Tomorrow I will be leaving for Rome, Italy. I'm so excited about this trip although this will be my 8th trip to Rome. Can you believe it?! But I am thrilled to be back to the Eternal City where ancient and contemporary architectural forms blend beautifully together. But the basic reason to be in Italy at this time of the year would be to view the incorrupt body of St. Padre Pio, the Franciscan Capuchin friar, who died 40 years ago on September 23, 1968. When he was still a young priest, he acquired the "stigmata", the five wounds of Jesus on the hands, shoulders, heart and feet. His "stigmata" caused him immense pain, ridicule, hate, and insults of unprecedented proportions from believers and unbelievers alike. To think that he bore the wounds for 50 years!
This pilgrimage to Rome and San Giovanni Rotondo of St. Padre Pio was made most enjoyable in the company of my sister, Beth, my sister-in-law Nieves, my cousin, Tina Dizon, my "balae" Lily and her daughter-in-law, Edda and my very good friends, Pat and Violet Corkery. Except for Edda, we had all been together in trips to Europe before and had further nourished our friendship through the frequent mini-reunions we have had.
The Northwest Airlines flight was scheduled to leave San Francisco Airport early in the morning. As such, the group should be assembled at 7 AM so as to check-in at the same time. You can just imagine the look in their faces when I showed up, "body and soul", so to speak , right on time. For one who is known to be "always late" I really surprised them! The laughter that ensued by my unepected feat heralded a wonderful beginning for the pilgrimage.
Like seasoned globetrotters, we survived the 9-hour-flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam and another 3 1/2 hours to the Fumicino Airport, the Gateway to Rome. To have survived the discomfort associated with long flights did not, however, save us from some aches and pains. Somehow, the thought of a good night's rest in a cool, clean hotel room would renew our energy for the planned activites ahead.
ECO HOTEL located in the outskirts of Rome offered the answer to our prayer! It was a recently constructed hotel with a specific color scheme for each room and exhibited such elegant taste in its furnishings. To top it all, we had the daily buffet breakfast which was lavish in the true sense of the word! If we can put another star to its "generosity", they did not seem to mind our helping ourselves to a sandwich and fruit "to go." Who will not welcome the savings for snacks?
