May 16-31,2024 New York and Italy

This is a special issue and the first edition of The Van DOESN’T Stop here. Because we are leaving the van behind and heading on a flight to Italy. 

The trip started out a bit rocky. I had booked our flights in September, booked it all and then had been receiving emails about the flights. Typical changes about flight times or airplane types being changed but definite correspondence with us from Singapore Air throughout the months. So a few days before hand, imagine my surprise when I put in the Booking number and the only flight there was JFK to Frankfort and nothing from Frankfort to Milan, Italy. I searched their website and their app and the flight did not exist. I had receipts and emails confirming the flight so gave them a call. From what I could understand because of the language barrier, it sounded like the flight to Milan was sold out. I couldn’t understand the reason why. I couldn’t understand a word she was saying, other than, “Thank you Miss Lorraine for your patience while I put you on hold.”  She said that several times and then always came back to tell me something that I couldn’t understand. She did say she was trying to find me a flight. It was taking forever. She did finally find one that was going to be a 7 hour flight layover in Frankfort. Not the best scenario but atleast we had a flight. Our original flight was just a 90 minute layover. Well about two hours later, I get a call from Singapore Airways . I’m not sure if it was the same lady or not but she had the same accent that I couldn’t understand. She must have felt bad for us because she searched high and low for a better flight and found us a non stop flight from JFK to Milan. Greg and I have learned in our retirement years to just go with the flow so we didn’t get upset and start yelling about the situation. I believe this kind of attitude is what got us that awesome non stop flight. That flight was three times more than what we paid and we got it for the same price. Didn’t have to add to it. So now what was a 20 hour flight is now an 7 and a half hour flight. Life is good.

So we headed to the city for a couple of nights before our flight.  We had this amazing sushi dinner in the Village with some friends. The sushi was unbelievable.

Next day we walked all over the upper west side and went to a great Cuban restaurant. Our flight leaves at 7:20 pm. We are gonna head over to JFk at 4. We aren’t checking any bags so we should get in fairly quick, hopefully.  

Made it to the airport. Row 48 seats A & B, Zone 8. Last ones to board the plane and of course someone had their bags in our overhead space. Uuuggghhhh. That’s one of the most frustrating parts about flying is when there’s no room for your stuff. We managed to get our bags in the overhead so it all turned out allright. Plane took

Off and maybe 30 minutes into it, they came around with dinner. Greg didn’t eat and I had the manicotti. It was actually pretty tasty. I made it through half of the Barbie movie and then started nodding off. It’s no easy task to sleep during a red eye flight. 

The plane arrived in Milan at 9:40 and we walked to the shuttle bus to hop on to take us to Terminal 2 where the Moxy Hotel was located. 

We waited around the lobby, charged our phones and then she had our room ready around 11 which was great. Headed up, took showers and then headed to the train to check out Milan. The train system here is really clear, simple, clean and safe. Not so much as our experience in the subway in NY this past weekend.

It was about a 45 minute trip to Milan for $13 each. We got off the train and walked toward the Duomo di Milano and the Galleria. Such amazing architecture. Just unbelievable stuff. One day here and I’m already overwhelmed with what I have seen. 

We had an amazing lunch at an outside cafe and then walked all around. Saw this amazing castle surrounded by a mote. Went into some of the fashion stores in the galleria and really just enjoyed the beautiful sunny day in Milan despite the fact that we were on very little sleep. 

Went to bed at 8 and slept for 11 hours. I feel like a million bucks today. Had three cups of good Italian Americano coffee which is espresso with water. Our first breakfast buffet was wonderful. Who would’ve known that they eat salad and cold cuts for breakfast here. Lots of pasties and donuts for Greg’s sweet tooth as well.

We headed to the airport terminal at 9 to meet up with some of the other pilgrims and head to our second hotel. Much to my surprise, I recognized two ladies that I went to summer camp with as a child 40 years ago. Unfortunately they didn’t have room on the shuttle for us. There was a little bit of a mix up but they were able to take our backpacks and bring them to the hotel. We hopped on the train again and headed to The Duomo again in the hopes of touring the inside today and the roof.

Score!!!! We were able to get a ticket to go inside. Holy Cow, huge cathedral. I’m so glad we went back today. We had a nice lunch in the park from a Panini food truck. It was amazing!

Then we headed out for a 30 minute walk to the train station that gets us to the new hotel. Venezia to Gallarate. A 50 minute train ride. A little confusing but thankfully the NY subway system has trained us well.

It’s a little trickier with the language barrier but still very doable to take public transportation. Our new room at the Jet Hotel was pretty small but fine for us. We settled in and then met up with the other people on the tour for dinner. Breakfast and dinner are included each day and tonight’s dinner started with mushroom risotto and penne Alfredo followed by a fried chicken cutlet with salad on top.

We had to wake up pretty early the next day for a 2 hour bus ride to Turin. The roads here are pretty narrow and our bus driver Tony is an amazing driver.

The morning began in Turin with an exploration of the Valdocco neighborhood. This is where St. John Bosco lived and served the people of Valdocco. 

We visited the Casa Don Bosco Museum, the Church of Francisco de Sales, the Pinardi Chapel, and the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. These locations were so amazing. I’m so happy to be here.

After we toured these places, we headed to the Residence Hotel in the city of Turin. Our room was much much bigger. This one had three twin beds. The other room had two twin beds. Not sure if the whole twin bed thing but maybe thats a thing here in Italy. We went out with the group for lunch down the block. This meal was homemade mini beef raviolis followed by like a beef Francais and the Gelato for dessert. It was delicious, all of it.

Next day is the feast day of Mary Help of Christians. (May 24)The spread of devotion to Mary Help of Christians is to be attributed to St. John Bosco, who chose her as the main patroness of the Salesian Family and its works; This feast day is a big deal for the Salesians but being that we are in Don Boscos home town, it’s a HUGE deal. I’m so lucky to be here on this date.

On the morning of the Feast Day, we went to Turin for a walking tour with a guide.

This is the town where they keep the Holy Shroud. The shroud is only displayed every 10 years or so so we were unable to see it but we learned a lot about it.

We got back to the hotel and had a nice lunch and then had some time to unwind.

About 25 minutes before boarding the bus to head to the Feast Day activities, it started downpouring!!! We all threw on our raincoats and umbrellas and headed there anyway in the hopes that the storm would end. We went to Mass there in the Don Bosco Basilica. Hundreds and Hundreds of people gathered for the Feast. The music was unbelievable and the whole experience was so amazing. Unfortunately though, it never stopped raining, actually it started hailing out and so they had no choice but to cancel the procession.

Once we got back to the hotel we went just two doors down to a pizza and Kebap place. A whole in the wall type of place but literally the best sandwich I have ever had. And you couldn’t beat the price. $6 for an entire pizza. We split the pizza and a Kebap which is sort of like a gyro but a zillion times better. He literally bakes the bread in a fire brick oven that he uses to make the sandwich. It was so good.

Of course after that we had to stop for Gelato.

After a good nights sleep, we got an early start to our next location which was the home of Don Bosco. We had a great guide who explained the history and life of Don Bosco and the location we were visiting.

From there we headed into the Mountains of Mornese to Mary Mazzarellos house. She is the founder of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The woman’s portion of the Salesians. These are the nuns that I went to summer camp with from 2nd grade till after college. Camp Auxilium every summer for 8 weeks for 12 years. A big big part of my life and a big part of who I am and my thirty years of being a primary School Gym teacher.

The road was winding but beautiful and once there the sisters had made us lunch with a view. A Pizza and French Fry Picnic Lunch.

We then explored a little and were able to check out Mary Mazzarellos house.

Another early day for us as we have a 4 hour drive to Mornese. Starting with 7 am Mass in the MHC chapel. Simple but beautiful.

Breakfast after Mass and then hit the road. Beautiful drive toward Genoa amongst the Olive Trees. Our tour manager explained the whole reason why Olive Oil is so expensive and now that I have seen the Olive Tree groves, I can understand why. The trees that produce the best Olives are the ones that grow on highly steeped mountainsides. Pretty interesting stuff.

We arrived in Florence. Sooooo many people. Took a walking tour and then a tour of the Galleria where The Statue of David is. Fun fact about David, his hands and feet are way oversized and his eyeball pupils are in the shape of a heart.

After the tour we had an hour to wander and found a cute coffee shop down an alley away from all the people to enjoy some Italian Canoli. Then back in the bus we headed to our hotel. This was the fanciest of the hotels we had been in. Lots of tour buses here. Really big hotel. We had another late dinner and off to bed we went. These tours are no joke. Packed full from morning till night.

Woke up, yet again to another early 6:30 am breakfast and on the bus at 7:30 am to head 4 hours to Rome. Our bus driver, Tony doesn’t speak a lick of English but he is an amazing driver. Today is our last day with him as our hotel tonight is so close to the Vatican. Walking distance.

So our first stop was St Paul’s outside of the wall. They call it this because there are two St Paul Bisilicas. I guess the other one is inside the Vatican wall. I guess we will see tomorrow. This church was Magnificent. Just when you think a church can’t get any bigger, you are shocked by the grandiosity of yet another gigantic church.

They have every Pope lining the walls all made from Mosaic. Pieces of glass or stone or gems. It’s crazy. All the Popes, even St Francis, the current pope. They have 25 extra circles as well for future popes.

Next stop…. Coliseum. So much walking and so many people. The Coliseum is a definite one and done for me. I don’t really have much more to say about it other than it’s pretty big. Didn’t interest me. It was pretty hot and sunny which didn’t add anything to the experience.

Our driver, Tony , dropped us off at the hotel. This was his last trip with us.

We will be at this hotel for three nights. Unfortunately this hotel was the worst of the batch. Terrible service, terrible food. The rooms were not so good and there seemed to be one issue after another after another.

It may seem absurd that we are eating fast food in Italy but where we are, there are no other options but this. We usually have a nice Italian lunch so that makes up for it. The dinner at the hotelIs just inedible.

Next day was the Vatican and even more people than the Coluseum. Another early start to get into the Vatican. We had some issues with ticketing but it all got worked out by our tour manager, Enza. She has been really working hard with our group.

There’s just way to many things that we have been seeing that they are really starting to blend together. The Pantheon, the Travi fountain, the Sistine Chapel. Kind of just rushing past everything weaving in and out of people. Not really our way of doing things but just trying to go with the flow.

Last stop for the day was Sacred Heart Basilica built by Don Bosco at the behest of Pope Leo XIII. It was built in just 7 years (1880–1887), despite the fact that when Bosco took on the task the Pope had made it clear to him that he had no funds!

Don Bosco, counting on Providence, succeeded in the undertaking, also achieving the one condition he had put to the Pope in accepting the mission: that along with the church there would be room for “a large hospice, where many poor young people, who abound especially in that neighborhood, can be taken in for classes in arts and trades”

We had Mass at St Maria’s in Trevio and then hopped on the bus to go back to the hotel for another not so good dinner. Tomorrow we leave bright and early to see the Pope. There was an issue at the hotel, which by the way, is owned by the Diocese. Enza booked an early departure months and months ago with a boxed breakfast so that we could hit the road at 6:45 am to line up at the Vatican. They told enza that there would be no breakfast and no coffee. And no where to even buy coffee. That wasn’t going to work for me. I drink atleast 6 cups of coffee before any conversation or movement so I was in a bit of a frenzy and panic. We went to the supermarket to buy some instant coffee but then were in a dilemma to get hot water. A lot of arguments between Enza and the hotel staff. When we got back from KFC, the reception told me I can come downstairs in the morning and she will leave a note with the morning manager to make me a coffee. JACKPOT!! So that’s what I did, I came down at 5:45 am and he made me a coffee and I went back to the room and secretly drank it. If you ever come to Italy just know that morning coffee is not a thing here. It’s weird. Everything is espresso, espresso, espresso. All day long, espresso, but no coffee. No coffee anywhere. So Americana is espresso with water but even that is pretty potent. But better than nothing.

The hotel was able to get some breakfast out at 6:30 so I made a couple of Italian heroes with ham, salami and provolone cheese, wrapped them in a napkin for later as we had a pretty long wait in line to see the Pope. We promptly left at around 6:50am and walked to the Vacican. Got in the line with the other thousands of people waiting to see the Pope and then we waited. And then waited some more. I think we made it inside around 8:30 am and scrambled to get seats.

I managed to get myself up by the barrier because the Pope drives around in his pope mobile up and down all the aisles. He quickly made eye contact with me. It was pretty exciting.

Once the Pope was done with his Pope-Mobile Tour, he then got out of the Pope-Mobile and sat in the white chair on the stage. They had a few Jumbotrons for the people in the way back. They also had translators from each of the languages there to translate what the pope was saying. And also welcomed different groups. They called out the Don Bosco group and we all cheered. It was definitely a must do if you are in Rome on a Wednesday.

After our visit with the Pope which ended around 10, we had a few hours to wander around Rome before meeting up with the group at 1 to hop back on the bus.

The bus took us to another part of Rome, where we visited a few more churches. The first stop was Santa Maria Maggiorre. They had these marble circles everywhere. They used to be used to say the Rosary. They were in groups of ten for each Hail Mary. This was before Rosary beads were invented.

We visited two more Basilicas, St Mary Major and St John Lateran. These churches are just beyond anything I have ever seen in the US.

We then went to another church, The Baptistery of St John, for Mass. we had a Salesian Priest from California on the trip with us the whole time, Father Alejandro, that is why we were able to have all these Private Masses at all these different churches. We hopped in the bus after Mass and went to a local restaurant for dinner. Bruschetta then Manicotti then Ravioli, then salad then veal with a lemon sauce and peas, then cake with strawberries. Just crazy amounts of good. We were all so happy to not be eating at the hotel again.

Most everyone in our group had to get an early shuttle to the airport. Greg and I got to sleep in. Check out was at 10.am. We packed up and walked to the train, about a twenty minute walk. We got to the train Station with two minutes to spare and headed north east to the town of Civitavechia, where we will be spending the next 4 days before we go on the cruise.

We arrived in Civitavecchia and headed straight to the Laundromat. $5 for a wash and $5 for drying. We definitely needed it. We had been doing Laundry in the sink for the past 12 days.

After Laundry, we had another mile or so to walk to our Airbnb.

On Monday, we head to the cruise port to hop on the Celebrity Constellation. I will send out one last blog about that in the next installment.