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Location: Blogs Pastor Teri Thomas' Blog |
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| Posted by: Teri Thomas |
11/28/2006 |
We are home. It took 24 hours from Rome to home with a delay at
JFK but we are here, safe and sound and with all our luggage. It
is always good to be home.
After my ten days in Rome, Jack and I connected and took the train to
Florence. Three days of amazing art, great shopping, and some
rain. We met our friends Jill and Jay Hudson in Florence.
One day we took a wine tour of Tuscany. I learned about Tuscan
wines and olive oils. It was a refreshing change from all the
days of religious art and history.
At the end of our stay in Florence we rented a car and headed to the
west and the cities of Cinque Terra (five earth). These five
villages cling to the coast of Italy. There are hiking trails
that link all five cities as well as a train. We walked and rode
and ate and drank our way through the five villages. The sun
shone and the weather was perfect. What a beautiful place.
On Thanksgiving Day we left for Venice. At noon I thought of you
all gathered at your family tables as we sat in a truck stop on the
autostrada eating cold sandwiches. We made up for it that evening
at a great place in Venice. While we devoured pasta and seafood
the waiter walked through the restaurant carrying a roast turkey on a
platter. We asked if we could order a turkey dinner and he said
no. It was just to remind us all of home. We all got a
little homesick for friends and family that night.
Venice was my biggest surprise of the trip. It was without a
doubt the most romantic place I have ever been. Since we were off
season the crowds were very small and we did a walking tour of "the
hidden Venice" that took us off the tourist path and into some great
neighborhoods. We rode the water bus from one end of the Grand
Canal to the other. What fun!
From the romantic to the religious, we headed off for Assisi.
This city makes Pittburgh look easy to navigate. Nothing is
straight and the city is on the side of a hill and the curves and turns
and the map made no sense and it was dark and we were so lost and going
around in circles and none of us could make sense of the map as it got
darker and we went in more cirlces and were more
lost...arghhhhh. Finally, we stopped for the umpteenth time
for help and a lady in the store said, I will go out and get in my
car. Follow me, I will take you to your hotel. I honestly
believe we would still be driving around if this kind soul had not come
to our rescue. We never would have found it since we all thought
the streets were sidewalks!
But on Sunday morning we awoke to the sound of bells ringing throughout
the city. I would pay a fortune for an alarm clock that sounded
like that. We walked the city and visited several churches and
sites related to St. Francis. I still prefer St. Benedict, but
Francis was an interesting guy as well.
From Assisi we went back to Rome for the last night at the airport
Hilton so we could start home in the morning. It was the most we
paid for any room, the most we paid for any meal and the worst
accommodations and service we had on the entire trip. The bad feel of
that place made me ready to come home.
You know you will hear more in sermons over the months ahead.
Jack and I will do a travelogue in January for anyone who wants to
learn more about St Benedict and our experiences in Italy. I have
some new stoles from the trip even though the store that makes the
Pope's vestments refused to sell to women!
I am eager to see many of you at Christmas Lite tomorrow and then on
Sunday. I have missed being with you. Now I hope to
re-enter gently and maintain the refreshment and energy the trip has
given me. I was amazed that Christmas songs were playing in the
airport at JFK. I feel as though I have lost an entire month, but
the memories and experiences have been worth it.
PAX
Teri
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