When I first married into the US Air Force life, I never imagined I would find myself two years later living on the island of Sicily. Spending eight months there was a joy and frustration as I learned to live the "Italian" day. I am sure as a young US Air Force wife, I did not appreciate the aroma, and culture of the daily life. Work and committments often found themselves taking priority. I often wished I could have a "do over" experience. Last April, my husband and 16 year old son and I traveled back to Italy for a trip to renew and re- experience the history and "vita" of Italy.
Our thirteen day trip included Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri. My "aha" moment occured one afternoon while in Florence, as the boys decided to take a break in the Piazza Santa Maria Novella for a leisurely time to watch the pedestrian traffic and enjoy a beer, soda and bruschetta, I wandered down the alley way to the Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella, and spent a relaxing hour learning the history of the church, the pharmacy and it's wondrous museum.
I could almost feel the presence of the monks who began the pharmacy centuries ago. It was a step back in time as I peered out a window into the garden where the herbs and flowers were first grown to create the teas and medicinal concoctions that cured many. I spent the hour sniffing and sampling some of the most luxurious hand creams and perfumes, smelling the teas from green to thyme, and examining the "cookbooks" that held hand written formulas for the many medicinal products that were produced there in centuries past. I purchased many gifts to take home.
As I wandered in the old cloister, the view from the inside to the outside through an old window is one I often close my eyes and see as I re-live that wonderful afternoon of sights and smells, and imagine the creation of the many medicinal product that were created. Looking out into the garden past century old frescos, I could almost smell and feel the monks examining the herbs for maturation.
As I wandered back to the Piazza to meet the boys and sit and enjoy that glass of chianti, I had just spent the afternoon having an "Italian" day, one I wished I would have been able to experience 25 years ago when I lived in the country. I began to realize, however, that the moment could only have happened on my return, my appreciation at a more mature age for the culture and history of the "Italian" day. I look forward to many more as I plan my next venture to have another hour to explore these unique and soley Italian moments.
