when in rome...

After a lengthy visit to the Colliseum, the Parthenon, and a stroll through the Forum...three of us took off with Dr. Carey toward our temporary home...Hotel Emmaus. I think we lost our way someplace in the ruins of the Forum, but none if us were too concerned...and continued walking and navigating and finally deciding that a beer or glass of wine would help us on our way. We stopped at a cafe and grabbed a table outside. (Dr Caputo warned us about sitting at tables --especially inside tables where the prices are much higher...someone else remarked today that paper tablecloths mean cheaper food.) We sat for an hour or more eating peanuts and drinking our beverages. The conversation wandered from job issues to lectio divina to online class issues. It was a memorable and helpful time of special interpersonal engagement.

I enjoy a glass of wine in the evening....usually after 8.  We do things a little differently in Italy. Wine seems to happen at least twice a day. Once in the afternoon and maybe again when we are venturing in the evening. Last night about nine of us went to the Spanish Steps. On the way we walk through the narrow streets dodging the taxis. Two of us in the group had gone to the site the day before, but it seemed a good thing to go with Dr. Caputo and learn from his walking commentary as we travel. We took the underground Metro for one euro. When we began our walk from the station,  we encountered a commotion in a high end dress shop. We heard screams and joined a couple of dozen people watching inside the store as the clerks were chasing a large rat into the street. A number of onlookers proceeded to chase the rodent down the street..kicking and poking it with sticks.  I did not watch to see his end.

After dinner we shared the cab fare home. Looking forward to a bus ride to Florence tomorrow...

the vatican and other travels the first day in rome

I am in a group from Gonzaga University COML/ORGL programs...consisting of 21students, two instructors and some friends and family of students. I will attempt to be professional and academic in my response to what I am experiencing here, but it is honestly over the top and I am not just a little overwhelmed.

While in Rome, we meet daily for some kind of guided excursion. I do not usually gravitate toward either the major sites or the official guides...all those assumptions and ways are nullified now. Yesterday we went to the Vatican and today we toured the Coliseum, Forum, and Pantheon. Huge crowds and lines...but well worth the wait and the congestion.

In our syllabus for this summer class we were advised that we would be walking 5-7 miles per day. I thought this was an exaggeration. It has proven otherwise.

Our Vatican tour guide supplied us with remote sets and earphones that allowed us to hear her as we worked through the crowds of other similar tours.Three fourths of our tour was in the Vatican museum, but the climax was the Sistine Chapel. I am not proficient at crowd estimations...there were maybe 1000 or more in the chapel..instructed to maintain silence (in vain) and not to take pictures (many did so anyway). The various panels on the large vaulted ceiling were so familiar from many books and videos over the years. Michaelangelo's wrenching and rewarding task transcends words.

I am left with a sense of awe at the depth and richness of the artifacts we saw firsthand. As we were leaving, I turned to a classmate and remarked that I invest hours in a small watercolor painting. If someone were to look at that work as most of us looked so quickly at these great works today, I would question why I took the great effort. These works require  pondering and attentiveness to receive from them what the artist was doing in its creation.

night arrival in rome

As we prepared to leave Dublin, our plane was grounded for an hour or so because of the volcanic ash cloud drifting over from Iceland. We arrived late in Rome. I was slightly anxious about how this next leg of my trip would pan out...The "helpless-looking woman" look works well. I found unexpected and gracious aid in a friendly (albeit too friendly) tall bearded hippie type man. He spoke some English and he led me to the baggage claim. My two bags were among the very last to appear. This problem solved, I began wondering how I was going to get to my hotel and the meeting/dinner already in session.

I approached several safe and official-looking Italians who guided and warned me: Taking anything but a "white taxi" is not good...and ignore the other solicitations from unlicensed drivers. Preventing my imagination from what could happen if I took the wrong taxi, I found an American businessman and he took me to the place I needed to be to catch my ride...The small white Fiats lined up and ushered passengers and their baggage into their clean vehicles.

My driver was young and almost toothless...friendly...called himself "Vennie." We communicated successfully the location of the hotel and then took off with the loud local radio station blaring..and Vennie laughing out loud at some of the comments from the DJ.....125 mph is not an exaggeration. Honking and weaving in and out of traffic ...we went on freeway kinds of roads and single narrow lanes arriving at the hotel just as the meeting with my class was concluding.

I gave him 50 euro and he gave me a large smile. I wish I had thought to take his picture.

the route to rome

from my window...the dome of St.
Peter's peeking above the roof ....

I am in my room in Rome. It is a older hotel with a cage-like elevator, marble stairs, ten foot ceilings, and a less than friendly desk clerk. Duties press: my bed is unmade and suitcases are askew, but priority calls me to record some of my experiences and responses to them...I am listening to the bells at the St Peter's as I sit at my desk by the window...and able to see the dome of the church peeking above the building across the street..it's all pretty amazing.

I think I am finally rested from my 30 hour journey to Rome via New York and Dublin. I had two lengthly layovers and enjoyed my time reading, walking, and observing other travelers. The flight on Aer Lingus to Dublin was especially delightful. The plane was huge with two aisles and congenial flight hostesses with heavy Irish accents. The day I rode was the celebration of Aer Lingus' 75th anniversary. They are great supporters of UNICEF and show on plane videos of the work of the organization. Everything about that flight was superb and complete with a freckle-faced Patrick.

Patrick was going home to Dublin after his first year at the College of Manhattan studying government and political science. He told me how he enjoys the US but looks forward to the slower pace of Ireland for the summer. During our entire flight Patrick watched movies while I slept off and on.

In Dublin I began to see how very different the people seem to approach technology and time. The only internet access was in kiosks and cost 6 euros per hour...a slow connection as well so that translates to probably twice the fee and then the rate of conversion...maybe 15 euros per hour...!!

My phones  and internet useless, I resigned myself happily to disconnection and enjoyed my short visit to Ireland.

connection ambivalence in dublin

Writing quickly...I am in the Dublin airport paying by the minute for internet connnection. Additionally, the keyboard is set up differently...enough to make typing awkward. 

According to my best estimation, I have been traveling for about 27 hours...with five more hours to Rome. My flight to and layover in Dublin has been incredible. Dubliners live at a slower pace ( having trouble finding a clock...my phone is normally my clock) and are not particularly concerned about technological connectivity...at least not mine. Surprisingly, though, I am enjoying the respite from my phone and internet.

a time in Italy...

I am leaving this Thursday for a month in Europe. The first two weeks I am studying with a group in the COML program from Gonzaga University--taking two classes taught by John Caputo and Michael Carey: Renaissance Rhetoric and Contemporary Leadership. Our first few days will be in Rome--In addition to our studies we will be visiting the Vatican museums, St. Peter's Basilica, the Coliseum, the Forurm, and the Pantheon. The remaining time we will be in Florence immersed in the visual and historical (rhetorical) spaces and artifacts---with a weekend trip yet to be decided. The last two weeks I am traveling via rail to places --as of now--unknown. I will be posting with updates and photos in the days to come..Ciao!