Pranzo con Zia: Lunch with Zia

Yesterday Matt and i hired a car to go out of Rome to buy wood for our fire.

We decided to go close to Latina so we called Matt's Aunty to ask her if she would 

be home for us to come past for a coffee.

One hour and a half later we arrived at her house with a car full of wood. 

As soon as we walked into the house we could smell the amazing smells. 

Matt said to her was she cooking for her grandchildren and she said no for you and Belinda. 

We tried to tell her not to worry, however the words don't worry do not exist in an Italian household. 

Zia was cooking marinated chicken, pepperoni and bean mix and making home made gnocchi. 

We were sooo excited, there is nothing better than home made gnocchi. 

Of course we did not continue to argue, we just watched and helped when she would let us. 

For Zia the lunch was effortless and she would not have us coming into her house and leaving without rolling out the door. There is so much love put into the food of Italian people. They do not think of the work or cleaning involved in the process, they just want to see you enjoying the food and they want to hear the famous word that makes all the work and preparation worthwhile. 

BUONISSIMO!

London's Hyde Park

Hyde Park has never belonged to London - that it has always been , in spirit, a stretch of countryside; and that it links the Londons of all periods together most magically - by remaining forever unchanged at the heart of a ever-changing town.

We had a beautiful week end in London. My opinion on London has changed the second time round. 

I loved it. So many great spots in London, so much culture and diversity. It will be somewhere i go back too. Hyde Park was one of my favourite spots is London, we had the best time walking through the park early morning. It was freezing and the fog was thick. The autumn colours were bright and leaves were everywhere. I was sooo excited, stopping every two seconds  to take photos. Beautiful time of year in London. 

A beautiful day at Bracciano and Trevignano Romano

Today i did not have to work, so Matt and i decided to go to Bracciano and Trevignano two lake towns. 

We had a beautiful morning walking the cobblestone streets in Bracciano, eating Pizza, local cakes and sitting at the piazza overlooking the lake. 

We then continued our trip to Trevignano, what an amazingly relaxing afternoon. We walked along the path of the lake, all the trees were changing colour and some had even lost all their leaves. The light was beautiful and the temperature cool. We walked all around the town and then back along the lake. 

We found a beautiful jetty cafe on the lake and spent the evening drinking wine, on the lake watching the sun set. There was no noise of people or cars and the lake was still and clear. 

Peace filled the atmosphere and we were enjoying every moment. 

As the sun left us for the day and the cold weather approached, we decided to head back into Roma and have dinner out at a restaurant we have been waiting to try. 

The locals preparing for winter... 

I love the coloured tea towels... 

Local enjoying La dolce vita... i love the trees... 

Bracciano 

Trevignano Romano Lakeside 

Beautiful light.... 

Autumn trees... 

This statue makes me think of freedom and happiness.... 

Our spot... 

Audrey A Roma

I love Audrey Hepburn, everything about her is beautiful and down to earth. 

It has been 50 years since the filming of Roman Holiday in Rome so the city of Rome is celebrating with an Audrey Hepburn exhibition. 

The exhibition explores Audrey's 20 years of living in Rome, her fashion and photographs. 

I went to the exhibition on Sunday and it was great, there were lots of amazing unpublished photos of Audrey, a few of her personal clothing items were on display, a video of her 2nd wedding and a UNICEF aid video etc. 

I bought a book called 'Audrey A Roma', it has a lot about her Italian life and some beautiful photos. 

Day 7 Detox:

7am wake up

Warm water with lots of lemon

(this is to flush your body)

10 minute Morning meditation 

30 minute yoga session 

Multi Vitamin Tablet

Milk thistle

Banana 

Breakfast: Organic oats with water and honey

    Water with apple cider vinegar

Fresh dates and a banana. 

Lunch: Brown rice with steamed broccoli and beans

Snack: Apple, carrot, almonds or pumpkin seeds

Dinner: Zucchini, onion, carrot, potato, chilli and tomatoes cooked together.

Fennel Tea, ginger tea and peppermint tea can be consumed throughout the day.

QUOTE:

 For some trips you need just once piece of luggage, your heart. 

Today is the last day of the detox. It is currently 9pm in Italy, so technically we have finished. 

I am proud to say we did not crack or cheat the detox. 

It is the first time in my 24 years of life, that i have not had chocolate, gelati or some other sweetie for one week. I thought it would of been harder, when you focus and control your mind anything is possible. 

We are going to continue every morning with our vitamins, organic oats, milk thistle, yoga and meditation as well as lots of water and tea drinking, however for us meat and pasta are too important to give up all together. 

We have decided that as hard as it will be we are going to eat pasta less, less to us.... is maybe every second day. hahahha. 

Overall i am feeling light, happy, healthy, fresh, cleansed with more energy. 

I will be having a gelati and pizza at some stage this week.