Cappuccini - but not the drink

On the first day in Rome we visited what friends had described as "the bone church" also known as Chiesa Di Santa Maria Della Concione.  

Attached to this church was a newly established museum recording the history of the Franciscan order.  My favorite quotes:

 I discovered that they are known as the Cappuccini because of their style of dress:
    

I really wanted to ask him if he'd been to the bone church too...

Walking through the row of crypt chapels, with walls and ceiling decorated in patterns/displays of bones was a mixture of disturbing and thought provoking.

One of the plaques among the bones reads: 

‘what you are now we used to be, what we are now you will be’

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capuchin_Crypt has more info and a photo.

This Benediction I read today is the challenge I'd like to leave with you:

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships - so that we may live deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people - so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war - so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in the world - so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. Amen. (Franciscan Benediction)

Top 10 Lessons Learned Driving in Italy

First let me introduce my favorite Mercedes "Putt-Putt".  He proved is worth  many a time with great pick up, good reflexes and was the perfect size for Italian village roads and parking spaces!!  Here we'd stopped halfway down a mountain (more or less the edge of a parking lot) to say hello to our first sheep sighting of the trip.  Yeah for the emergency break!! :)

Driving Italian roads and Autostradas was as much of an adventure as I'd been warned, but oddly enough a thrill quite to my liking!!  Here's a pic of the beginning of one of the many monsoons I drove through!!

So here's what I learned:

1) BEWARE of the Autovelox (Radar speed trap photo box) - there may be signs, but they are EVERYWHERE!!

2) If trying to leave town, follow the green signs, they will get you to the big roads that just might be visible on printed maps!

3) White signs with black bulls-eyes will lead to the center of town = tourist spots.

4) Brown and white signs are probably just what you're looking for!

5) Lanes are MERE suggestions.

6) When the car behind starts to cuddle your back side, it's just a kind reminder you're driving too slow, and move to the granny lane on your right.

7) Roundabouts are particularly educational the fourth time around!

8) Yield signs give right of way to the owner of the bigger cojones!

9) Autostrada restrooms are of the "bring your own toilet seat" variety.

AND...

10) The views are ALWAYS worth the drive!!!!