I love the idea of this ... Kiwi Wondering, you can check out their website here.
And I absolutely respect the two women committing their days, weeks, months ... lives, to this project, having known Pippa for years, I'm beginning to know her sister too.
Check out the introductory video below ...
The Beautiful Truth workshop in Piedmont was intense ... I'm only beginning to unpack everything that happened and to go through the images we all took there.
Intense in that way it is when like-minded women gather together. As always, I met some truly superb people who made me laugh so hard sometimes ... other times, well I'll post a photograph of Sara, Sandy and Julie trying on shoes at the Market in Acqui Terme - cameras dangling over their shoulders.
But no, that made me smile too. They were delicious and we're all still in touch. In fact, Julie and Sara arrive at my place tomorrow, flying in from a quick trip to Portugal .
In the image that follows ... Sara made us pause while she captured herself, Diana, and I in reflection while taking aperitivo in Acqui Terme.
Today began with pastries and espresso from a bar along Via San Lorenzo, and then the chance meeting with Amedeo the artist ... and another espresso, this one with that friend I thought I had lost.
There was a walk through the city and the interesting conversation in the Loving Genova office. The delightful post-lunch drinks with Simon and Paola, as they passed through the city on their way back to Brussels.
Then a long catch-up with the artists on Via San Lorenzo, with Amedeo, with Karla, with Franco and the rest too.
Dinner ended being a buffet selection at a bar just off Piazza de Ferrari, with a drink down in Piazza delle Erbe on the way home.
This visit has been about more than a few chance meetings too. I met Anna, from Beautiful Liguria, out there in the caruggi. And tonight it was Roberto, a kind friend who has introduced me to new places in Genova ... he walked into the bar with his friend.
It's good to be back ... as always. And there is this, the painting I might have bought from Amedeo today. Just absolutely celebrating the fact that he made it off life-support and is painting again.
I met Amedeo Baldovino a few years ago now ... I wrote of it here.
A few months ago, I received bad news. He had collapsed in the city and was on life-support. It didn't look good and I grieved for both the man and the talented artist.
Karla kept me informed. He came through surgery, he was recovering ... it was so good to hear but this morning, out picking up breakfast, I stopped to say hi to the artists in Via San Lorenzo.
Angelo gestured to the cafe, I walked in, and it was Amedeo!!! Back painting, back in his weekend spot, BACK.
I didn't quite jump all over him like a happy puppy but I was so very very pleased to see him.
That man ... he painted this painting as a gift to me. He painted me into Genova. You can imagine how much I loved that.
Today I am celebrating Amedeo here on the blog. Everyone should have some Amedeo hanging in their home. If you think you would like to see some of his work, let me know, I'll go photograph some of the delights he has hanging and we'll work out the shipping costs.
Back in Genova, and loving it, as always.
Ciao!
There are so many reasons that Italy has slipped into my heart but one of the biggest is surely the people I have met here over the years.
The people of Piedmont have simply added to that particular experience of Italy. There was the intensity, the laughter, and the pure joy of spending those hours working with Carla in her restaurant kitchen on Monday ... then the kindness and patience of the people in Acqui Terme's Market with those foreign photographers yesterday. Last night it was all about the generosity of the people who led us through an exquisite multi-course dinner.
There is a saturation that occurs, for me, here. A saturation that is not just of a physical nature but there is a very real sensation of my soul being filled ... or whatever 'organ' it is that stores joy. It fills and overflows and simply sparkles so many times in day when I'm here.
Sure there is the beautiful landscape, the visible histories, the wine, the food, and the language but there are also the people.
Yesterday the lovely man pictured below arrived at Diana and Micha's, laden down with gifts and toting his own gentle charm. Needless to say we adored him, both for the fruit and even more after he called us all beautiful women.
For all that is difficult, in Italy in these current days, there is still so much that is beautiful and I am truly grateful to the people who allow me in.
Genova tomorrow, the day when I get to introduce everyone here to that Ligurian city I love so very well.
I don't know if I have the words to capture half of the beauty that happened todayon our Beautiful Truth Retreat.
I am learning that something extraordinary happens whenever women come together in a small group to talk and learn. Something so powerfully beautiful that it feels a privilege just to be a part of it.
Yesterday some of us met for the first time. Today, dare I claim it ... we're friends. It has been an intense day. It's only 9.42pm as I write this but I could easily sleep now.
This morning we gathered for breakfast ... a divine breakfast of fresh fruits, Italian coffee, tea, muesli, and pastries. Freshly-squeezed orange juice too.
Then there was a photography workshop with me ... out by the pool. It was made up of more than a little laughter and many photographs were taken out there in the blue-sky summer's day that was today.
But then a most extraordinary thing ... we jumped in the car and headed off to Carla's restaurant. We spent the next few hours learning how to make pasta and bruschetta the old-fashioned way ... no machines. Carla made us all smile as she opened a bottle of some divine Piedmont white wine and we began with a toast.
Of course, as the hours unfolded, there was more laughter and so many courses of beautiful food that we almost had to be rolled away from the table.
There was bruschetta, a pesto cream sauce for our handmade pasta. There was this turkey, pot-roasted, in sauce made from its juices, some cream, dried mushrooms and other secret ingredients. Some of us could have attempted that as the soup course. The gravy was divine.
And we ended with a bowl of plain gelato ... no flavour, not even vanilla just gelato and I had never tasted anything so good. And understand, I could have stopped with the bruschetta, I definitely could have stopped after the pasta. But I ate it all, well most of it, like everyone else.
And like everyone else, I left having absolutely fallen for Carla. She hugged and kissed us all when we left and, I think I speak for everyone, when I write that we left feeling like the sun had been shining on us ... just us, for those hours spent in her company learning those everyday things that meant so very much to us.
Dinner tonight and we gathered in the kitchen, a selection of beautiful Italian meats and vegetables there in front of us, some red wine ... all of talking, and laughing. I needed this laughter. Life so serious so often and to gather with these women who simply astound me ... it is good.
Perhaps the photograph that follows captures a little of fun of it all. Then again, I said quite a lot ... didn't I, writes this bemused woman, hoping she will be forgiven for raving, again.
There is more, there was the visit the ancient home of an artist, his lovely architect wife, and his film-making son. But I don't dare try to add that on here. That story is a whole other post.
The photograph below ... Diana and Carla, serving up the pasta we made.
