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| I am outside a cafe in Florence, Italy (Oct 2004)! |
"Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep; for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!" Nehemiah 8:9, 10
I'm back to bloggin' away. I've been on a short hiatus. When work and personal life get super busy, writing suddenly takes a seat on the back shelf.
As part of my Lenten observance I am traveling to Rome, Italy. ( In fact, I am typing this post while on the flight!) I will embark on my mini pilgrimage for 8 days, staying at a Dominican convent guest house. I plan to visit the main tourist attractions but then also walk along the unknown paths, hopefully uncovering some hidden gems in the Eternal City.
My first stop will be the Colloseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon. Then I will explore the Roman Baths and the Protestant Cemetery where Romantic poets Shelley and Keats are buried. I'll visit the Vatican museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Basillica with surrounding burial grounds. A short bus ride will take me to some of the early burial catacombs. I hope to attend mass at a different church each day beginning with the Dominican mother church Santa Sabina.
Of course, I will take time to explore some antique shops and authentic Roman cuisine. I purchased a ticket to the opera and will see an Italian production of "The Barber of Seville." Fantastico!
I hope to post reflections each day depending on the reliability of Internet access. Stayed tuned....
Have a Holy Lenten Season!
-J.
