Day 35: Hello Summer, Are You There?

In case you weren't aware -- today marks the first day of summer! Usually this thought has me changing straight into my swimsuit, throwing on the brightest cover-up I can find, slipping into my sandals and speeding (I exaggerate) to the lake/beach. Ohhh that thought makes me long for home! Because, instead, on Italy's first day of summer I was greeted with 60 degree weather, blustery winds and afternoon rain. I wore a sweater and jeans -- are you serious?! Who would have thought I'd be jealous of Alabama's 100+ degree temperatures? I didn't, until today. So you can imagine how hard it was to get going and motivated for class... Peek practically had to pry us out of the Palace.

Our morning classes were different though, so that kept our attention. Rosella's dad lectured us on the Mediterranean diet (conveniently before lunch... we were all rethinking our meal choices). And then after lunch he lectured us on CPR and The Heimlich. Somehow all the lectures related to one-another, but I couldn't even begin to describe how! Something about diet and Atherosclerosis, then cardiac arrest and CPR, then The Heimlich.... anywho! Here are a few notes on the Mediterranean diet (I am thinking they are on to something here...)

• Olive Oil, Olive Oil and more Olive Oil (Extra Virgin, of course). I swear it keeps their skin looking young.
• Daily Eats: fruits, veggies, grains (mostly whole), olive oil, nuts, legumes...
• Poultry and Eggs - in moderate portions. Every 2 days or weekly....
• Cheese and Yogurts -- moderate portions, daily to weekly...
• Weekly Eats: fish and seafood
• Monthly Eats: meats and sweets (eat less often)
• Wine in moderation with everymeal
• Avoid salts
• Less processed food
• Drinking plenty of water
• Physical activity daily!

Seems simple enough, right? Well, it is working for them. Every Italian I meet is incredibly healthy and in excellent shape. And you want to know the odd thing? They don't exercise. Like at all... when we run over here, we stick out like sore thumbs. I don't know how they do it! There are some other perks to the Mediterranean diet also:

• Protects from Alzheimer's Disease by reducing risk by 40%
• Wine in moderation protects against Atherosclerosis
• Its delicious :)

Hope you learned something from my lecture today! That about sums up my day because we didn't get done with class until 6:00. After that I fixed dinner (a salad with chicken, thanks to the lecture that informed us how morbidly obese America is becoming) and Kasi and I watched Valentine's Day (Why Bradley Cooper, why? You were supposed to be with Julia...). Tomorrow we are off to The Vatican and I couldn't be more thrilled! It's a 6:45 departure to the train station, so I better hit the sheets. You'd think I would be caught up on my sleep by now, but I can't seem to get on track. Maybe after tomorrow I'll be better! Hope everyone survived their Mondays and basked in all of America's First Day of Summer sunshiny glory! If you are at the lake or the beach or just sitting on your front porch, think of me while I'm decked in my raincoat and tennis shoes tomorrow. Ciao!!