ASSISI! And... My Blessed Ananda Community here! Sunday, April 30th

I am in heaven!!! Literally, I feel like I have been dropped into the astral world!


After arriving at my friend Dhuti's house in the countryside near Assisi, I went for a chilly but beautiful walk at sunset... couldn't believe the magnificence of the views in all directions! So clean, green and gorgeous!!! 


Here is how it all came about:  

I left the guest house in Fiumicino yesterday in the a.m., after the lovely Sabrina had an employee give me a complimentary ride back to the airport and the train station there. I caught the Leonardo express commuter train to the Rome Termini... had a short wait and long walk to train #2, which took me most of the way to Assisi... but I had to take train #3 for the last little bit. 


Seriously comfy seats, clean trains... smooth travel... absolutely peaceful and infinitely pleasant! 


Nice view of the beautiful countryside the train passed through... 


A little hard to see, but there were large fields of yellow wildflowers... 

No matter. So UNLIKE India, the trains were all lovely. Spacious, not overcrowded, comfy seats, smooth, fast, clean... passengers polite and friendly. So...the whole trip was a breeze. The passing countryside was gorgeous. The windows were large and clean and I could see out of them! (Again, very much in contrast with so many of the Indian trains!) The price was not too bad, either...about $30 U.S. for the whole journey, which took about 4.5 hours. 

At the Assisi train station, I was picked up by Gopala, the Ananda seva person I have been communicating with. He kindly took me into the gorgeous town of Assisi itself (VERY quick trip--I will of course return at my leisure) to get euros, some food, and visit a lovely old church where St. Francis of Assisi presumably became a true disciple of Jesus. It was beautiful there... the scenery, magnificent. 

After a pleasant 40 minute drive into the countryside, we arrived at my friend Dhuti's place, not far from the Ananda center itself. Here, I settled in and made myself comfy...had a good meal and great night's sleep...NO EARPLUGS needed!!! It is SO peaceful and quiet...again, heaven! I made a nice fire in her wood stove (it IS cold, to be sure) and enjoyed the warmth and atmosphere of it. 

Today, Sunday, I went to the Sunday service and met many wonderful people. It is on a gorgeous piece of property, and the temple is truly beautiful. Lunch was scrumptious, and friends of Dhuti's gave me a ride back to her place. I am happy as a clam here! Wish I could stay forever...but as I understand it, my visa is only good for 3 months... what a pity.

Tomorrow, I relocate to the center itself, and start my seva for Ananda (seva is the word for selfless service... I will basically work as a volunteer, and pay a modest amount for my room and board.) 

So.... more about that once it begins manana! (oops, that is Spanish...time to start learning Italian!) 

Below: more scenes from my lovely country stroll! 











These next few were the ones taken at the church we briefly visited--San Damiano--when we stopped in the town of Assisi on the way out into the countryside: 


San Damiano is a very popular destination for tourists and pilgrims: like other churches, it is ancient, beautiful and historically significant in the life of Saint Francis. 


The cross you see at the top of the chapel is a replica of the famous one now in the Basilica di San Chiara. It is famous owing to the fact that Christ supposedly spoke to Saint Francis through this cross and told him to "rebuild my church".  As such, it is greatly revered by Franciscans and Christians in general. 

A most unusual mosaic, on the wall outside the church... I never saw one like this before, combining mosaic with bronze sculptures. Quite beautiful! 


Lovely stone passageway alongside the church, with an amazing view of the valley below... 


The church was filled with many colorfully painted walls and alcoves. It is extraordinary, how lovely they still are, after hundreds of years since the church was built. 


This was a special room where Saint Claire liked to pray. The story goes that, after Francis built the church, he left it to live elsewhere with the brothers, leaving this church to Saint Claire and her nuns, the "Poor Claires" as they were called (I am assuming because of their vows of poverty, just like St. Francis.) 


Bronze, full-sized statue of St. Francis in meditation... 




The rather stark dining room... apparently, the "Poor Claires" were only permitted one meal per day...largely vegetarian. I imagine they were all bean
poles... it certainly would not have worked for the likes of me!!

The peaceful and lovely inner courtyard; the windows above looked out onto this scene. The nuns occupied the rooms above, so at least there was one aspect of their lives which was a little less austere! 


In the boutique... I really loved this sculpture of St. Francis communing with the hare! That would be me, were I also able to talk to the animals! 


The painting to the left was of St. Claire... the others on the walls depicted other scenes of their monastic lives. 


Looking down into the valley below the church. 

 

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