It isn’t much like the Via Francigena.
As help for the trip my mom sent me some money.
I miss Lire.
UPDATE:
On the ground. I said I was meandering, after all. It is cold in Gotham, and windy, but the sun helps.
Borscht at Veselka takes the chill away
Be safe and Godspeed!
1000 Euros could get a new laptop. Oh wait, those are Lire. Bummer.
I think 1000 Lire was enough to buy a piece of bubblegum :)
Why was San Marino excluded from Italian unification? (The Lira-to-euro/EEC-to-EU transition brought this question to mind. I’ve often wondered.)
Rome for Triduum – have a safe and blessed journey, Fr. Z.
May the Good Lord Bless you and keep you in His care, Father.
is it still exchangeable?
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Will you be at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini or San Pietro for the Triduum, Father?
I miss lire too, and we may well see their return if Italy rebels against the euro straitjacket.
But I’m afraid 1000 lire won’t take you very far, Father – worth currently 71 US cents!
Safe and happy travels, Fr. Z. May extra angels go along side you.
Be careful, I think the airlines now charge $50 per extra angel at check-in.
3000 Lire got me a decent bottle of red wine in Gardone Rivera 20 years ago.
I miss lire as well – and francs too, for that matter, and the experience of stopping at the frontier when crossing national borders in Europe. Open borders and a common currency are great in terms of convenience and efficiency, but at the price of losing a bit of the adventure of travel and a notable marker of national distinctiveness.
Ahh, to be in Rome during Holy Week!
Do you plan to stay in Rome for the canonizations? I believe Pope John Paul II ordained you to the priesthood? I will try and remember to say a prayer to him to intercede for you on the day of his canonization – Divine Mercy Sunday.
I miss lire, too. In fact, I miss the Deutschmark, the Austrian schilling, the Spanish peseta, the Portuguese escudo, and all those great currencies. Fortunately, Britain, Denmark, and Sweden have chosen to stay out of the whole debacle.
Safe travels.
Be safe and well Father. Am I wrong in assuming that you will be in Rome for the canonization of he who ordained you: Pope John Paul II?
Oh Fr. Z…Godspeed. My journey there starts next Thursday for the Cannonization and Divine Mercy Sunday. Oh what a real treat it would be to meet you in person. I wonder if the people sitting by you on your airline realize how close they are to a real treasure???!!!???!!!???!!!
Should we have a reader-meetup? I’ll be heading out there on Thursday too!
Father,
Say “hello” to our friends, Liz and Tony McNally. I know that you’ll see them.
A Blessed Easter to all.
To Seattle…wouldn’t a Father Z reader flash mob be awesome? In St. Peter’s Square, nonetheless!
Have a safe and wonderful trip, Father Z., and please pray for my return to Europe. It is already too long. I sent the Pope letters, in Spanish even, but no answer. I am not important enough for attention. But, pray anyway. Thanks…..and have a Holy Week and Blessed Easter.
Ha, brings to mind my “milione lire” car that crapped out on my commute up Mt. Etna in my Navy days. A disposable old Fiat. Wow, I had not considered that there were no longer all the different currencies I traded for beer in so many different Sixth Fleet liberty ports! The world just became a little grayer.
Have a blessed trip, hopefully the weather will be nicer there than here in the northeast US where a taste of winter has come back with a vengeance.
Ah those old currencies – my traveling days in Europe in the 1970’s, trying to buy a bottle of water on a train with assorted European currencies. Found out that Scottish Pounds outside of Scotland were about as useful as Monopoly money. I think I still have that Pound note somewhere.
I also miss the old English currency – sixpences, thruppeny bits, half crowns, 10 bob notes.
I couldn’t think of a better place to be then in Rome at Easter, with the exception of maybe, Jerusalem. I think you are safer in Rome though. Enjoy Father Z. Maybe Pope Francis will give you a ride in the Popemobile!