Thank you to all our family and friends who follow us along on our journey, it is always heartwarming when we learn from you that you do, and to know a little of what is going on in your lives too!
This week began with our riding three trains to travel from Italy to Switzerland – from Asti to Alesandria, Alesandria to Milano, and Milano to Lugano. Then we essentially holed up in our AirBnB for a couple of days to catch up on things that we have had to put off and to do some future planning, other than going food shopping. That suited the weather as it rained hard on each of those days. When we finally ventured out for the 30 minute walk to the park on the edge of Lago di Lugano or Der Luganersee – Italian or Swiss for Lake Lugano, the sun joined us for part of our 6 hour adventure around town. It felt good to be outside!
We have visited many churches and cathedrals in Europe, but, in Lugano I found my first one with out of the box – or actually out of the cupola art, and it is so representative of the weather that we have been experiencing!
Our second outing on another day took us further along the lake edge, toward what is named Paradise, with a couple of business signs proclaiming Eden. We walked past white bows and red heart balloons decorating a lakeside establishment which we believe was hosting a casual wedding.
We were then surprised at touched at being greeted by a bust of our dear George Washington, housed in a round columned and dome-covered open pavilion along our La Passeggiata, which translates to traditional Italian evening walk.
That evening we also walked up the many steep steps, designed and built along an abandoned railroad lift, which has also been claimed by a local art project to spruce up the area.
At the top we had beautiful views of the lake and surrounding communities.
I am not certain that we made a full Italian mile – 1000 paces, out of our jaunt but again it was great to be outdoors, even though it was – of course, overcast. Loren and I are both missing our regular respective exercise routines of bicycling and yoga, which would have helped offset all the scrumptuous food we have been eating… We will take better care of ourselves going forward.
With Loren’s ability to speak Italian improving, my comprehension of Italian expanding a little bit, and spending extended time in Italy – being again with precious family members and cherished friends, I am learning that how we humans view life is in such similar ways, despite differences in language. Sure, I probably understood that, intellectually, before. Now I really understand through my experiences. Such familiar repeated words or phrases as simple as anke me – me too, fortunato – fortunate, certo -certainly, aspeta, ‘speta – wait, wait, coro – choir, and many other everyday words, as well as various signs of the Italian Pace or Latin Pax – Peace which we have seen along the way, all brought this to mind.
Journey Toward Wholeness 