Buon giorno, una bella giornata.
Liz Gilbert is unhappy with her life. In a moment of self-realisation, the thirty-something American woman picks herself up off the bathroom floor and decides to divorce her husband. She later embarks on a journey around the world to rediscover the good things in life and find her true self.
The recently released film Eat, Pray, Love, starring Julia Roberts as the leading lady, may have its self-indulgent aspects, but for anyone with a travel bent, the stunning scenery along the way makes the feet more than a little itchy.
Based on the bestseller novel written by Gilbert herself, this is a story about reconnecting; with both the outside and the inside world.
As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. And as Gilbert knows, one of the things Italians do best is food. Spending four months in the country that gave the world pizza, pasta and gelato, she experiences the true pleasure of nourishment by embarking on what she calls a ‘no carbs left behind’ quest.
From slurping on spaghetti on the streets of Rome to sampling countless flavours of gelato in Naples, Gilbert rediscovers the simple pleasure of good food.
For an indigestion expedition through Italy, I would suggest that you start in Rome, where you can sample one of the country’s most famous dishes — pasta. In the region of Lazio, surrounding Rome, you can expect to taste some of the best spaghetti carbonara on offer.
To enjoy quality olive oil poured over lightly salted, fresh baked bread and coupled with a glass of local red, head to the hills of Umbria, where olive oil estates abound. Or if it’s the traditional slice of heaven that you are after, I would then advise you to visit Naples, where great pizzerias are plentiful.
Anyone following in Gilbert’s footsteps is bound to discover two things: that eating in this manner will end in the acquisition of generous love handles, and that there’s something truly satisfying about the sumptuous yet simplistic lifestyle the Italians lead. It’s known as il dolce far niente, translated as ‘the sweetness of doing nothing’. Gilbert discovers that the Italians know quite a lot about taking time out to enjoy the good things in life.
While it may be frustrating for some visitors, there is definitely something to be said for the concept of ‘Italian time’, which is best summed up by the idea that things will get done when they get done. Locals don’t waste energy worrying about being late or meeting deadlines. Trains arrive when they do, meals arrive when they’re made, and somehow everything still functions.
To appreciate the simplicity, all you need to do is sit at a café in one of the many piazzas dotted around Italy and watch as the old men play cards and drink espresso, lovers share a meal and young children run about chasing each other. And it is this enjoyment of life that is not only the best reason to plan a trip to Italy, but more importantly, to create your own dolce vita lifestyle here in South Africa.
I made spaghetti last night with a Tuscan meat ragu, eaten with some crusty panini and simple red wine. I did not want the meal to end – I was living the dolce vita. Wake up and taste the sweet life – live the sweet life – you can do it.
By the way, I can highly recommend the book which you should find in all book shops, and you should read it first, before seeing the film.
Buon Appetito
Cheers… and salute
Love Italy, love life.
