LIFE IN THE FAST LANE…SOMETIMES IT’S NOT SO FAST!
When I learned that the celebrated annual cycle race beloved by Italians, the Giro d’Italia, was to end its 21-day itinerary in Rome, I immediately went online to check road closures caused by such an event and realized that a huge part of the historical center of Rome would be closed to anything with wheels! Bridges and the long, vital avenues that parallel the Tiber River, the lungotevere, were included in the very long list of street closings. Over 64 bus lines would experience detours, as well.
From past experience with road closures during marathons, almost a minor inconvenience compared to the Giro d’Italia, I had a feeling I’d never get from my side of the Tiber to the other side, to St. Patrick’s church for Mass where I was scheduled to be a reader. Closures were to last through the award ceremony at the Colosseum (we are very close to that event as I write), and the dismantling of all race- related barriers and structures, and that meant I would also miss a very important late afternoon meeting at the Paulist Fathers residence between the parish council members and Paulist president who had flown in from New York for the meeting!
(Corriere della Sera photo)
I contacted Uber drivers I know and they confirmed that I would not be able to move from the Vatican neighborhood to Rome’s city center. I knew I could go to Mass near my home but I emailed Fathers Steve and Rene yesterday to let them know how disappointed I was to miss tonight’s meeting.
So here’s what happened today!
I walked several blocks to a neighborhood church for the 11:30 Mass. When I entered the church, I thought I was in the wrong place as huge numbers of people were congregating in the wide, main aisle chatting away as if they were in a social hall. Little kids running around, etc. It took seconds for me to realize there had been a First Communion Mass!
At 11:45, one of the Franciscan priests finally asked everyone to leave and rang the bell for the start of Mass.
After Mass, I crossed the street to get the bus to go to Homebaked – about 3 blocks past my house – for traditional Sunday brunch. After maybe 10 minutes, a bus came, a whole bunch of us got on the already crowded bus and, without saying a single thing, the driver rerouted all of us to the San Pietro train station, nowhere near the normal itinerary of the 190 bus. He parked the bus and we all had to get off!
There were about 50 or 60 people on that bus. I knew where I was, and had to walk the 7 or so blocks home, but the majority of people were tourists and had no idea where they were or how to get to where they wanted to go and this, unfortunately, was sad because most of them wanted to get to the main train station on the other side or Rome. There were no trains from San Pietro station to Stazione Termini and that was sad because the 64 bus that normally connects the two train stations would not be back in service until later in the day, perhaps early evening!
I am sure many people missed their trains. What worried me this morning was wondering how many people might miss the papal Mass for Pentecost because they could not get to the Vatican!
As I eventually walked the additional distance to Homebaked, I seriously considered having a second mimosa this Sunday (I didn’t!).
There are probably thousands of visitors who, before today, had never heard of the Giro d’Italia. And now they will never forget it!
Life in the “fast” lane, folks!
Joan's Rome 