Assisi Trip

Last weekend we went to Assisi. We left sunny Rome on Thursday afternoon and arrived the orange-lit medieval city at around seven in the evening.

We sketched, snacked and shuffled around Termini, Rome's main trainstation, for a while before boarding the blue regional train. It took some going back and forth between cars to find four vacant seats that were near each other. In our compartment we met a nun who's aquaintance turned out to be a gift that will make our first trip to Assisi unforgettable.

Arriving in the evening is a way to set yourself up for a surprise. The sun lit the morning and our first view of the city. Assisi is an old medieval city in the state of Umbria. This is about two hours north of Rome by train. Traveling is easy, we ask our professors for advice and the trenitalia website is helpful.

Parliamo in Italiano

Throughout our stay we made the effort to speak Italian with each other. We walked around with mini-ditzionarios in our pockets and opted to make gestures rather than say words in English. This atmosphere that we created with each other has become a safe refuge where what Nadia said earlier last month, really was the mantra: Non ti preoccupare.

Notes:

Forse= maybe

avere/siamo + verb, drop the last part and add 'ato' or 'eto' = past tense

Stai comodo

Stai

perdere-perdersi/ vincere= to lose/ to win

Speriamo di ritornare in primavera= we hope to return in spring

Credere= to believe

Credo che= I believe that

Hospitality

On Saturday and Sunday we had lunch (il pranzo) with the nuns.

We also met a delighful man at a cafe on Via di San Francesco. I rarely use the word delightful but man this man was delightful. Alex described him as sweet and he also said he wouldn't usually describe a man as sweet but he was. He put on his glasses as he sprinkled cocoa on the cappucino and held placed his had on his chest to keep his tie close. When we were stubborn and slow while speaking Italian he was enthusiastic and patient. After a handful of visits to his cafe throughout our stay he wanted to see our drawings and so we had a show-and-tell on our last day.

Who was San Francesco?

Take a moment to read this Franciscan prayer

The nun on the train lived in many cities and believes that Assisi is the most peaceful. There you will walk by many olive trees and light stones and in the evening everyone sleeps soundly.

San Francesco is Italy's patron saint and comes from Assisi. He lived the life of luxury and troublemaking and then his life turned 180 degrees and he devoted his life to God in a life of poverty. When he wanted to meditate, he walked 4 km out of the city to a sanctuary called Eremo delli Carceri. Together we walked along what is now asphalt but our walk was well paced. There were patches of dry snow in the shade but the sunshine kept us going. An ancient olive tree, 180+ years old still stands, braced with metal scaffolding because it was the tree that St. Francis used to meditate under (Buddha's life comes to mind). He worked hard to seek people in far places to promote peace. His intstrument was his own life. He is loved for his humility and humanity.

Travelling together.Viaggiare insieme

This was my first trip outside of Rome and a very refreshing one. I felt recharged and ready for Rome again. We arrived and it was warmer and the cars were honking but I wasn't bitter. This is Rome. That was Assisi. We have the luxury of Travel.

My roommate and dear friend, Lois, at Angelo's cafe

Eremo della Cerceri

Alex, Dorion and I on the way to Eremo

Our meal one night!

Lois' lemon sorbet was served in a frozen lemon!

On the train ride home to Rome

Basilica di San Francesco

Alex drawing Dorion in Angelo's cafe

Basilica di San Francesco

Assisi is medieval and hilly

My friends, Dorion and Alex

San Francesco

Drawings from a castle which had a view that looked over the town

San Pietro, Assisi

There will be many pages of train drawings at the end

A tree near Rocca Maggiore

Dorion drawing Alex at Angelo's cafe

Courtesy of Lois' photo library- us and the sisters!

We look forward to Assisi Trip II!