Ciao da Roma!

Day one in Italy! We landed at Fiumicino Airport outside of Rome at 8:45 a.m. (Rome time! Flight time from Cleveland was almost 10 ½ hours plus a layover at JFK).  We arrived at Walsh campus, Casa Mennesiana, just outside Castel Gandolfo about 10:30 a.m. where we were warmly greeted by Brother Mario.

We had a few hours to unpack and freshen up (I tried to take a few photos. Although it is in low 60s today, it is a bit cloudy so some are not as clear as I would like), then we had a tasty lunch (great ravioli) at 1:00 p.m. where we met Brother Giovanni. Rome site director extraordinaire Danilo Mori took the new Director of Student Life Laura Downey and me for a quick break to the nearby town of Albano for an espresso and unbelievable pastries at Paticcerie Duomo (Roberto’s). We met our twelve tired but wonderful Walsh students at 2:15 p.m. for orientation. All of us then walked uphill to Castel Gandolfo. Oh!!! It is like being in a movie!! We attended mass at the parish church dedicated to St. Thomas of Villanova (Santa Tommaso da Villanova - designed by Bernini in the seventeenth century). Afterwards Danilo and Laura introduced me to the practice of “aperitivo” with a spritz (the official cocktail of Venice) and appetizers at Baruffa (a café in Castel Gandolfo). By 7:30 p.m. we walked back down the hill to campus where we enjoyed a delicious dinner and fellowship (and considering we have all been up for over 30 hours – it was amazing). It is hard to believe, but our itinerary for tomorrow will be even more incredible. Since I have to teach our first class in only ten hours, I better get some sleep. Buona notte il mio amico.