birthday celebration

For my big 5-0 we were in France. We took a train to Amma's ashram in Pontgouin. Gary had arranged with the people there for us to visit. First we got a guided tour of the beautiful grounds, where we saw the bread house, the bee house, the extensive vegetable gardens, many fruit trees, composting toilets, a library, a seed bank, a barn filled with every tool imaginable. We attended a meditation session, had lunch with the residents, they surprised me with some cakes and parfaits. After lunch I wanted to do some seva (service) so I worked in the gardens, weeding. It was a perfect day. I loved every minute of it.

first day in chartres

After a long travel day we flew into France and ended up in this small charming medieval town called Chartres. Wow. What a place. We could walk everywhere we wanted to go. That night after dinner we saw this amazing light show projected onto the cathedral. It was incredible.

ravello

Our hotel in Ravello was so beautiful there was really no need to leave the grounds. We decided to have a low key day there. We ate a nice breakfast (complete with fruits, pastries, fresh squeezed apple ginger juice and the most delicious herbal tea from vervain leaves). Then we got some work done in the room, explored the gardens, and worked out in the exercise room. I took lots of photos. 

Eventually in the late afternoon we left the hotel and walked around Ravello. We decided to return to the same restaurant for dinner. The elderly woman owner was there again. We found out her name -- Netta. When she saw we were repeat guests she warmed up to us and we even got a smile out of her.  Later she insisted we have the lemon cake for desert on the house. I left after giving her a personal thank you for her hospitality and she gave me a kiss goodbye. Ah Italy!