Changing of the guard
September 13, 2008 | 1 Comment
A 6:15am breakfast to start the day and mark our journey to Rome. Departing La Neyliere at 7am it was hard to believe that our arrival time Rome arrival time was scheduled for around 8:30pm. It was going to be a big day.
The truth be known it didn’t start too well, the mini-bus that came to pick us up was barely sufficient to take all our luggage and ourselves, and the driver seemed somewhat unfamiliar with his vehicle. He didn’t seem to know how to open both the back doors, had very little idea how to pack it, and when it came time for some ventilation in order for him to see out of the front window, he just gave up trying to use it and in the end wiped the window with his sleeve. His unfamiliarity with the vehicle also extended to the destination, namely Part-Dieu one of the two major railway stations in Lyon, and in the end he had to drop us off some ways from our destination because he couldn’t find the right place to deliver us. He said he hadn’t been to Part-Dieu for ten years!
In fairness, it was a Saturday and perhaps he was filling in for someone.
Traveling on the TGV and reaching speeds of 300kph, the world seemed to fly buy, as did the time, and as we as we weaved our way through the Alps, eventually left France behind and welcomed Italy, it was all very picturesque. While uneventful, there was however a first, well least for some of us, we were traveling with a dog on the train! What’s more it’s lunch was purchased from the dining car and then when alighting, one of us was asked to let the dog go first!
We were welcomed at the Rome Railway Station by Tim Costello and Rafa Qalovi. Tim himself just arriving back today in Rome after a 23 hour flight and a visit to New Zealand to lecture at Good Shepherd College. He and Rafa drove to the Station, and in a neatly planned exercise, Rafa drove the station wagon with our gear to the General House and Tim escorted us on the bus, Route 75, which terminates right outside our door. Hard to beat that.
On our arrival in Rome Tim now accepts responsibility for the Roman aspects of the Pilgrimage, however we are also pleased that Bernd will continue to stay with us.
Arriving at the General House we were greeted warmly by the community and their sensitivity was such that it was not long before we were enjoying a chat while eating a most welcome dinner.
A big day, a long day, but a good one, and capped off nicely being immediately made to feel at home and welcome at the General House.