A View of Rome with Alexander

The market in Campo di Fiore was in full swing this morning by the time we made it down there.  The market is about a one minute walk from our door, so we had our cappuccino and cornetto here, with some fruit from the market.

We met our walking tour guide, here in the middle of the Campo, he took us on a tour historical and mysterious, of Rome, including the Colosseum from 10 am until whenever the kids were worn out.  FIVE HOURS LATER, the kids were not tired of Alexander's tour.  Except Rosebud.  Who enjoyed all of it, except when the Professor  elbowed her in the nose accidentally at the Colosseum, but was clearly in need of gelato by the end.

All these incredible sites just blow my mind.  People eat their casual lunches on the steps in the shade of the Colosseum.  Teenagers butt their cigarettes on Corinthian pillars and flirt at the Trevi Fountain as though it is a shopping mall.  Names and initials are scratched into the marble, and, oddly enough, seem a natural extension of the profoundly beautiful statues that make up the fountain.  They represent a long human  history, not separate from real life, not larger than real life, but a stable part of the generations that have come and gone and carved their skill or faith or initials in the monuments of Rome.

Generations of Romans, their parents, grandparents and great, great, greats probably carved their initials in the beautiful marble monuments of Rome.  Brushed casually pasts Rome's Bernini's and Michelangelo's, domes, pillars, Caesars and saints.  It is all theirs and they know it.  They are bound to their past in ways that we can't begin to guess.

But take one step too far, cross one unseen barrier too close to something, I know not what...the teenagers take a step just too far out onto the rocks of the fountain, and the Gendarmeria, acting as the fountain police at this place,  wave their arms and point and shout and blow their official sounding whistles.  Everyone turns to stare disapprovingly at the offending teens and they respond in kind with sheepish respect.

  Inside the Pantheon, conversations and laughter carry on in half a dozen languages as if it is not a sacred place, despite the ten minute reminders, in several languages to please be quiet, this is a sacred place.

Alexander, perceptive of our faith and the kid's curiosity and capacity for history, tailored the tour as we went along.  He has worked as a stunt man for historical battles, and acts as a consultant to historical battle and weaponry for movies and historical documentaries.  Think this worked for the boys?  As well, he was fun, cool and a wealth of knowledge.  Our pace was relaxed, fun and spontaneous.

And knows where to get the best espresso in Roma.  Love this guy.

Did I say we loved this guy?

So.  Back to Father David and the touring group from Illinois.  We move directly from our tour with Alexander to meet Father David. Yes!  We accepted their invitation once again to join their tour, which today included meeting them for Mass at the San Andrea della Fratte church at 4 pm, then touring the Trevi fountain and the Pantheon.  The church where we met Father was where SaintMaximilian  Kolbe said his first Mass.  Father celebrated on the very same altar where this Mass was said, and this is also the site of a miraculous vision that occurred of the Virgin Mary.  While Saint Max was saying Mass, an atheist happened to be visiting the church.  The blessed mother appeared to him, and he converted to the Catholic faith.

Father David's group is celebrating the last night together as a tour group, they leave to go back to Illinois tomorrow.  They invited us to a little trattoria where they were having their last dinner together.  A beautiful and incredibly gracious group to have accepted us and welcomed us into their tour group.  Really special people that we will keep in touch with.

Huckleberry is losing his voice.  Will the miracles NEVER cease?  Truly, a trip led by the Holy Spirit.

A happy and weary family, we meandered  back through the warm Roman (it was 26 degrees here in Rome today) evening to our apartment.  Only one minute into the door, the boys ask, please!  Can't we just hang out at the Campo di Fiore for a little while?

Lydia is done, but we decide that venti minuti on the campo would be a lovely way of ending this evening, the musicians are playing and the street is alive.  Before they even get out the door, she is breathing heavily on the pillow next to me.

I apologize for this long post, and I apologize for it's brevity.  So, so much to share, and not enough time to share it all.