The Gorizia Catholic Church

Rebuilt by Mussolini in the 40s.

The Gorizia Synagogue

Now a community center, the synagogue is now open only one day a month.

Finally some photographs...and sunshine

We were finally able to take an official tour of Gorizia largely because the students will be making documentary films of locations and telling the stories related to those locations.

Here are some of the locations that we photographed. Actually the first image is of the special birthday dessert that Angela Dalle Vacche, the program director, requested for one of the students.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

For all of you who were/are envying me my odyssey to sunny Italy, the title says it all. Must be punishment for all the years I've gone to England and found it sunny and clear.

Had brought a cheap poncho and an umbrella but had to lend the poncho to a student who didn't even have a jacket. Guess I'll be picking up another umbrella as Jay and I can't really stay even half dry under my small umbrella. However, until I do so, Jay is pretty much confined to the hotel room. He worries that my buying another umbrella will drive the rain away. I say that would definitely be a good thing!

Rain or no rain, I am off to my first day of classes.

More anon.

Still Raining

So whatever happened to sunny Italy? It's not just any rain, but thunderstorms!

Undaunted, Jay and I along with three intrepid students went out for lunch today, where we got very good pizza.

I suspect that this afternoon's trip will be cancelled, however, as no one really wants to brave the rain. Eventually we will all become familiar with Gorizia. Perhaps not just yet.

Safely in Italy

And only minor adventures, including problems getting the special Italian phone set up and running. Oh, yes, and the biggest adventure was that I was supposed to meet a student carrying lots of program equipment. The student decided not to wait (and had turned off his cell phone), so Jay and I waited in the main lobby of the airport until the very last minute. Fortunately Jay had given another student his cell number. As a result we were among the last people to get on the plane.

The plane ride itself was uneventful--though Jay and I sat with a lovely older gentleman who had been in Northern Italy with the Occupation and had written a book on his experiences (one side in English, the other translated into Italian), which he let me read on the flight. Fortunately it was a short book, and the movies being shown were unremarkable. He and his family come back almost every year.

One more small adventure when Jay and I went on to the train station in Maestre instead of waiting for the students (whom we assumed had already gone ahead while we waited to collect Jay's really big bag). No one was terribly inconvenienced--though at least one student has threatened to include me in his documentary and title it Where is Professor Senf? I'm seriously hoping that these will be the most remarkable adventures of the trip.

Ready to Go

Yesterday there was just way too much to do. Now that I'm packed (and don't want to unpack anything), I'd just as soon be on my way.

Looking forward to delicious pasta and gelato as well as the opportunity to see more of Italy.