Listened to Benedict’s advice

And took a vacation. In some beautiful nature.

Both body and soul can benefit from a relaxing, getaway vacation, especially one spent in the outdoors, Pope Benedict XVI said from an Alpine mountain retreat in northern Italy.

Vacation time with family and loved ones offers the opportunity to spend “more time dedicated to prayer, reading and meditation on the deep meaning of life,” he said July 17 before praying the Sunday Angelus in Les Combes, in Italy’s Valle d’Aosta region.

Because today’s lifestyles, especially in hectic cities, “leave little room for silence, reflection and being in touch with nature,” it has become “almost a necessity to be able to refortify one’s body and spirit” with a relaxing vacation, said the pope.

So…..I took off for some wonderful R&R in some beautiful nature that includes mountains, oceans, nature, lots of great conversation and reflection and contemplation of the deep meaning of life.

There also hasn’t been any internet or cell phone connection, much to our surprise. But that kinda made it all even more the vacation Benedict encourages.

I’ve obviously found a connected spot for now…..but heading on down the road a bit more.

Plenty of blogging to come soon, like tomorrow.

Right now, the trail is beckoning, the whales might be surfacing, and I don’t want to miss a moment of it.