Milan

Took a day trip out of the Lake area to Milan for the day. The world's fourth largest church is here (remember I mentioned St Peter's, St Paul's and Duomo Siena). There will be questions and quizzes when I return, so I hope you remember all the info I am passing on.

The Cathedral is the home to St Charles Borromeo and reflect his liturgical reforms throughout. It has 52 giant pillars in three naves, one pillar for every week of the year. The building's symbols are full of theological and spiritual meaning. The window I have attached is just one of three this size (double click to make bigger). The pillars are 6 storeys tall and the Cathedral has 300 spires and over 3000 statues, figures and characters covering it. Pictures do not do these buildings justice but I hope you get a taste of my delights. I appreciate the history and the amazing skills in making people's visions come to fruition.

The other building I found impressive was the Emannuel 11 5* shopping gallery. I never spent a cent, mainly because I could not afford to in this place. It has been covered over with this glass ceiling I have tried to capture. Once again, wow!

As I pack for Egypt I have to prepare my mind and body for a very different ancient and climate experience. I feel sorry for the camel that has to carry my bags.

This page is dedicated to architects and those who sharpen their pencils and their minds.

Como-toes

I have had a special couple of days hiking and sailing the area of middle Como. Thus the pic of my 'Comotoes' which lead to my Comotose and then the long Comodoze. I did not wear these shoes in the mountains.

The silence in the mountains was magnificent but there is a scarcity of wildlife, it seems to me. Perhaps it is just that in Australia there is a bug or beast, often deadly, lurking around every tree or rock. Have I been traumatized do you think?

The pics to the right are taken from on top of Mount Resegone with the 'Ridge' or 'Razor' in the background. Resegone looks over Lecco and a cable car take you to the initial climbing point. I hiked all round but not over the top. I took the pic of myself from where that white cross is to the upper right. Aren't I brave little trooper?

Sailing around Lake Como is a nautical treat. The villages are so peaceful and many are not too spoilt by tourists. There are enough opportunities to get off the tourist paths and make personal discoveries and experience the local treats, especially the food. I had my first red meat in six weeks last night, and I felt like a king, whatever a king feels like!

The pics here are taken in the middle of the Lake looking upward, where the upside down 'y 'separates. So they are completely in the centre looking both left and right. The town is Bellagio. The villa to the right looks at the view of the yacht I took. I need this small understated villa as a retreat house. The open bedroom door was a sign that God was saying to me, "come in and relax, this is your new home". I must stop having a glass of red at lunch!

The famous Villa Carlotta is is to the left. All open to the public, it has the most amazing gardens. God said to me here, "get weeding". A good site for this villa is http://www.villacarlotta.it/ 

This page is dedicated to all those who dream big dreams, and to those who help them come true. Pace e bene.

Comotion

This is a different pace and a different place. I am going to find Egypt tough. My bed is the size of a small African country, in fact, I can park my car on it! Everything is green and there is a view no matter what direction one looks.

I spent today driving up to Varenna (it is on the map near the middle of the upside down 'y'). The map will also show George Clooney's house. Not sure if I will get an invite for tea and scones. Today was overcast but that did not inhibit the beauty for me. I had a looooooong lunch by the water followed by a long walk to gather the courage to drive back to Garbagnate Monastero where I am staying. The village of Verenna is where I drive to catch my boat for tours and transport on Lake Como, so I have included a pic for your appetite.

The Lake is dotted with magnificent villas and life is just so relaxed here, even in ordinary weather. Even the game of 'elastics' is back by the look of it. I did not give it a go.

Tomorrow I hope to take the sky train thingy (funicular) to the top of the a high peak here and embark on a kilo losing walk. If it rains I will have another long lunch! The graffiti on the attached road sign is keeping my mind on driving honest and safe. I have made so many new friends on the road already with people waving, flashing their lights and hooting horns at me. They are just so friendly...I think?

This page is dedicated to all 'L' and 'P' plate drivers, and especially to those who sit beside them. Travel safe.

Lake Como

What a difference a day makes. Before leaving Firenze (last sunset pic at Firenze)I went to Sienna to complete my visit of the remains of St Catherine. Yes, I had to travel the country to find all of her. My Lord, poor St Catherine. Her head and a finger are in Sienna while her body remains in Rome. What were they thinking? What would she be thinking? What do people, especially women and the young, think as they come to discover their faith and seek  the powerful Christian women who formed our universal faith?

The Duomo is beautiful in Sienna and I must say the marble flooring with giant mosaics is spectacular (pic to the right). At least Catherine is not being walked upon.

I left Firenze to make my way north to Lake Como via Milan. I felt like a cooler change as I prepare for my desert experience in Egypt and Jordan, starting this time next week.

Travelling on my own is challenging when it comes to making some decisions. I am glad I bought my travel computer and mostly have access to the e-world, which I use to get info out and a little info in. Not all my decisions are helpful.

At Milan Central train station, my money was taken by the food machine in between my 20 minute change of trains. I again put in the same amount money and pushed the same buttons and received the same result...nothing. Not happy! Pushed and shoved the machine, pushed and shoved the same buttons, and voila...all this food fell from the machine that I did not select. Grabbed the food and offered some to strangers then pushed and shoved the now moving train door to get myself back on board.

Arrived at Como. No transport from the hotel. Tried to call. Wrong phone numbers. Not happy. Eventually located my hotel which seemed different from where I placed it through the Internet booking. Transport to hotel not happening. Not happy. Ah ha! Hire car company. Looking good. Get a good price for the week as there is little regular bus transport from where my 'mystery' hotel lies. Haggle for the "Clergy" discount. Success. Head off in my motorized shopping trolley with no relevant maps and no GPS, wrong side of the road, gears on the floor stick thingy shift, and no idea. Hail Mary....

And some call this a sabbatical! Eventually arrived safely at my hotel which is actually near Lecco, near the Lake but 30kms from Como. Lecco is very beautiful as I hope you can see. The mountains are spectacular. It is going to be a good retreat. I may just have to change the name to Lake Coma though.

This page is dedicated to Bokko, whose birthday I missed, again. To Pete, whose birthday I missed ages ago, and to my mother whose birthday is this weekend, and I hope she received my birthday postcard.
And some say this is a sabbatical? I am working on it.


Pace e bene.

Leaving Florence, sadly

After spending time in Cinque Terre, Bolbi Gardens and the Pitti Palace, I am preparing to leave Florence. Almost? I am sitting outside the Medici Chapel, funeral home of the great Medici family of Florentine Princes (and crooks!). I am amazed that I can sit here with a glass of red in the evening and speak of the long dead to the important living in my life.

During my visit to this wonderful part of Italy, here are some highlights.

I call one 'Life is like that', 'Motherhood', and a 'swim in the Med at my next parish, St Peters as part of  Cinque Terre'. Look where the church is. What great opportunities for Parish Council!

In the Pitti Palace there was an exhibition of the history of wine. I found out that women were not allowed by law to drink in Roman times. Interesting I thought. Then I found this inscription upon a headstone which made me smile. I am not sure that it fits anyone I know, but then again...?

"Here lies Maronis, wine guzzler, old hag, drainer of barrels, and above her tomb stands an Attic cup in view of all. Even underground she mourns not for her children, nor for her husband, whom she left a pauper, but for one thing only: that the cup is empty." Leonidas of Taranto.

Maronis was stoned to death by her husband and that was supported by the law, as it is recorded. Ouch!

Here is a picture of my friend and bar owner with free Internet, Ludivicio. His cafe has made my Blogging easier. I guess he is sponsoring this page. No stonings...promise.

 Love you all.

Still With Florence

I promised a day of statues and Michelangelo, and here it is. So much to view but so much not allowed to be photographed. I snuck in “The David” but please do not tell anyone!

Florence continues to offer so much and I am saturating myself in its marvellous creation and preservation of artistic history. I feel so young in an old part of the world. OK, I know I do not look like the young ‘David’ but I am still moving strongly through this mission of mine.

I once again found kids at play. This will answer your many questions about what to do with the kids when the adults want to walk through large museums and galleries - the kids play UNO. I am calling these the Uffizi Gallery kids.

On visiting the Basilica of Santa Croce I discovered so much. This is where Michelangelo, Galileo, Rossini, Machiavelli and the hierarchy of Florentine cultural and political talent are buried: Incredible in its Franciscan simplicity, yet powerful in its contents. These paintings of the Deposition of Christ, the Ascension and the Assumption of the BVM are truly breathtaking. (Double click the pic to enlarge it).

As I have said before, the camera only limits our experience while whetting our tastes. Well, if I have not said that before I am saying it now.

Every time I take a picture there is someone in my life who comes to mind, be it the picture or who I would like to see this picture there and then. Even Hercules and his anger reminds me of incidents in my life that have helped shape who I am in the Plan of Creation. I am here and not travelling alone, and also discovering wonderful things about the importance of prayer and putting in the effort. I guess I would call that spiritual and physical exercise. Am I becoming a Jesuit?

This page is dedicated to the Franciscans, the Benedictines, the Dominicans and the Jesuits, all who have and continue to care  for our Church and world.

The Mercíes, Marists and Josephite pages are yet to come. Beware! Pace e bene.

Florence

After farewelling Robin I headed off to Florence (Firenze). I have briefly visited here once before, only for a day, so I have booked in for a week to really walk amongst the history and soak in this great city’s Renaissance impact on art, architecture and Church and Italian culture.

Firenze is such a beautiful city: so peaceful and clean after Rome. Much of the city is zoned off from vehicles and push bikes dominate. Here is a pic of a little chap who nearly ran me over! How good is that?  There are many parks and wonderful eateries that are much less expensive and offer a more genuine Italian eating experience.

So far I have visited two very famous churches, ok, there were others of course but these two need a special mention because they contain such important art works – Santa Maria Novella (built from 1227) and the Cathedral Church of Santa Maria del Fiore, known as the ‘Duomo’ (built 1359). The Duomo is the fourth largest church in the world after St Peter’s, St Paul’s in London and the Cathedral in Milan. The pic above shows the Duomo and its Tower with the famous Baptistry to the left. Amazing frescoes and mosaics inside, and yes I snuck in some pics. I am not a brave person when it comes to taking on heights but I had to take up this challenge in Firenze by scaling the Duomo dome. I look like I am enjoying it all next to the edge, but trust me, I was very uncomfortable and was not standing near the edge. I enjoyed getting down and then walking on flat ground to take the pic of the famous Ponte Vecchio (built 1345).

Many of the famous sites here are unable to be photographed because they are artworks. So you will just have to come for yourself and amongst other things, visit the world’s first and therefore oldest art gallery – the Uffizi (built 1580). That will be my  Carraveggio-Michaelangelo marble statue day tomorrow, followed by days in Siena, Pisa and Cinque Terra.

On this election weekend, I dedicate this page to those families with young children. Teach them to ride well and to stop and take time to observe the world around them. Pace e bene.

Castel Gondolfo Last Supper

 

Today was wonderful, again.

I introduced Robin on her last day in Italy to Vincenzo and Jennifer, who live at Papa de Rocca near Frascati. We had the best day at Castel Gondlfo and Neffi. Castel Gondolfo is the Pope's summer residence and as I said yesterday, and we were to have a morning audience  with Il Papa. That did not happen! Not happy about that, as our transport never arrived. We made up for it by having a special lunch at the village of Castel Gondolfo, and then moved to Neffi for desert - their famous miniature strawberries with ice cream. Yum! The  views were so beautiful and that matched the company. These pics are enclosed simply to make readers jealous.

Is that a sin? Must check that one out.

Robin moves back to her family in the US tomorrow, and I move to Firenze for a week and then hopefully move up north to Lake Como for a gentle retreat.

I am planning  some of this trip as I go and adapt as opportunities arrive. That was part of the plan with this break, to try not to live by demands of phones, diaries and too much planning. I am doing OK so far but the next two weeks will be interesting on my own and then I prepare for Egypt and Jordan, all with complete strangers. Trust me when I say prayer is the answer to all our concerns. We are never alone - Deo Gratias.

Best I dedicate this page to Pope Benedict XVI, reminding him, I am always on time.

All Roads Lead To Rome

Made it safe and sound back to Rome.

Malta was great and I will return at a later date in the cooler weather.

On arriving back in Rome I had to return to the Basilica of Mary of the Angels and Martyrs, and of course take my soon to depart Travel companion Robin with me. Robin returns to Florida on Thursday, back to her family, and of course to prepare them for my visit in late October. I am sure she will have plenty of time to recover. Missing her already. I hope you all have friends like her...no matter where on the earth we are, we are still close.

Tomorrow, as we prepare to leave, Robin to her USA family and me to Florence, we are going to Frascati to visit John Bokkerink's sister, Jennifer and her husband Vincenzo. I hope to have arranged a lunch at Castel Gondolfo (the Pope's summer residence) and a Papal Audience is due at 1000. Watch this space, as always, things change. Anne and Rosemary, this is the organ I want for St Mary's. Now let's work on the choir! Samy???

This page is dedicated to Anne and Rosemary, Robin and Brian, Vincenzo and Jennifer. Pace e bene. 

Malteasers

I have very much enjoyed my visit to Malta. I have journeyed further with St Paul (he ran aground here and stayed three months), and I have visited the catacombs, the citadels and the cathedrals that are central to the rich Maltese culture.

Robin and I had a car for two days and we managed to drive our way around Malta  and Gozo without incident, other than the drama trying to refuel our car. I am still owed 10 Euro by that wretched machine!

Highlights would have to include the wonderful Assumption liturgy at Qrendi and the way the parish's light up their churches and streets. Robin reckons she has 'holy credits' as she experienced her first sung Vespers, Exposition, Benediction and the Solemn Pontifical Mass for the Feast of the Assumption. To reward her, I let her drive the car. I did not know she had not driven a manual stick shift since 1985ish, but as it turned out, I was glad we went to Mass first.  Also, she had never driven a right hand drive manual car before. I can now say the Hail Mary in Maltese!!!!!!!!!!! She was great and our insurance never came close to being touched.

Other highlights have to be the fiestas that go with this Feast. We witnessed horse races, well they were trotters really, that tore through the streets of Victoria. Magnificent flags and banners, great local food and friendship.

Any visit here must include a swim at the spectacular 'Blue Grotto'. The Grotto is on Gozo and is framed by the 'Azure Window'. Brilliant. Oh yes, a beer afterwards will be appreciated, trust me.

I would easily come back to Malta. The Australian welcome is everywhere, and one is never a stranger. Here is a pic of the National shrine of Our Lady of Ta Pinu.

Tomorrow, it is back to Rome for a couple of days then off to Florence. I need to have a chat with Flo!

This page is dedicated to all the Maltese extended families that I have met in Australia - yes that means you Lyds and the family.     

Malta Madness

I have arrived in Malta with my dear friend Robin and am only just surviving the heat...39 degrees today. Lucky it is a small island, only 316 sq km with a population of about 400,000...390,000 of whom are British tourists!!!!!!!!!! I never knew.

Also, I purchased my cheap ticket through Swissair...so had to stop at Zurich on the way here, and the pic is the proof. Only had 1 hour but their local red was very pleasing. Yes, I bought the t-shirt.

Malta is a great place - the people are so friendly and the island has so much history. St Paul as ship-wrecked here and the Knights of St John ruled the place for a couple of hundred years. The pic of the tower shows that the Knights were the 'eyes and the ears' of everything that comes near or into the major harbour of Valletta. Double click the pick to see the eye and the ear reminder. Love it!

They are publicly very religious and I especially timed my visit to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption which is huge here and in the Mediterranean as a whole. The pic of the banners above shows Mosta getting ready for the Assumption celebrations. Fireworks are a big part of the evening celebrations, but they come at a cost. This pic shows the explosion that diverted our tour suddenly this afternoon. The explosion from people moving fireworks killed three and injured many others. We felt it and honestly, we knew it was not good.

Tomorrow we are hiring a car for two days and driving the island, including a visit to Gozo. we are celebrating the Feast Day tomorrow night in Mosta and then again in Victoria, Gozo on Sunday.

This page is dedicated to Fr Tom Thornton and his 30 years of priesthood, and Fr Samy who celebrates his first year of priesthood, both this weekend. Happy Birthday Samy, as well. I will celebrate for you. Pace e bene.

Companions on the Journey in Rome

My friend Robin was 'released' by her husband Brian in Florida and has joined me for a small while in Rome. She is also travelling with me to Malta tomorrow where we will spend four days exploring that special place. I will be joining Robin and Brian and the family in Florida later in the year and it is great to reconnect after our 20 year close Navy friendship.

I have also caught up with Bob and Grace Harwood and the four of us visited the incredible Tomb of St Peter underneath the Basilica. Bob is a Brisbane priest who was ordained from the Uniting Church four years ago. Bob's wife Grace runs a counselling and ministry service called 'Dragon Fly Ministries', and together they are a force to be reckoned with. The pic shows Bob, Grace, Robin and guess who?

I so wished we had our world full of Bob and Graces as they make such a difference. I originally met Bob in Jerusalem in February on our Australian Priests' tour.

This page is dedicated to all the Bob and Graces, the Robin and Brians, who make a difference in the world and in my life.