Rome, Episode I

Saturday, November 11, 2006.

7h30: I am at Milan Airport. During the flight from Beirut, Ali, from Tyre, South Lebanon was sitting next to me. He is going to Venezuela to visit his children. Very smart and intuitive person. Talking about the July war in Lebanon, he says to me that human life used to have more value than nowadays. A funeral used to be a very serious and sad moment in the village. I helped him doing his transfer in Milan.

I arrive at my hotel; actually it’s a “school of mission” of the communaute de l’Emmanuel. A number of rooms are used as a hotel (http://www.domusaurelia.com/)

I meet Chiara at the reception, very kind and helping person. She was the person I contacted to make my reservation.

I apprehend this stay in Rome a little bit, will it be boring? ...I will live each moment in my “true being” (mon être veritable). I praise the Lord.

My stay in Rome

This trip was initially programmed in September, but due to War in Lebanon, where I live, it was postponed to mid November.
For me, it was a new experience to travel alone and just for tourism. I was used to travel with other physicians to attend medical conferences. As you will see i was not decieved.

Why Rome? Because it is the Eternal city, where the Pope lives (our "new" Pope, Benedict XVI). Why Rome? Because of all the art one can admire...

It was both: pilgrimage and art tourism.