Do not put it off! You will never regret this decision. I carry Italy and all the fun in my heart every day.” –Betty

“I love discovering the culture, enjoying the pace, generosity, richness. The entire atmosphere of Italy is thick with culture and history. I feel it in the ground when I’m walking, and in the beautiful buildings. It’a also great to have biking integrated into the trip in Lucca as we bicycle on top of the Renaissance wall. Join Lenora. It was wonderful. Experiencing another culture with other women actually enriched and expanded my own experience. Discovering the culture, the food, the history. I really liked the camaraderie even though I didn’t know before I registered how it would be to travel with a group.” ~~Jerrie

On our rooftop class room overlooking the ocean in Monterosso, Italy

Enjoy a sweet sidewalk cafe

Sharing food and drink has always been a time to tell stories, laugh away your troubles and bond. In Italy it is a time-tested tradition.

As if Italy in itself isn’t enough to transform a woman’s belief in what’s possible, the sweet life practices you will learn and adopt make it even more profound.

Like a fine, delicious Italian meal served over a long evening spent sharing stories and enjoying each other’s company, I serve my workshop on dissolving limiting beliefs to live the sweet life in small, artfully prepared, portions throughout our trip.

Another scrumptious meal in the Cinque Terre

Refresh in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean

Mater Natura (Mother Nature) scupture in Portovenere with Marie and Joanne

Beautiful sculpture of Mother Nature looking out at sea watching for the fishermen to return. Marie and Joanne joined her watch.

ITALY: Do you enjoy beauty, art, architecture, food, nature, mountains, ocean, shopping, wine, beauty, food again!? Then you will LOVE ITALY.

What’s holding you back from traveling to Italy?! Let me know.

Italy Retreat Slideshow 2012

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Lenora

You won’t believe what it’s like to smell the fragrances of Italy wafting into the streets–the pastries, espresso, sauces and more! Or to see the beautiful Mediterranean turquoise water, and colorful homes and architectural buildings and churches.

Come with me on this virtual tour of Cinque Terre, Chiavari, Lucca, Portovenere,Portofino and other towns on the Italian Riviera. Grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up and enjoy my September 2012 ITALY RETREAT FOR WOMEN TO LIVE LA DOLCE VITA!

The 2013 dates for my 5th Annual Italy Retreat for Women are September 9-19

Have you ever said, “I wish I could go to Italy?”

What would make it easier for you to join us in September for this trip of a lifetime?

Thermal Springs,Terme in Italy

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Lenora

Thermal waters pool

After a week of hiking in Cinque Terre and biking in Lucca, we trim down to the basics of living the sweet life at a thermal springs outside of Lucca. We change into white robes as we enter the caves of Grotta Giusti in Monsumanno, Italy. My mind and body crave this gentle ‘steam bath’ to relax, and release toxins.

This is a surreal passage into another time, as less than a dozen of us enter a beautiful series of softly-lit caves. The temperature is a warm 93 degrees Farenheit, 34 degrees Celcius, (lower than our 98.6 body temperature). To my surprise, it is odor-free. We silently walk into different sections of the caves, called Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell. We sit in deck chairs in this mysterious other worldly womb of the earth, surrounded by ceilings and walls of beautiful minerals and rock formations.

Away from our normal routine of life, we relax into the silence to RETREAT, REPLENISH and REJUVENATE.

Next, we change into our bathing suits and walk outside to immerse in the large mineral rich thermal pool, where we swim and float, then make our way over to the underwater hydro-massage seats inside the edges of the pool. Like the caves, the temperature is a steady 93 degrees Fahrenheit, 34 degrees Celcius. We move in and out of the pool, sit poolside on the lounge chairs, and enjoy delicious food and drinks at the poolside restaurant.

Grotta Giusti was discovered in 1849 when some miners saw hot steam rising from the ground while working on the Giusti Family land. The thermal waters contain bicarbonate, sulphate, chloride, calcium and magnesium. The water feels soft, smooth and like the cave, odor-free. Surrounded by beautiful hillsides, I close my eyes and float on my back. Another beautiful spot in Italy that nourishes.

I arrived in Monsumanno from Lucca. The train ride from Lucca to Montacatini Terme takes 25 minutes. Outside the train station, I use my cell phone to call a taxi that costs 20 Euros for a 10 minute ride to Grotta Giusti in Monsummano. The phone number is posted on a sign in front of the station. Although not always at convenient times, Grotta Giusti Spa sends a van to the train station at designated times 3 times a day for pickups and departures from the spa.

What spas have you visited in Italy? Want to join me in September, 2013 for my Italy Retreat for Women?

Note: I have not included photos of Grotta Giusti Spa as they do not allow photos taken of their pool and cave area. Please see their website for photos.