The Holidays are right around the corner...

It amazes me that the Holidays are just a little more than a week away...
Wow this year has gone fast! I can't believe that we are already looking at things-to-do 'next year'. That phrase is not supposed to be used so soon.
Well since they are here we should enjoy them...

The Statue of the Virgin Mary
at Piazza di Spagna

Unlike the US (or at least my US) we celebrated basically two days (Christmas & New Years) - but we are in Italy, so they fit a few other things in. One of those things is a holiday on December 8, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The feast focuses on the concept that Virgin Mary was conceived without sin. There are two mistake that people make about the Immaculate Conception. The first is that many people think that Mary gave birth to Jesus while remaining a virgin. The second is that Mary was conceived without sexual intercourse. The celebrating of this holiday dates back to the eighth century and there has been much controversy over the word 'immaculate'. There is still a theological debate that goes on today - but here in Rome it is a public holiday. On this holiday, the Pope (Benedict XVI) come to the statue of the Virgin Mary in the Piazza di Spagna (the piazza right by the Spanish Steps in front of the Embassy of Spain) and says a prayer. At least that is what I was told was done. Little did we know that politicians, Italian movie stars and everybody in Rome was going to come too. It was crowded and very cold but we stuck it out. Of course, we were behind barricades and it was freezing but we got a good look and some nice pictures of the Pope Benedict XVI in his new Pope-mobile (made and presented to him by Mercedes just a week or so earlier). Another interesting fact is that the Pope-mobile is one of the few vehicles in Rome with a personalized license plate. Though they are very popular in the US (especially in Virginia, over 40% are personalized) it is almost unheard of here in Rome. Still the Pope has one, it reads - "SCV 1". The SVC stands for "Stato della Citta del Vaticano" and "Status Civitatis Vaticanae" - the Italian and Latin names for the Vatican City State.
Well let me know now show you the fun we had...

The Pope well lite in the...

...bubble of his new ride!

A photo of the crowd up the Via Condotte - Wow!

It was a mob scene and freezing cold but it was a fun thing to experience.
As I stated above there were politicians and Italian movie stars trying to rid eon the Pope's cape-tails.

A politician from the Syndicate Party
Shaking hands & waving...

An Italian movie star greeting her
public...

The rest of the day and the weekend was very nice - they closed the main road heading down to the Collosseo so it was fun to roam around down there and see the sites...

The Collosseo down the road...

The Spanish Steps...

More decorating at
the Collosseo tree!

Even the mall got into the Holiday spirit - their theme is Insieme (Together) but the decorations leave a little to be desired...

Not much to say here...

....very Out There decroations
at Porta di Roma.

I am sure that I will posting some more Holiday Decoration photos in subsequent postings but I think that is enough for now.
On the home front everything is wonderful:

• Tom is home after a few small trips to Lausanne and Milan. He is working hard but doing well.
• I continue to keep myself busy...
• Italian Lessons
• Ceramic/Painting Class
• Holiday Shopping
• Helping our friend Diane Seed with a cooking class
• Attempting to make Italian Holiday Cookies - Trecine (a fennel & almond cookie). I'll show you the cookies in the next posting...

On the Painting subject - I finished my rendition of Venice - here it is:

 

It's not bad for my first oil painting...
And I have just started a new ceramic project - here is my muse and my one session of progress...

Statue by the Quirinal

Session 1 - progress

Well, that's enough from the Rome Home-front.
As always, we wish all our friends and family the best of everything and great health.
For this holiday do something very Italian - sit back, relax and try to enjoy life & loved ones!
Ciao for now!
Abbracci a tutti!
Ron & Tom