Here is the third in the three part installment of A Series of Fortunate Events. A more substantive update is coming, but I wanted to make sure we're all caught up. This part covers every major event from August 1st to today. Enjoy!
Thursday, the 2nd of August: Ate, learned Italian, prayed, ate, prayed, and slept...the essentials.Friday, the 3rd of August, James, Bill, and I went to the Botanical Gardens, Villa Taranto. We thought we'd take a break from learning Italian to go see what this region is known for: it's flowers. Tourists flock from all over to see these flowers in the height of their season. ...Our first clue was that there were no tourists other than ourselves; ergo, there were no flowers. That's not entirely true: there were flowers, and we frolick...erhhm, I mean walked about amongst them. You can see the activity below:
Hands down most beautiful Putt-Putt course I've ever seen....
As you can see, we really got a taste of the gardens.
Saturday, the 4th, Jason, Brian, Bill, and I went to Milano (a.k.a. Milan), which is just a quick one and a half hour train ride away...if you're not on an Italian train. Then it's a quick 2 hour becoming 2.5 hour train ride with the random stops for no reason. Luckily, that's not always the case...at least they're inconsistent. Uno scherzo (a joke). But seriously, Milan was gorgeous and the Cathedral grand. Apparently, it took over 400 years to build the Cathedral, from whence Italians derived their expression for something lasting forever: "like building a Cathedral." Seriously. At least, according to Rick Steves. We also got to see the remains of San Carlo Borromeo, kept in the Cathedral. See the view below:
Statue of St. Bartholomew - One of the original 12 Apostles, he was skinned alive because he would not renounce the faith. This statue shows the skinned Bartholomew with his own skin wrapped around him.
Before we left, we descended beneath the Cathedral to see the ruins of what was once the Baptistry where historians believe St. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose. All-in-all an amazing trip. What a blessing to be able to pray at these places as well!
Sunday, the 5th, a group of us all went to Stresa by ferry to walk around and enjoy the shops and street performers and such. This was simply a nice way to unwind after a busy weekend, and week of class as well. The Church there was gorgeous (the same one we went to on August 1st with our teachers). And it was a good chance to continue to get to know my seminarian brethren.
Hotel Astoria, one of the many luxurious hotels on the lakefront in Stresa (this one's for you, Patrick).
The view from Stresa.
What? I couldn't let that fountain show me up.
And yesterday, the 6th was pretty low-key. I was quite productive, however, with practicing guitar (I'm now able to play Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star, and the ABC Song...yes, they are the same tune), practicing Italian (I'm now able to sing, in Italian, Twinkle...), and with getting a nap and a run in. In all seriousness, I also had a good Holy Hour and have been able to turn more and more of my time here and myself over to God. It's not easy, but I am letting go a little more easily each day. But I don't know why it's so hard...I mean, He loves us perfectly.
Well, that's it for this update, but expect another good look into the lives of us seminarians soon (scary I know). God bless!!!
3 comments:
Ah, the many adventures of Paolo!! I only wish that I weren't so jealous... haha! God bless you as you continue your journey!
The Paulster... what a goof. Looks like you're having fun... I'll keep praying for you. All of us peeps at the HNOJ place wish you well.
Thanks for the comments. You two are in my prayers.
Gwen - Thanks for the best wishes.
Amanda - Please tell them all I said Ciao-dy, and that I will keep you all in prayer. God bless!
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