St Anne

Sorrento..Its a beautiful coastal town on the cliffs of Italy..It was a 'must see city' as we wanted to see Pompeii last year.
Brid had been studying Cambridge Latin and reading about a family and there adventures using this series of books.
We saw Pompeii on a hot day. Well it seemed that it was as it is so exposed.
It was so fascinating and Brid took a mile of photos.
Dermot wanted to see Mt Vesuvius and I just wanted to see those spectacular views along the coast line...And oh those drivers....I think we lost our a heart beat quite a few times driving on those narrow roads. I mean narrow. We wouldn't drive down a road like them in Australia...but they didn't just drive, they sped..Those bikes, they were lethal and dangerous....I lost a heart beat every time on got tooo close.
Anyway, not far from our little hotel accomodation was a little fishing village. As we walked along the sea on the foreshore, we noticed a church and children playing outside. A priest casually talking to the kids and hanging out. A few ladies sitting on a bench as we wntered the Church.
It was called Santa Anna
Gorgeous little obscure church, not on the normal route, but just beautiful inside.
We spent quite a while before Our Lord in Thanksgiving of our holday and our safety and his provision..
I also prayed for one of my friends whose name is Anne...Adorable sweet women.

These are a few photos of this church..

St Anne and Our Lady

 

My favourite Italian city

Assisi-

A beautiful serene town  sat up on a mountain was our next stop. A 4 hour drive north from Sorrento.  So much too say so I will just leave you a photo or 2 or 3 or .....

Our first glance of Assisi- yeah hope dermot loves it as much as me...

Sunsets are so beautiful here



Brid at sunset in Santa Chiara piazza



the Portiuncola inside the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli
 

a view from the valley of Santa Francesco Basilica

Brid outside San Damiono - where St Chiara lived.

The inside Garden. This is where St Chiara- or as we call her St Clare until her death

Dermot and I just loving the view and the Spirituality of this city
 

St Chiara at the Basilica of St Chiara

Dermot was determined to get to this little church called San Stefano- it was a very long complicated treck up many many stairs and steep roads within the Assisi.

He had to have a photo outside. We got to the church 10 minutes before closing time. Just in time. Thank You Lord
 

Our last night looking down on the valley at sunset...again....beautiful view with
 lovely company and meal

Dermot and Brid both loved Assisi. We stayed in a monastery of San Collette. A companion of St Chiara. We drove through the street of Assisi to get to our accomodation. A bit scary. I couldn't believe the pathways !! that we needed to negotiate to get us there.

Suggestions

As we prepared for our Holiday/ pilgrimage, we asked various Priests and friends where they would go in France and Italy.
We were a blank canvas at first..We build our trip arround these recommendations, inspired by the Holy Spirit to guide us.
We have been well guided.
A lovely Priest Friend, suggested we don't forget Lourdes. So we are there this weekend...
We don't know what to expect, but have been suggested to just go with the flow...Not plan it, so thats our plan to just be guided.

photos will follow.......

 

Assisi

When I was on WYD 05 pilgrimage with one of our children, we visited Assisi...I loved it and couldn't wait to take Dermot back...

                                     So we will be seeing These 2 sights of many others.

Brid has her clothing organised as the clothing requirements are quite strict and in some places they ask for head coverings..
She will have no trouble with her style of modesty..

 

Rome

As we journey along we have added scheduled posts so you can come with us..I will give a better post about it all when we get back, until then enjoy.....