Once Upon a Step: Alex in Italia

The Extravagant and Expansive Experience of Alex (Reviewed and Appreciated by said Alex)

Alex completed his nine credit semester in Florence and came home wiser, surer, braver, and thinner. His early brush with pesto caused him to be much more leery of food, causing periodic fasts. Jason and I often pepper our conversations with Italian and we now have a third participant! Alex turned 21 in Assisi, home of his confirmation patron, Francis where he felt like he got to know him.

Though all others in his group reserved a hotel together, Alex secured a hostel for his trip to Venice to save some Euros and learned how to play the Japanese version of chess (shogi) with his roommate of chance. The business majors of the group hatched a plan to negotiate a lower rate for a gondola ride which was successful.

In Rome, he found our fabled Spanish Steps lamppost as well as our old friend, Luca. He got up close to the foundation of our faith in the Scavi tour of St Peter's. He beached at Cinque Terre, spied the tower of Pisa, was surrounded by an anti-immigration protest, climbed a mountain (alone), was shaded by the tallest trees in Italy. He filled up on amazing architecture, art, culture, churches, and new experiences. He expanded his cooking and navigating skills, drank from the fountains, and explored ancient castles and Benedictine monasteries. He traded Fourth of July fireworks for St John the Baptist's on his celebrated feast.

It was such a joy to hear his stories, and notice what caught his eye enough to photograph (a good amount of art featuring animals), to sense his perspective of the world widen, and to glimpse the ways grandi e piccoli that he rose to the occasion of independent international travel. Bring on senior year of college!