Prego!

Now, you’re going to get the impression that all I’m really doing this year is buying time between extravagant trips to exotic destinations: Prague & Paris for Christmas, Thailand in March, and now I’ve just returned from a week in Italy. Yes, Italy – six days in a villa in a quiet, vineyard and orchard-graced countryside, and two days in the marvelous city of Rome.

Ok, so it is glamorous and perhaps a bit extravagant. But hey, when else in life do you have a two-week holiday every two months and with most of the world only a plane trip away, and siblings that can talk you into joining them anywhere “for the sake of family” – how can one resist? What a lucky kid I am. I am.

But it’s not all beaches, facials, beautiful cities, gelato and fine food this year I tell you. You must believe that the other 8 weeks of the bargain make the 2 weeks of indulgence well-justified. I had intended to write an entry in May giving you “a day in the life” for me in Juba. But alas, the days in my life there do not often afford time for such things and May was missed.

So for the time being – let me tell tales of lovely adventures in Europe, and we’ll get back to the realities of Sudan later.

Italia! Delightful.

Let me not burden you with words, but instead provide you with one of those children’s easy-to-read books where the pictures fill in the words.

Once upon a time there where 4 happy siblings who decided to go on a holiday in Italy.

The big (and wise) sister, knowing that the big brother and little sister would be weary from their hard work in far-away Africa booked a villa for the 4 travelers to rest their weary heads.

The villa was in the province of Umbria, a beautiful place that looks like this,

And this,

For the first few days, they did nothing but rest. Lots of this,

And this,

And this,

Now and then, they would run out of food and make a long walk into the nearest village,

To buy fantastic Italian food that looked like this,

And this,

And this,

And this,

Eventually, they decided that perhaps they should broaden their horizons and so they ventured off to the nearby cities to explore narrow streets,

Eat as much gelato as they could get away with each day,

Admire beautiful sites,

And ponder the lives of those who were in these places long ago.

Like St. Francis of Assisi who traveled these roads,

And wished peace and goodwill for this country.

When their time expired at the beautiful villa, the 4 rested siblings, decided to venture even further to the big city of Rome. They had heard great things of this renowned place and wanted to see it with their own eyes.

Here their eyes took in beautiful architecture,

And much ancient history.

They could not pass up the chance to visit a new country (to add to their list) while they were nearby, and so of course, they stopped in to visit Vatican City.

To their regret, they did not chance to see the pope, but they did visit some of the remarkable possessions within his city walls.

And their eyes took in more breathtaking artistry,

And ancient history.

And they couldn’t help but write home about it.

After all this, the siblings parted ways, sad to be divided, but content from the rich rest, fantastic food, superb sites and beneficial bonding time.

The End