christianity
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Magnificent humanity
Twice, we have walked a circuit of ancient Catholic churches in Fano when they were not having Mass. We admired the art, the architecture and the emptiness, from one to the next: The 1140 A.D. Cathedral, the 14th century Church… Continue reading
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A cup of coffee
Italians don’t just drink coffee. They administer it. A barista like Daniele, the man who runs Caffè Dell’Arco in Fano, administers what we call espresso – the drink they call un caffè. Some regular customers stand at the counter and… Continue reading
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Monastic views
A Benedictine monastery with a pagan name, Eremo Monte Giove (Mt. Jove Hermitage), offers a breathtaking perspective on the area around it. After you hike up the steep quiet road from where the bus lets you out at Rosciano, you… Continue reading
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Good Lord, we beseech thee
We see more walking companions, resting in small groups chatting in Italian on breaks in the shade of olive trees. One group of young women leaves a stone booth with a Virgin Mary altar (one crosses herself, kissing her hand)… Continue reading
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Once more, to the lake
Salve, cara mèi lettrici. I interrupt this long silence to say we, my wife and I, are proceeding on our plans to reach Italy next year. Things are going well, while I plan to play tenor sax today in Decatur’s… Continue reading
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The universal faith — money
How earthlings think about money is strangely consistent around the world. Looking at renting an apartment in an Italian city on the Adriatic, the same system that measures market values in Decatur, Ga., is in effect there too, or in… Continue reading
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Faiths, face to face
I had turned into the wrong entryway, but helpful men in Islamic tunics waved me across the road to their mosque. A giant electronic billboard overhead probably shocked the Atlanta traffic on I-85 as much as it did me. “The… Continue reading
An American journalist heads for Italy to see his country changing from afar. 