As I was saying, I am now staying in an Ashram in the middle of Italy. A couple of days ago I was drinking a cappucino on the balcony of my hostel in Manarola, Cinque Terre trying to figure out my next move. In my mind I had 3 choices, I could stay in Cinque Terre (which wasnt likely because it seemed booked out for the weekend), or I could go back to Nice (which I didnt feel ready to do) or I could go to Rome (which I felt nervous about because I had no access to internet and couldnt research accommodation). I was starting to feel a bit anxious; I needed to get on a train sooner rather than later so that I didn't arrive at my destination too late.
Just as I was in the midst of contemplation, Angelica, a german woman who was sleeping above me in the hostel bunk bed, came to join me and asked where I was going. We had spoken the night before, and filled eachother in with where we were each at in our lives. I had confessed that this seemed to be a period of transition for me, because all aspects of my life seem up in the air. The truth is, since stepping foot on this journey, I have been asking myself some big questions and the answers aren't clear, like 'Do I still want to live in Canada?', ' Should I move back to Australia?', 'Do I keep pursuing music?' 'Is there something else I should be doing with my life? What am I going to do for a job when I get back? "....
Angelica, who spoke as though she knew something about my life that I didn't know, suggested that I go to a place called Ananda, a yoga/meditation retreat, outside of a town called Assisi. She had spent time there during a similar period of her life and said it helped. She sensed that I was feeling a bit lost and said that 'this place will centre your soul'.
Well as you know, I have no real plan, and I'm open to anything right now, so this seemed like a promising idea. I especially liked the sound of the 50euros/week fee that included shelter, food and access to daily yoga and meditation workshops. Angelica seemed very keen for me to explore this option and even went to the trouble of asking reception if she could use their computer and she found the contact details for me. We then went our separate ways.
And so, I took a step onto what seemed like one of the longest days of my life. I spent the next couple of hours walking up and down the steep hills of the town trying to find a public phone that actually worked. Most of them only accepted phone cards and for some reason the 'Tabac', the only place that sold them, wasn't going to open that day. I finally found a local who pointed me in the right direction and called Ananda. Much to my disappointment I discovered that as a first timer, the fee is actually 48euros per day. I decided I couldn't afford it, and told them thanks but no thanks.
After another half an hour of feeling lost and unsure of what to do, I reconsidered and realised that I was actually spending more than that most days anyway. So I called them back and told them I was on my way, they could expect me in a few hours...
I was sooo off with the timing. I don't know if any of you have had the pleasure of catching Italian trains before, but I found that the rides are long and slow, the schedules are confusing and the routes require alot of changes. On top of that I recieved different information at every station about how I was supposed to get there. This was the reality;
Manrola, Cinque Terre - La Spezia
La Spezia - Pisa Centrale
Pisa Centrale - Florence
Florence - Arezzo
Arezzo - Assisi
From there I had to take a 30 minute taxi to Ananda.
The trip took 9.5 hours and by the time I got there I was an emotional wreck! I was imagining every possible worse case scenario " I was going to be stranded in a town in the middle of nowhere, unable to communicate with anyone, and maybe the taxi driver would be a rapist murderer and I would disappear and no one would even know that I was missing"
To cut a long story short, I arrrived safely. And the people who greeted me were very kind and welcoming. I made in just in time for dinner, an amazing vegetarian meal, served in a dining hall with about 40 others. There were people from all walks of life and a cross section of ages. Within seconds I discovered that this community was very supportive of the creative arts and that there were a lot of musicians there. I felt I was in the right place.
Im staying in a warm and cosy room with 2 others, the floors are heated, the bathrooms are clean and private. The scenery is amazing, nestled in a valley of lushiously green mountains (or big hills, I'm not quite sure of the difference). The food is soooo good! and I have access to yoga and mediation workshops all day if I want to, but there is no pressure, I can do whatever I want. All classes are in Italian, but a translater sits behind you and says everything in english if you need it.
I've already gone to a couple of classes and went to yoga at 7am this morning. Yoga and meditation are both things I've been wanting to do for a while now, so I'm pretty happy.
Sometimes its a bit weird, all the Omm's and praying and hands in the air, but the Anthropologist in me is enjoying the experience :)
Can't help but have a little chuckle every now and then when I look at myself from an outsiders point of view. I imagine all of you and think "if they could only see me now"...
Have to go, lunch is calling.
xx
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