The Return to Roma

Alas 

I've been very bad about updating the blog since I've been here. Mary and I arrived on June 3rd.  It's been a crazy whirlwind of activity ever since.

Rebecca and Jack arrived yesterday, Saturday June 6th. I immediately took them out for drinks. Nothing cures jet lag like a espresso or Peroni. They were complete troopers and hung on until after the nightly trip for gelato.

Mary, Joan and I have been very busy doing prep work.

Mary and Joan at the Mercado looking for straight pins. Incredibly hard to find in Rome!

The early arrivers at Blue Ice on Friday night. We are celebrating Marta's birthday.

Joan and Mary stuffing packets.

 More packet stuffing.

Today was the official arrival day. Unfortunately it was not uneventful. 

One of our participants grought her one year old son. He was running a high fever this afternoon. We are most fortunate that one of the medical professors from the Philippines is with our program. He is monitoring the baby.

Another participant was pick pocketed on her way here. She lost her money and her credit card. We have been trying to help her contact her husband and bank.

Other people have lost their luggage. Apparently the connection through Paris is notorious for lost luggage. 

Otherwise, things seem to be off to a great start. 

Today is the day the Brothers renew their vows. It was wonderful to be in the De La Salle Chapel with the Brothers to witness their vow renewal.

Everyone is here. A number of people went out tonight to celebrate Jorge's birthday. When I left the little bar, I told him I'd see him at mass at 7:00 a.m. I think I'll be lucky if he makes the first session at 9:00 a.m. By the time I left, he was telling everyone that I am his mother. There was a group of American college students who believed him. Seriously, our accents are nothing alike!!

Happy birthday to Jorge.

Arrivederci Roma!

Hello All,

The internet at the Generalate (hey, that rhymes) was down for three days. This is my last official Rome, February 09 post.

It was a crazy busy week. A whirl wind of meetings, great food, meetings, new friends, meetings, old friends and jet lag. I'm thrilled with how the summer program is shaping up. The reception of the Institute programs was wonderful.

Mary arrived on Thursday. We left Saturday morning. Our last evening Mary, Tina, Stanley and I went down to the little street bar for drinks and then went to the grocery store to buy appetizers. It turned into a lovely picnic of cheeses, meats, nuts, bread and wine. A perfect last evening in Rome.

Tina, Mary and I on our last night. I look a little too much like The Joker. However, Mary and Tina look fabulous!!!!














Fox and Rox.














Stanley and me in our brand new stylin' hats. Yes, we were freezing.














A long shot of our favorite pizza place down by the Spanish steps.



















Freaky doll heads. We saw these in a window.














I have no idea why they are there, but it was so scary and cool at the same time.
































So, that was my trip.

I'm looking forward to returning in June for more adventures, new friends, old friends and gelato.

Arrivederci Roma!

Wednesday, February 11

Hello Friends,

I'm having busy and fruitful days in Rome. I managed to secure four speakers for the Summer program yesterday and talked with several people about the Institute programs.

I'ts been great to see Br. Louis. He looks absolutely wonderful. I've never seen him so relaxed and happy.

Yep, three computers. He actually does his own email and everything. He's very proud!

We went for dinner with Br. Louis last night.

It was possibly the best meal I've ever eaten. We started with zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta and then battered and fried. Heaven. Pure heaven. Then we had buffulo mozarella that was the creamiest I've ever eaten. And of course, proscuitto.

For the pasta course we had ravioli in an orange sauce. It sounds odd, but it was so good I wanted to roll in it. The ravioli was filled with ricotta and the orange sauce seemed to be a combination of cream, fresh orange juice, orange zest and parsley. I'm sure there was something else but I can't figure out what it could have been.

For the main course, I had "tiny meatballs" with broccoli rabe. I'm sure the meatballs were veal and they were in a mushroom sauce. Very, very nice.

After all that, I couldn't even consider desert.

We were going to go down to St. Peter's this afternoon. We went out of capaccino this morning and it started sleeting. Hard. We decided that standing out in the rain did not sound like a great idea. Actually, it was a good thing as I was able to schedule meetings for tomorrow and have some informal chats with people I wanted to see.

Tonight we're going to go to happy hour in the CIL building. There are some CIL participants who want to ask me some questions about the Institute degree programs. After that, I think we'll head out for dinner. I have no idea where, but it would be nice to be out of the House this evening after spending most of the day here.

Ok, trivia contest. Guess which bed belongs to who.

Good Tuesday Morning.

I have no pictures today. I had a good meeting yesterday afternoon which generated two more meetings for this afternoon. That is good.



Scott and I went out for dinner at "Johnny's" with Tina last night. Scott started feeling better yesterday afternoon and is back to full steam today.



Scott is having a good time and meeting many interesting people. He was on his own yesterday afternoon and seems to be making himself at home in the neighborhood. As at home, he already is buddies with the guy at the coffee shop. We met someone on the street today who greeted him like he was an old friend and last night the man who owns the sidewalk bar brought out his children's pictures to show us. I guess I don't have to worry about him being entertained while I'm working. He seems to do ok.

I'll try to get some pictures to post later this evening.

Ciao!

Monday, February 9

Ah, finally able to blog. We moved to our second room today. At first we were in the Cardinal suite, but apparently someone important came and we were moved earlier than was originally planned to our second room. The new room is huge and we have two beds! So nobody is going to have to sleep on the floor. Yay!

So far the trip has been hard on Scott. He came down with the flu on the flight over. He was one sick dude. I didn't think I'd get him on the plane again in Amsterdam.

He slept until 1:00 yesterday. We went down to the Spanish steps yesterday afternoon and wandered around for a while. We both bought hats at the Borsalino store and had some pizza. He's been in bed most of the day so far. I got him up so we could move our room and we walked down the street to have some coffee. Now he's back in bed. Hopefully he'll feel better later and we can go out for dinner. He needs to eat something.

Last night one of the folks in the CIL program was having a birthday party and we were invited to join. Lets just say Aquavite is not a good choice for me.

I visited Br. Louis this morning in his office. He seems so relaxed and looks the best I've seen him in a long time. We had a nice visit. Oh, and he has three computers on his desk. He's quite proud of it! And he pointed out that he actually uses them. Ha!

I'm meeting with the Vicar General and one of the General Councilers this afternoon. I'm trying to get my meetings set, but I forgot that you don't schedule meetings in Rome. People let you know when they are ready. So, I'm waiting in my room for someone to call me.

My sweet Rome cat. I think she's pregnant.

Scott in the Minneapolis airport before he got the plague.

The Swiss Alps peaking through the clouds.

We're Here

Hello all. I just wanted to let you know we have arrived. Stanley is in bed as I write this. I'll give more details later.

Spinster Does Rome, version 3.1

The Spinster Does Rome, version 3.1

The adventure continues...