From a cloister in the North.
Sometimes, a trip south to pay a visit to the Basilica. A tradition to repeat each time, year after year. Few days were enough, each time. He was alone, gazing at the valley below. Few people around despite the pleasent weather. Not sure why we kept chatting, maybe just the fact that we both were in front of such a beautiful scenery and we both were clearly interested and captivated by that clean and linear beauty. The world as seen by a man of religion in a normal day, out of any religious celebration or place. Insteady, a cup of coffe sitting on a table outdoor. Borders become less evident in these intermediate and neutral lands and it is definetly much simpler to understand and to talk, no matter what you have to say or believe. |
People around was pleased and enchanted. The old town main square vibrated under those classic notes, and I could swear it had a very special and never seen beauty.
He stopped to rest for a while and I took the occasion to ask for something off-topic. "Would you mind playing anything from the Jethro Tull repertoire?" I asked not sure about the answer. "Any preference?" he replayed smiling. "You choose, please". |
An imperfect Italian but good enough to understand each other and explain. He loved the town and, when possible, he payed a visit there, always alone.
Each time he roamed from city to city. Rome was the important one, for religious reasons, but it was not the only one. Polite and shy, he was used to walk and when possible he enjoyed to talk to the people explaining why he was there and what his commitment towards the small community he run in his country. He had many friends over there, and they gave him all the support he needed for the limited time he spent there. We shared some food on the street and a bottle of water. |
Quite different from the other few couples around, the young family stood still in front of the entrance of the cafè.
A map in their hands, the boy and girl were searching something on the map and talking together. The child was quiet in the harms of the girl. I couldn't help noticing them while walking along the street. As soon as I was close to them, our eyes met and both hinted a smile. From Portugal, visiting Italy, the first time in the city. They need some basic help about places and streets, which was very simple to do. We spent some minutes together, just talking about their travel and Portugal. And then life in Portugal and the child. A nice time, indeed. I sent them this picture weeks later, so to be sure they would have been at home again. |