All Roads Lead to Rome, but not all Luggage Arrives There

I had a bad feeling about booking a flight on Alitalia, but it was the cheapest ticket with the fewest stops between the USA and Italy. I was relieved to find that there were seat belts aboard the aircraft, and as all the Italians applauded after a safe takeoff, I figured we would be fine. This turned out to be true. We landed in Rome about eight hours later, and the Italians applauded again as the aircraft safely touched down.

Four of us, including the priest who is leading the class this month, traveled together. We proceeded through Italian customs. This process entails the customs agent causally glancing through one's passport seeing where one has been, and sneering if those places include any destination but Italy. The agent then looks for a nice clean place to put his own stamp. He has no concern for what you might be bringing into the country. From there, we went to the luggage carousel. And we waited. Then we waited some more. Then a bit longer. Finally we went to get in line with the Alitalia customer service agent. She was very kind and patient. We will be called when our luggage arrives. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, maybe the day before we leave . . .

I am on day three of the same clothes. I am wearing Italian deodorant (based upon previous trips to Europe, I was unaware such a thing existed). I used Italian toothpaste this morning. It was less than satisfying.

These joys are equaled only by the fact that my ATM Card has decided to stop working. Oh well. As I have mentioned before, part of the point of traveling is to remind one how pleasant home is, and we are, after all, in Rome. We went to the see the Holy Father and to pray the Angelus in St. Peter's Square yesterday. I happened across my bishop, and we have all managed to see people that we know. We will do a bit of touring today, and will attend Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany with the Holy Father tomorrow. All in all, it is shaping up to be a good trip.