Latter part of March "09

THE LATTER PART OF MARCH ‘09

We returned from Sicily to Scilla in the Reggio Calabria area upon receiving an email indicating that maternal grandmother Crea relatives had been located. So we once again met Daniele and Nino Calandruccio at the small church in Paile on a raining Sunday morning and drove to a little house where several dozen people had gathered in the kitchen to greet us. Sitting amongst the all talking at the same time women was an 89 year old blind woman who from the all the chatter may have been married to the brother (or cousin) of Susan’s grandfather. It wasn’t long before Nino said “ok andiamo” and we were off for a cappuccino, hugs and hopes to meet again in America.

Couple of night in Scilla including a pizza dinner with Marianna, Maximo and Diemitiro at the Calypso before departing north to Rome. An overnight stop in Pompeii and tour of the archeological site. Amazing preservation of an entire Roman city and the excavated forms of people including children sent a chill through my body.

On to Rome and what an incredible city!!! We spent the first few nights in a convent with the bathroom window overlooking the Vatican and St. Peter’s Cathedral. It’s amazing the “awe struck” I experience upon entering St. Peter’s square and the Cathedral for the first time. Michelangelo’s Pieta or the walk under the floor past the tomb of Pope John Paul 2nd with people opening weeping leaves me without description.

We spent one day on a tour of the Vatican Museum and it was beyond words. The vast quantity and quality of artwork is week’s worth of exploration. To photograph Evan and Aaron in front of Raphael’s School of Athens has me hope that they will experience the same with their children. As I looked up in the Sistine Chapel, I recalled Ellen Dissanayake's definition of art as "making special". Now I have a better understanding of the word "special".

We moved from the convent to an apartment in the historic district. Fr. Brain's contact Emanuela walked us to see several different locations and Susan just loved the apartment that had the master bedroom up a spiral staircase with a terrace overlooking the rooftops not more than a the block from the Pantheon. Best part is the Sisters offered to keep our car parked at the Convent since there are no cars allowed in the historic district.

Spent another day on a guided tour of the Coliseum and area around the Roman Forum. Sometimes I find it difficult to grasp the time concept that Rome has a history of several thousands of years but the view of a marble statue or Corinthian column never tires the eye.
A special moment when Fr. Brain Clarke (who is from NEPA and studying in Rome) met to show us a couple of churches off the tourist path. Not only was it wonderful to connect with the person who helped arrange our housing and Vatican Tour but the personal insights to the churches we visited were priceless. Because Evan and Aaron were not raised in Roman Catholic stories and traditions, I wondered their responses to seeing a piece of the table from the last supper or pieces of the cross from the crucifixion. The relics brought back from Jerusalem by St. Helen (Constantine’s mother) in the 2nd century included nails from the cross, thorns from the crown and were tucked away in a chapel that was once her home. Very special and unique. Thanks.

A scheduled audience with the Pope tomorrow morning (arranged by Fr. Brian) before departure for Deruta and the 1st of two art projects. I look forward to putting my hands in some clay and now after a few months of immersion into the Italian culture feel ready to begin.