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Rosina,
<p>A slight correction please. The meeting planned for Santa Barbara next
March is a first. Recent meetings have been held in Williamsburg,, VA,
Columbia, MO, Santa Fe, NM, and San Francisco, CA, but I have never heard
of a previous meeting in Santa Barbara. I have also read reports of meetings
in Canadian cities as well.
<p>I think that your suggestion is excellent, but I felt that the record
should be set straight as far as the Santa Barbara meeting is concerned.
<p>regards,
<p>Bob Spenger
<br>rspengeraearthlink.net
<p>Rosina Lila wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>Hello
you all,</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>
The Correo de Galicia (one of Santiago's dailies) reports today that the
Portuguese Way Association of Friends of Santiago has organized a 50 pilgrims
walk that will end in Santiago on December 31, and will have the honor
of participating directly in the Holy Door opening ceremonies.</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>
Why don't we, Association of Friends of the Caiman in the USA, together
with our Canadian brothers and sisters organize a similar effort?
For those of us who live in New York, or New England, or the Eastern seaboard,
I suppose. It is easier, less expensive and far more comfortable to go
to Europe than to go to California; yet it seems that the Association of
Friends has met repeatedly in Santa Barbara.</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>Couldn't we try to
go to Santiago as a group?</font></font>
<p><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>
Speaking of going, I myself will leave next Monday, the 22nd. to spend
Christmas in Assisi. Not only was Saint Francis the first to organize
a Christmas celebration as we now observe the date, but over the last few
years I've become rather obsessed with finding some convincing indicia
that Saint Francis indeed made the pilgrimage to Santiago. -The more
I look into it, the more likely it seems.</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>
Some good friends secured passage for me, and lodgings for four days over
New Years in Santiago, right by the Cathedral, for the opening of the Holy
Door and all. Afterwards I will return to Italy to spend January
roaming about the peninsula which is, blessedly free of crowds then.
It is also very cold..... I've never known low temperatures as punishing
as those of Milan in January. But then, when else can you spend
hours, literally, almost alone beholding Leonardo's Last Supper?</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>
Of late almost every Italian hotel has computer facilities (On some
of them you can access, and address, e-mail through the television in the
room); because of such convenience (and professional necessities) I'll
be e-checking in frequently.</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>
If there's anything in particular that I can look into for anyone of you,
please let me know.</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>.......Ah!.... the
Santiago's newspapers report that at least 3,000 (three thousand!)
celebratory Holy Year acts have been scheduled by the Xunta and the Archbishopric
in the Casco alone, and that the opening (tearing down?) of the Holy Door
will be accompanied by a mammoth fireworks production in the Quintana Plaza
such as the one held in Obraidoro on July 25th.</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>
Also, for the first time in decades and decades, the King and Queen will
attend, as well as the Prince heir to the throne and his television anchorwoman
fiancee.</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>It looks like it's
going to be a heck of a party............ But after being a regular in
Seville during Holy Week, with the King, Queen, Prince and princesses often
in attendance, and the largest, liveliest crowds of Seviilians imaginable,
the beginning of the New Holy Xacobean year in Santiago does not appear
daunting.</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>Warm regards from
cold New York City,</font></font>
<br><font face="Franklin Gothic Medium"><font size=+0>Rosina</font></font>
<br>
<br>
<br> </blockquote>
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