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<DIV><FONT size=2>Hi Rosina, thanks for keeping us all informed about events in
Santiago. Do you know what time the Holy Door will be 'opened'?
Would love to be there but as I'm on the other side of the world
am wondering if it's possible to watch this on the Santiago
WebCams.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Regards ... Trudy</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=BlaroliaAOL.COM href="mailto:BlaroliaAOL.COM">Rosina Lila</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
href="mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU">GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, 21 December 2003 2:11</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Holy Door opening</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0
face="Franklin Gothic Medium" size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12">Hello you
all,<BR> 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.<BR> 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.<BR>Couldn't we try to go to Santiago as a
group?<BR><BR> 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.<BR> 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?<BR> 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.<BR> If there's anything in
particular that I can look into for anyone of you, please let me
know.<BR>.......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.
<BR> 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.<BR>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.<BR>Warm regards from cold New York
City,<BR>Rosina<BR><BR><BR>
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