The Presipio and the Gato

Having always loved nativity scenes, Rome turned out to be the "place to be" during this Christmas and Epiphany season as Italians also love their presipi, or nativity displays.  It is said that the presipio originated in Italy in the 1200′s when St. Francis of Assisi asked Giovanni Vellita from the village of Greccio to create a manger scene. St. Francis then performed Christmas mass in front of this nativity scene. 

Italy is an especially historic and interesting country, and no city is greater in historical significance than Rome.  It is to Rome that I traveled one year during the Twelve Days of Christmas which culminated with the celebration of Epiphany.  It was a glorious time to be in Rome. 

In 17th century Naples, artisans began creating presipi and made the creation of nativity scenes into an art form. The presepi included the nativity scene but also represented life in Naples at the time. Today many artisans are still dedicated to the craft of creating hand made figures for presepi. 

Dozens if not hundreds of elaborate presipi are on display in Rome during the Christmas and Epiphany seasons.  These presipi, some centuries-old, are located in churches, museums, storefronts, and homes.  A shooting star symbol indicates a building in which a presipio can be found.  And what a treasure they are!

Besides the usual ten figures Americans generally think of in a nativity scene, Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the three wise men, a shepherd and a few animals, in Italy the presepio (manger scene), contains large numbers of biblical characters, angels, animals and people from every day life as well.  The presipi are large--some taking up entire rooms--and intricate.  It is a thrill to actually discover the "inn" with the baby Jesus in each presipio.  It is sort of a "where's Waldo" type moment.

On the day of Epiphany, my host and I traveled through the labyrinth of Roman streets to look one more time at the presipi.  Why?  Because each presipio had changed overnight.  You see, the kings "had arrived" during the night bearing their gifts for the Christ child.  Three more gloriously carved figures, their camels, and their entourage had been added to each presipio. 

What an incredible treasure these presipio are for the local and tourist to Rome during the Christmas and Epiphany seasons! 

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention the "gato"!  There were gato--or cats--simply everywhere you looked in Rome--more numerous than the presipi.

Geckos and More?

Are you a fan of reptiles and creepy crawly things?  If so, I am sure you would enjoy a visit to the tropical island nation of American Samoa.  Much to my chagrin though, crawling creatures abound in this paradise. 

Being one who is not fond of lizards, snakes, spiders and such, I really had to look hard at the paradise I was surrounded by to get past my aversion to these creatures.  Eventually I was able to see the beauty of the crawly things visiting my room in the Retreat House at the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Pago Pago.

Brilliantly colored geckos, not-so-brilliantly colored lizards, some pretty darn big spiders, and a few slithering creatures made my stay at this lovely retreat center a challenge. 

For years, I have slept with at least a sheet pulled up to my chin so the "snakes could easily glide over me".  Well, in that cinder block retreat house room with the bath down the open-air corridor along a mossy walkway, I had the opportunity to see geckos up close and personal.  Watching these brightly colored guys make their way up, first on the outside of my window, was well--alright.  But, the first time I woke to one of these creatures clinging to the wall across from my bed, was well--startling!

Gecko

By week's end though, I had learned to appreciate their handsome features and changing colors--from afar anyway.  The other crawly creatures who appeared in my room--mainly spiders did not receive such a wary welcome.  Those were chased out or worse time and again.  Fortunately, the slithering creatures were never seen inside my room but only in the gardens. 

Needless to say, the sheets were tightly drawn up to my chin on a nightly basis in one very very hot and humid room.  More memories of unforgettable creatures!

The Colors of Koi

A weariness that only 36 hours of travel can bring had descended upon my body.  I was ready for only one thing--sleep!  However, my hosts had a different plan.  It was early afternoon and they knew that sleep was the last thing I should have at that moment if I was to become quickly acclimated to a time zone a mere ten hours earlier than what I had left. 

Instead of a rest on a tatami mat spread on a wood floor, I was instead given the back seat in a tiny van headed for yet another train station.  Arriving at the train platform standing high above the rice paddies, we boarded a high speed train for the mountains towering above Kanagawa, Japan.  Speeding along the train rocked so severely that sleep again was impossible.  After all, if I stayed awake I might just glimpse Mt. Fuji in the distance.

An hour later we were whisked off the train in the gathering dusk to climb aboard yet another small van.  The van this time took us not through conjested city streets, but along curving roads high into the mountains.  The goal of this afternoon of travel was to arrive at a place of peace, calm, gentleness and relaxation -- the Hakone hot springs spa in the heart of Japan. 

Stepping from the van, all the weariness of travel slowly began to disappear.  Koi lazily swam through the crystal clear pools lining the pathway to the hot springs-- their stark white, shimmering silver and gold, and bold orange colors vibrant against the backdrop of black rock and the dark green foliage.  These fish provided the perfect example for experiencing the hot springs--slowly and with deliberate calm. 

From hot soaking pools to plunges in cold water to letting the warm waters of a hot spring waterfall cascade over the body; to sitting with eyes closed soaking up the warm steam in the sauna to drifting lazily across a crytal clear pool on an air matress; to concluding green tea served in a koi-pool surrounded tea house, my first evening in Japan was pure magic. 

I was ready to stay at Hakone for the entire month of our visit, yet, I knew there were other treasures to behold and experiences to be had in Japan.