Sunday, September 6, 2009
You know why I love being Catholic? You can go anywhere in the whole world and, even if you don’t understand a word they say, you know what’s going on. Today I experienced my first Italian mass at the Duomo. Well, not actually the Duomo, but a smaller church across from it because the actual cathedral was too packed with tourists for mass (there is something so wrong with that statement…). I didn’t grab a bulletin beforehand, so I was unable to participate, though I knew what was happening when. I have a new appreciation for the idea behind the elaborate construction and artwork of medieval churches as a mode of impressing uneducated Catholics: the church certainly was beautiful and, while I didn’t follow the whole sermon, I did find myself awed by the intricate and striking details of the altar.
After mass, our original plan to experience the typical Italian breakfast of a pastry and coffee was postponed as Daniella’s aunt and uncle graciously invited us all to lunch. After walking around the city with her cousins Alessandra and Angela, we made our way to their beautiful apartment where their mother fed us the best (and the most) food we’ve had since our arrival (though there was some confusion when my poor Italian accidently told her that it was the “least” good food….) Though I struggled immensely with my Italian, I am continually impressed by the near-perfect English of Europeans.
I spent the late afternoon and early evening wandering the streets. Though I was continually whacked in the side by various contrada-parade-flag wavers, I consider it a successful day as an old Italian woman mistook me for a local and began telling me to put on a sweater because it was far too cold outside for my tank top.
Once again, the internet isn’t working so this entry will be posted late. Tomorrow my “intensive language course” begins and I am required to attend a wine tasting. Yes, the Tuscan lifestyle is a trying one.
You know why I love being Catholic? You can go anywhere in the whole world and, even if you don’t understand a word they say, you know what’s going on. Today I experienced my first Italian mass at the Duomo. Well, not actually the Duomo, but a smaller church across from it because the actual cathedral was too packed with tourists for mass (there is something so wrong with that statement…). I didn’t grab a bulletin beforehand, so I was unable to participate, though I knew what was happening when. I have a new appreciation for the idea behind the elaborate construction and artwork of medieval churches as a mode of impressing uneducated Catholics: the church certainly was beautiful and, while I didn’t follow the whole sermon, I did find myself awed by the intricate and striking details of the altar.
After mass, our original plan to experience the typical Italian breakfast of a pastry and coffee was postponed as Daniella’s aunt and uncle graciously invited us all to lunch. After walking around the city with her cousins Alessandra and Angela, we made our way to their beautiful apartment where their mother fed us the best (and the most) food we’ve had since our arrival (though there was some confusion when my poor Italian accidently told her that it was the “least” good food….) Though I struggled immensely with my Italian, I am continually impressed by the near-perfect English of Europeans.
I spent the late afternoon and early evening wandering the streets. Though I was continually whacked in the side by various contrada-parade-flag wavers, I consider it a successful day as an old Italian woman mistook me for a local and began telling me to put on a sweater because it was far too cold outside for my tank top.
Once again, the internet isn’t working so this entry will be posted late. Tomorrow my “intensive language course” begins and I am required to attend a wine tasting. Yes, the Tuscan lifestyle is a trying one.
No comments:
Post a Comment