June 12, 2007

It is a bit surreal to be here in Italy. It looks very much like one would picture it, with centuries old buildings and beautiful wrought iron, with flowers and vines trailing out of windows. There are even the extraordinarily narrow allies with fresh laundry hanging on lines connected to the building across the alleyway. It is incredible to think that hundreds of families are just going about their daily tasks in this charming setting. However, it was not until I observed a religious ceremony parading through the streets, did I fully comprehend that I had arrived.

I was having dinner with some friends at a little pizzeria on Sunday evening. We were eating various assortments of delicious Italian food and drinking great wine, when we heard church bells begin to toll. We turned to see if we could see the church, and all of a sudden, the cobblestone streets began filling with priests, carrying banners and singing. Hundreds of men, women, and children joined them and all begin singing beautiful old songs. It was really quite lovely, and I was so disapointed that I had left my camera at the hotel. However, it was a fitting welcome to this extraordinary country!