“Open my heart and you will see, graved inside of it, ‘Italy’.” ~ Robert Browning
Happy New Year to one and all!
The above quote resonates deeply with me. The first time I stepped on Italian soil several decades ago the country made an indelible print on my heart that has never faded. I had an immediate love affair with the architecture, history, landscape, food, fashion, people and the overall consideration of beauty in everyday life. I’ve been fortunate to travel to Italy many times…each time is a new experience where I make a deeper connection with the country, and learn more about myself.
Travel to Italy, much like yoga practice, allows us to experience the senses fully in the present moment. Whether you are meandering in a medieval village or savoring a homemade gelato after a delicious meal or slowing down to gaze at the beautiful landscape while doing nothing at all, Italy has a way of capturing the heart.
Despite the current COVID situation, Aleyna and I are hopeful that the “Tuscany Yoga Retreat and Sightseeing Tour” will take place this September 28 - October 5, and we invite you to consider joining us for this transformative travel adventure. (Note: rest assured, if the tour is cancelled, we will promptly refund all deposits.)
As many people are uncertain about European travel due to the situation with COVID, here is what I can share about the present situation in Italy.
At the time of this writing, Italy is open for travel from the US. That said, the US Embassy has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Italy due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country and advising Americans to “avoid travel to Italy”. The Italian government has also extended the Covid-19 state of emergency until March 31, 2022.
However, the Italian government has designated Tuscany, the region where the tour will take place, as a “White Zone” which is the designation for provinces/regions that demonstrate the lowest risk in the country.
I have contacted a colleague and close friend who heads the Italian Government Tourist Board in Los Angeles, the primary agency promoting tourism to Italy. She said they are “hopeful” that people will be more comfortable traveling to Italy, and to Europe overall, in the next few months.
During my travels to Tuscany this past September, I was deeply impressed at the strict protocols in place — masks indoors (optional outdoors although I believe they are now required outdoors in public spaces), temperature taking at many establishments and proof of full vaccination to both enter the country and most any place you can think of such as restaurants, shops, etc.
We are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to keep everyone updated.
Should you want to register for the tour or have specific questions, please contact me and I’d be happy to answer them by email/text/phone. (vicky@ambientpr.com/408-318-1980)
"We can try to control the uncontrollable by looking for security and predictability, always hoping to be comfortable and safe. But the truth is that we can never avoid uncertainty” ~ Pema Chodron
Andiamo!