Filling up the social calendar

It's really difficult to get a picture of everything!

Here in our Italian Paradise, you never know what the next day (or hour) may bring.  For example, on the anniversary of 9/11, Enzo was invited by Ricardo of the Italian Tea Party, to a remembrance celebration in Rome organised by Italy's Minister of Youth Giorgia Meloni.

We arrived into Rome very early in the morning since Enzo often gets a little agitated if he thinks he might be late for anything.  It was  gloriously sunny early on that Sunday morning and already the Colosseum was surrounded by camera shutters from all over the world.

Sheltered from the sun under the canvas of a very large marquee, we were unsure of what to expect from the 9/11 event. Rows of chairs were arranged facing a large stage and as people arrived it became necessary to fetch more.  The area filled up very quickly.  We took a seat and snatched a moment to look around.  Enzo and Ricardo sat together and discussed Tea Parties, American-Italian politics and the who's-who of people in the crowd.

As we sat there I noticed a gentleman walking the isle sporting a neck support and quickly nudged Enzo because I thought he looked a little like Berlusconi.  Then another familiar face came through a large crowd surrounded by cameras and microphones.  Ricardo asked Enzo if he would like his photograph taken with this familiar face.  Not having any idea who this guy was, I was a little less than interested but dutifully followed them both with my mobile phone camera.

Enzo, Maurizio Gasparri and Ricardo

This was the result: Enzo and Ricardo with Maurizio Gasparri, a Senator of Italy's PDL.

The event was running behind due to more than expected numbers of people arriving and Angelino Alfano, the Secretary General of the PDL and one of the speakers, having difficulty getting through the crowd.  The late start meant that an address being given by the ex Mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani via live satellite link, was disappointingly scrubbed. Nevertheless it was a great turn out.

Once everyone had settled down, much to his surprise Enzo was escorted to the front where he was later asked to stand to receive acknowledgement for his first responder efforts.  As he stood there on that gloriously sunny Sunday, alone before thousands of people, we paid our respects to everyone affected by the events of September 11th, 2001.

Later that morning while we were mingling, Enzo was handed a piece of paper advertising the 9/11 events happening around Rome.  One of them was a candle-lit vigil at the American Embassy later in the day.  We decided to hang around the Eternal City, visit some sights, grab a bite to eat and generally pass the time of day.

Whenever the opportunity arises we always like to mooch around Rome and we seem to gravitate to the same places.  So the first stop was the Colosseum where Enzo wasted no time ordering himself a panini.  I would have given anything for you all to see the face of the woman serving him when he asked for mayonnaise to be put over his mozzarella and prosciutto.  You'd think he'd ordered the slaughtering of all the first born!

If you refer to a map of the city, you'll discover that from the Colosseum it's a bit of trek to get to the Pantheon.  So our first piece of advise to you while you're visiting Rome is to 'look up and around.'

Our second piece of advise is, never be afraid to get lost - you'll never know what you might creep up upon.

The end of this shaded street opens out into the Piazza della Rotonda, an often sunny spot to just sit, relax, do a little people watching and if you're anything like me, wonder what it must have been like some 20 centuries ago when The Pantheon was built.

This is one of my most favourite places to be in Rome.  Inside The Pantheon you are asked to be quiet and respectful which is quite difficult to do with your mouth open uttering sounds of amazement and awe.  However, you can take a moment to sit before the chapel for time to contemplate all of these wonders.  After all, you will be in the company of the Kings of Italy and Rafael who have been laid to rest here.

As the light began to fade, we made our way towards the American Embassy to be in time for the candle light vigil.  We were not the first ones to arrive.  The gentleman with the neck support at this morning's event I was telling you about, he was already there.

A small crowd of people started to gather and were told that the vigil was cancelled because the Embassy was on high alert.  The gentleman with the neck support had arrived to let us all know having already spent most of his afternoon trying to contact everyone with the news.  The gentleman's name ... Amato.

Amato invited us all for a drink where across the table of martini's and appetisers the talk was of Italy, America, politics and life in general.  A very pleasant way to spend the end of an equally pleasant day.

The Coll0sseum alight in remembrance of September 11th, 2011

As we all left to go our separate ways, Amato and Enzo exchanged business cards and Amato warmly shook our hands and said to me "we might be asking Enzo to speak at events, it that OK?"

Of course anyone who knows Enzo knows how much he loves to talk.  "Of course," I said "on one condition, you may have to give him a time limit or you'll never shut him up!"

We headed off towards the train station and before Enzo tucked away the business card given to him by Amato, he took a quick glance at it.  He stopped suddenly and said incredulously "do you know who his is?!" Well of course I didn't.  Enzo, went on "he's the Honorable Amato Berardi, a member of the Italian Camera dei Deputati!"

For those of us who don't speak Italian, that means the very nice gentleman we had spent time with and had asked if he could call upon Enzo to speak at events, is a member of the Italian Congress.

... and so it came to pass ... the beginning of yet another new chapter in the ever-changing life of Enzo.  I know this post is a late but it's really difficult keeping up!