The Adventure continues

February 6, 2010

Our view of Mount Majella - notice the blue skies

After dull and rainy days at the beginning of the week the sun is out and the temperatures are starting to rise.   Each day is getting a little warmer; today it is going up to 17 degrees. 

Thursday, February 3rd was the Festival of Saint of Saint Biagio.  Saint Biagio was the Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia during the Fourth Century. Very little is known about his life. According to various accounts he was a physician before becoming a bishop. His cult spread throughout the entire Church in the Middle Ages because he was reputed to have miraculously cured a little boy who nearly died because of a fishbone in his throat. From the Eighth Century he has been invoked on behalf of the sick, especially those afflicted with illnesses of the throat.  The blessing may be given by touching the throat of each person with two candles joined together in the form of a cross.  The streets of Lanciano were filled with people going to  San Biagio Church, an old Chuch that is only open for this festival.  As part of this celebration bread shaped like bagels with anise is sold as well as donuts with sugar on top. I think the significance of this tradition is that anise is soothing for the throat.  In any rate they were pretty tasty.

San Biagio Church - pretty primitive looking

I thought I would include this picture as I need to have a photograph with wine involved.  Here I’m teaching Christine the Italian culture. 

Notice how well she has picked the culture up.

Yesterday, Saturday was quite a highlight.  One of the school activities for 2nd semester is to ski on Saturdays.  So nine students, another teacher, George and I set out early in the morning to a ski resort named Montepatello about 1 1/2 hours from Lanciano.  What a supberb day, bright, bright blue sky and the sun shining on the pristine snow.  Quite by accident we skiied a black diamond bowl down the mountain.  It was a white knuckle scary but unlike other skiers we did not crash.  

Today the staff are cooking for the students tonight.  The theme is Arizona.  One of the teachers is from Arizona and had mentioned it was Arizona’s 100th Anniversary, (found out later it is the 99th anniversary).  Other than that we are making chili, cornbread, salad and I am busy making chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies for it.

Have a good week everyone.  Hopefully it starts to warm up for you.