The "Assisi Connection" Story

It was an ordinary day. We just finished breakfast in Florence and are headed to Assisi,Umbria. You read right. Assisi, Italy. Home of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. Assisi is a walled city where the Franciscan Order was started by Saint Francis. St. Francis was born in Assisi in late 1181. In early 1182 his father, who had been visiting France at the time of his son's birth returned and found out his wife had named their son Giovanni after John the Baptist. He was furious since the name signified a man of God so he renamed him Francesco which reflected his infatuation of France. Francis lived a life of luxury since his father was a wealthy man. He also lived a life of sin because of constant wild parties and frequently visiting France. He was eventually disinherited by his father in 1206. But, he finally started a conversion within himself and eventually founded the Franciscan Order in 1210. Today is a cloudy, rainy, cold day. Carol's boss, Rosalyn, who is also a guest on the tour today, is wearing her new beautiful while leather coat with fox collar! She looks very Italian! As we are standing outside the San Francisco Basilica it starts to sleet and snow. That can't be good for a new leather coat, I thought. This is September for goodness sake. And Italy. The weather can't be this bad, can it? We finally got to enter the Basilica and we traveled to the lower levels to view the tomb of St. Francis. Beautiful place and very moving. People crying and praying all over the place. Assisi is one of many walled cities in Italy and they all are so neat to walk through. The stone roads and architecture make you feel like you are part of history. I wonder how they could construct the city with the tools and materials that they had around the birth of Christ. We were told that they are still finding Roman remains in parts of the ancient city. Our tour ends with a four course meal inside the city walls. We start with an assortment of breads and naturally wine. Then the pasta entre. The main course is pork with some kind of potato patty. Very unusual. End the meal with tiramisu. Just an OK meal, but a fabulous place to have the meal. Tomorrow we will head to Rome! Now neat is that!! It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Pixs from the top are: walled city of Assisi, pix of St. Francis, the San Francisco Basilica and Carol roaming the streets of the walled city of Assisi.