Sunday Stroll

I went to my first Mass in Italian today. Clara, Rodolfo, and I walked down to the Basilica of San Petronio for eight o'clock Mass. That's pretty early, by Italian standards, and we could tell. Mass took place on one of the smaller side chapels, and there were only about twenty people there altogether. We were the youngest people there by about ten years or so. Before Mass we prayed the Morning Office. There wasn't much music, but I did recognize the Alleluia and the tune of the closing hymn. The chapel hadn't been changed since before Vatican Council II, so the priest faced away from us for most of the Eucharistic Liturgy. It was really nice to go to Mass and connect with the universal church.

Afterwards, we went back to the hotel to eat breakfast and changed, and then, with the addition of Elisabetta, we headed out on our journey. We decided to make the long hike up to the Sactuary of San Luca, located on a hill southwest of the city. It took about two hours each way, but the entire path was under porticoes. The mysteries of the Rosary were painted along the wall, a good way to mark your progress. There were many joggers making the trek as well. Arriving at the top, we got a great view of the countryside of Emilia-Romagna. The church was ornate and colorful, lots of gold, lots of statues, lots of people. I saw this striking sculpture of St. Luke and the Blessed Virgin. It showed Mary, with a flower in her hand, looking in amazement at something, or someone, in front of her. I'm guessing the Annunciation. St. Luke was off to the side, watching and painting a picture of her. What a cool way to present writing a Gospel!

Elisabetta had read about a trattoria that was on our way back towards the city, and we stopped there for lunch. There were no menus at the Trattoria Meloncello; the waiter told you what you should get. Of course he knew at once that we were Americans, and suggested we try a plate with three different kinds of pasta on it: tortelloni con burro e salvia (butter and sage), grimigna e salsicca (a short, curly type of spaghetti and sausage), and something else I can't remember, but it was all delicious! And we were guaranteed that the food was "cento per cento Bolognese."

We walked through a very nice residential part of town, Saragozza. The houses were very brightly painted and elegant, and I remember one of the balconies was painted wrought iron flowers. Another was a salmon color accented with bright blue tiles with unicorn designs. Rodolfo's going to be living around that area, so I'll be sure to visit!

We got back to the hotel, and fell asleep. What a great Sunday!