Pisa, Italy - 29 September 2007

En-route from Roma (Italy) to Cotê d'Azur (France and Monaco), we detoured in Pisa to check out her famous Leaning Tower. It was a beautiful day - warm and sunny. The photos speak for themselves.

Rome (Roma), Italy - 25-28 September 2007

The drive to Roma from Assisi was uneventful. Once again, out of sheer luck or blessing, I found the Hostel Asian Delight in Roma. I say this because this city is HUGE and to be able to find the hostel without having to deal with traffic or parking was a blessing in itself...or perhaps I've become a seasoned city driver with a dose of 'when-in-Rome-do-as-the-Romans-do'?

The guest room we will stay in for 4 consecutive nights (the longest on this trip) is rustic with unpainted walls but well complemented with modern home comforts like a TV, DVD player, mini refrigerator, desk and free wireless connection! A home away from home feel indeed!

As the hostel is located in an Asian district, we were simply delighted (hence the hostel's namesake?) to find many Chinese restaurants near by. After a really good and cheap Chinese lunch, we took the Metro to the Forum area and saw the Colosseum and the rest of the attractions there. By 6 PM, I was dead tired and couldn't take in another sight of old Roman ruins still in excavating stages by the University of Rome and other institutions. The city has a long time-line and tomorrow we will see some of Renaissance, Christian and Baroque Rome. The weather -- no complains there. Some photos below - more will be uploaded later when time permits:

Above left: @ the Rome Colosseum; Above right: Rome Forum

Above: Rome Forum

Wednesday 9/26/07 - Another blessed day. I did not know that there would be a public Mass today at the Vatican. When we showed up at the gate in the morning, we were surprised to find a large crowd of people walking in lines to get inside the Vatican City. We asked a woman in front of us what the occasion was and she said that there was a public Mass. She and her friend were holding a ticket each. Worried that we didn't have a ticket, she gave us a spare one just in case we needed to "show" it to the guard. By the time we reached the entrance, the Swiss Guard merely directed us to an area to seat, sans ticket request. We stepped up to the front area and got seats in clear view of the stage and that were also close to the barrier railings (where I got a marvelous shot of the Pope when his Pope-mobile drove by). I was SO excited. The Mass was long and celebrated in several languages with people from all over the world. It was truly wonderful. After the Mass, we walked around the Vatican. I also got my rosary blessed by a Bishop. I saw the gigantic St Peter's Basilica and toured the massive frescoes and monuments and paintings by Michelangelo, Bossini and others. The climb up to the Dome rewarded me with a bird's eye view of the city -- another wow-ser!

Above left: View from the Dome of St. Peter's; Above right: St Peter's Basilica in the background

Thursday 9/27/07 - After more than an hour's wait in line to enter the Vatican Museum, we finally reached the entrance @ 11 AM only to be pleasantly informed that today was a free museum day for all. Woohoo! Another blessed day! :) I am contented now to have seen the two most important displays there -- the Raphael rooms and the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel (by Michelangelo). Truly amazing work.

After the museum, we took the Metro to Piazza Spagna and like the rest of Rome, the place was crowded with tourists and touts. I wonder how the locals are able to tolerate this constant barrage of crowds. After Piazza Spagna, we decided to return to the apartment early to rest - the continuous traveling and sightseeing were starting to hit us. It was a good call too as it started to rain later in the day. We had a very satisfying Korean dinner. :)

Above left: The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museum - truly a masterpiece!; A spiral staircase in the Vatican Museum

Friday 9/28/07 - It was a cool day to walk and sight-see despite the intermittent showers (of blessings, in my opinion). Perhaps due to the rain, we didn't encounter as many tourists and touts out on the streets, which was a welcome respite from the days of constant pushing and shoving in the crowds. The market at Campo di Fiuri was a nice change from the tours of museums and churches of previous days (it's always good to mix things up).

Above left: @ the Pantheon; Above right: @ Piazza del Popolo

Above left: The famous Fountain de Trevi; Above right: Fresh produce from the Campo di Fiuri market

So what can I say? Rome is overall a great place to visit. I got a good sign that Rome is always going to be here for me if I so chooses to return to the Eternal City for a reprise visit. This Italian waiter, who served us breakfast every morning, gave us this warm, huge and unforgettable smile as he bid us farewell. What sincerity and generosity!

Assisi, Italy - 24 September 2007

The journey's start to Assisi from Firenze in the morning was hampered by a flat rear left passenger tire caused by a small punctured hole on the side of the tire (no doubt the work of an ill-intentioned individual). Big deal right? I could have changed the tire and we would be on our way. Problem was, the car had no spare tire or even a jack in the trunk! I went ahead to rent the car even though I knew it was missing these items. [Tsk tsk tsk] I was too eager to take off and didn't want to wait another day in Maastricht to get a different car - the car rental company didn't have another alternative for me that day. So I took the risk and paid for it.

Our feelings of hopelessness and despair at the sight of the flat tire soon vanished when we were aided by one good Samaritan after another. A kind gentleman who walked by us on his way to breakfast (with a newspaper in hand) noticed our desperation and then said to us, "Momento", with a hand gesture asking us to wait. He then left us and returned, a few minutes later, with a portable motorized pump. I had never seen anything like it before! It was sturdy enough to pump air into the flat to raise the tire enough so that I could drive to the nearest mechanic. While that was going on, he tried so patiently to give us directions to a mechanic as he did not speak any English. He was a Godsend, a very kind man who saved our day! We could not thank him enough. En-route to the mechanic (with an instinct that I was getting lost - again), I drove to a gas station that I had driven by and asked the attendant there to help me pump more air into the tire. This bought me more time to look for a mechanic. I also got a full tank of gas. The attendant's directions to a mechanic was unclear and again I got lost. Completely flushed with hopelessness, I decided to stay on the road and prayed earnestly to God for help. Lo and behold, He answered my prayers *right away* as I saw a tire shop down the road! Blessed, truly blessed! I was truly grateful that we were going to be okay. The tire shop employee fixed the hole for us in a very short time (there was no wait!) and for a very nominal service fee of 25E (in truth, I was prepared to pay any amount at that time!). Furthermore, as the tire shop was located near to the A1 highway, getting back on the freeway was a piece of cake and we resumed our journey to Assisi, making it there in time for the 3 PM Mass at the Basilica di San Francesco. God was with us all the way as he sent angels to help/protect us. Praise to the Lord indeed! :)

In Assisi, I rented a house in the suburb with an awesome view of the Assisi plane from the second floor balcony. My parents loved it there. We felt an overall sense of peace in Assisi. The privacy of the house provided space and comfort for us to rest and reflect - a great place for a retreat. Also, for just 95E a night, including breakfast for the three of us, it was a bargain!

A Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon of St. Francis of Assisi:

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord, All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor and all blessings.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.

Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You my Lord through our Sister, Mother Earth,
who sustains and governs us, producing varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You and bear sickness and trial.

Blessed are those who endure in peace, By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.

No second death can do them harm. Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

Above: Olive trees at Assisi

Above: San Francesco Basilica