Extras from yesterday, continuing Mission

A few things from yesterday:

I was so full at lunch time that I passed on my desert, which was included. Probably a first for me.

This apartment is great except for th tiniest shower I have ever been in,  and I've been in some small ones. But, yesterday I discovered the trick to bending over - open the door, stick my head out bend over and reach behind me for the dropped soap, stomped on clothes or whatever.

The streets here go diagonally across the hill, in either direction, which I find confusing.  I expect roads, tracks etc to follow the contours I think.  Venice was a cinch compared to here,  but I was 6 years younger.

Over night I have realised that my method of describing my success or otherwise at  visiting churches is flawed. I was using 'strike' as in 3 strikes you are out, a bad thing.  But a strike in military , and other , terms is a good thing.   My friend, who is not here looking over my shoulder anymore, suggested ''setback'.  But I think I prefer 'flop', a bit vaguer and less specific. I think the effort in getting to the various churches is the main thing. A flop is not necessarily a failure.

When I walked into the cafe for my coffee , I walked into a conversation about Africa which I could not follow. I said Buongiorno to the few locals and bar lady and was asked my opinion. I said in  my halting Italian that they were talking too quickly for me to understand. They seemed pleased at that . I said i was from australia etc etc Later in the day I passed one of the ladies. She grabbed my arm and apologised most profusely, but I could not gather what for.  Something about thinking I was german and she does not like Germans.  But what that has to do with Africa?

I can see from the corner of my balcony, just, a large church which is lit up on some nights at the top of the hill that san remo snakes and twists and turns around .. Today's first destination.  Unfortunately, before I could go up I had to go down , along,  and then up, up and more up. There were some great views , which obviously i had to stop and photograph.  Lots of times.  The paved approach to this church was interesting . I liked the inside.  Not too much glitter, quite a lot of different coloured marble.  It had a good feel. When I arrived there was a lady who was doing some sort of act, shuffling along on her knees, praying quietly, then shuffling a bit further, stop, pray etc. . I sat quietly for a while and wondered at the etiquette of me quietly taking photos while she was busy, but I was saved by her mobile ringing,  she went outside and I got up and took photos. I lit a real tea light sized candle with a match and chose a position on metal tree to place it on.

This church was at the top of what is called the old part of town. The lanes are even narrower,  think left shoulder on one wall and touch the other wall and duck when you go through archways. Sometimes quite atmospheric, delicate window boxes jn tiny spaces,  nice wooden doors, but sometimes a bit dark and spooky , with quite steep,  uneven, moss covered steps. I was searching for 3 churches in this convoluted maze. The first was ok, typical, shiny and glittery with  lots of what I call Roman Catholic stuff. What put me off was the 'candles'. There was a stand with 2 rows of artificial candles the size of big pencils. In front of them was a row of switches.  I spent a while choosing which 'candle'to switch on. Mission success 4, sort of.  I might have to separate the 'success' category into 'light a real candle' and a lesser category of artificial success.

The 3rd church of the day was a flop. All closed up and not used, according to the group of 4 old men sitting nearby.

The 4th church was another flop. After much circling I found the building that used to be it. It was the right size, with large doors, but had no cross. I  asked a few old ladies. Many years closed,  was the best i could decipher.

Tally after day 2 : success 4, Flop 5. I am excluding the mosque I could not find,  and there is one  pending form day 1

I got back here just in time to receive a call from Relay  friend  to say that , very sadly, H had died.  My mission started for H and his family, so I will definitely continue.

  I went down to the same restaurant as yesterday for lunch. I was a bit apprehensive, I did leave rather a lot of uneaten rabbit yesterday, but needlessly. I was greeted as a long lost friend, sat at the same table near a few other of yesterday's guests. I ate a delicious large bowl of spaghetti with clams,  mussels, baby calamari,  and other things, water, wine,  tiramisu , coffee for E 15.  Yesterday he gave me too much change, I told him and he took some back,  today he gave me too much I think , but who knows. One well dressed elderly lady who was there yesterday  was given,  after she finished her meal a big bowl of beans to top and tail.

I came back here, sat quietly knitting a beanie for Wendy's trolley in suva thinking of how lucky I am that John was able to see one of his grandchildren.  Neither Rs husband, nor H had that opportunity.  I was also thinking of how pleased I am that I went to the Russian church yesterday, which H would have been interested in,  while he was still alive, as scientifically ridiculous as that sounds.

This evening I thought it was time to go for a walk along the water, well road above the water where you access all the European style beach places  - you pay
to rent a deck chair, sit squashed in next to the person beside you , go to the shop for a drink or food, change in a funny little cabin , not nearly as cute as the ones in Australia. No space between one 'beach' and the next. If you are lucky the 'beach' you have chosen may have a metre of dark grey stuff that is called sand. Mile after mile of these. I would have liked a quiet little bar but instead went a bit higher up and found a bench under a tree with a view out over the water. Luckily, you could not see the 'beaches' below. I had water.