ACCOMMODATIONS (ALBERGHI E ALTRI ISTITUTI D’ACCOGLIENZA)

It has been our experience that accommodations in Italy, while comfortable, have some cultural differences. Italians live in much smaller spaces than do North Americans, and the rooms and bathrooms may be smaller with fewer amenities than what you are used to. A frequent comment is that the bathrooms are cramped. Some do not offer hair dryers, so you may want to bring one (with appropriate adapter and converter). Most provide essential toiletries (like shampoo and hand soap); however we suggest bringing your own. Towels are provided, but are often thin. Given the high expense to operate air conditioning units (plus European tendency towards conservation and environmental control) usage of air conditioning is regulated by law and limited. Most hotels do not have air conditioning, or keep it turned off even when present. Some pilgrims use earplugs to help them sleep at night given the noisy character of Italian towns and guests. Given the religious nature of the pilgrimage, and that we overnight in religious institutes, pilgrims should adhere to certain expectations; unmarried couples or unrelated persons (of opposite gender) should not overnight together.

 

CHURCHES (LE CHIESE)

Despite the abundant artwork, churches should not be confused with museums, as they are primarily places of worship. Three words characterize how one should behave within a church: silenzio, decoro, rispetto (silence, decorum, respect). Often personnel will ensure people are dressed appropriately: short skirts and shorts are not permitted, neither are sleeveless dresses or shirts. Photography inside churches is discouraged or not permitted at all.

 

HEALTH (LA SALUTE)

If you have any health issues or concerns at all, please consult your doctor and notify a group leader. Past pilgrims have commented that a lot of walking and stair climbing is required - some on hilly cobblestone streets in the cities. If you are not used to walking, you should begin to do so before leaving. Check with your health insurance carrier to verify that you will have coverage in Italy; otherwise you can purchase travel insurance before departure. We recommend using www.travelinsurance.com Water is completely safe to drink in Italy; however, some travelers suffer from upset stomachs as their bodies adjust to different drink and foods, levels of exercise, and time change. Some may want to bring Immodium AD or anti-constipation medicine. If you suffer from motion sickness while driving, you may want to bring Dramamine or bands, as there are curvy roads through the hills on the itinerary. Some past pilgrims who suffer from acrophobia have had challenges during bus trips.

 

AIRLINE (LA COMPAGNIA AEREA)

We recommend arriving at the airport three hours before your international departure. St. Francis Pilgrimages makes reservations through airline company group travel department and have no control over seat assignments. For information on your flight status, luggage requirements, etc. visit the company website, which sometimes allow you to choose seats. We recommend checking within 48 hours prior to departure for any schedule changes. Also, check the TSA website for current travel restrictions: www.tsa.gov Your airline ticket is electronic, which means that it is paperless (the ‘ticket’ you receive will be actually an itinerary and not necessary for check-in). When you check in, you will need to show your passport and the agent will print your boarding pass.

 

JET LAG (LE DIFFICOLTA CON IL FUSO ORARIO)

In-flight videos about exercise and sleep are informative. Drink plenty of liquids during the flight and upon arrival. It is highly recommended to try to sleep on the overnight flight. If you cannot sleep on the plane, at least close your eyes for a few hours – that will make a big difference. When you arrive in Europe, it will be early in the morning, but do your best to stay up the entire day and go to bed at the same time you would at home. Some health food stores sell natural items like Jet-stress or Cell Guard designed to be effective against jet lag.

 

LUGGAGE / PACKING (LE VALIGIE)

Packing lightly is always recommended. Bring fewer clothes which can be washed during the pilgrimage; you can bring a clothes-line and some detergent to hand-wash clothes to be hung out to dry in your room. Packing lightly will also enable you to carry-on all your belongings on the plane and avoid checking suitcases, which airlines often mis-connect. Here is a website to help pack lightly: www.onebag.com After you pack, try walking with all your belongings around the block to get some idea of what it will be like. Porterage is not offered. If you do check a suitcase, never pack anything of value or necessity, such as money or medicine, which should go in your carry-on bag. Weather in Italy fluctuates and is rather unpredictable nowadays; so we recommend bringing loose-fitting clothing that can be layered and taken off or put on when necessary. For Fall or Spring, a jacket or coat is essential. (Visit Italian website for weather: [click English flag] www.ilmeteo.it) Additionally, bring a raincoat/poncho (or small fold-up umbrella), a comfortable pair of walking shoes, and battery-powered alarm clock. For electric-powered items, such as hair dryers, you will need both a transformer and adapter with you, as European household electricity operates at 220v (US at 110v). Often cell phone or digital camera battery chargers will operate off 220v or 110v and will not need the transformer, but still require the adapter to plug in. Make sure your checked bags are properly labeled with your name, US address and phone number. Prepare your bags expecting them to be opened and searched at some point, especially your carry-ons. Suitcase locks are no longer permitted for security reasons.

 

MAIL (LA POSTA)

Stamps may be purchased only at tobacco shops (which are designated with a large ‘T’) or at the Post Office (always ask the exact rate to the country of destination). The post offices are usually open from 8:00 am to 1:30 or 2:00pm Monday through Friday and some Saturdays.

 

MEALS (I PASTI)

Italian meals are both delicious and large; they are a great way to build and live community, but the schedules and quantities are different and may take some time getting used to. Breakfast, or prima colazione, is served around 7:00-8:00am is continental and light, consisting of an espresso (concentrated amounts of coffee in small doses) or cappuccino, a pastry, toast with spread; do not expect bacon and eggs. Lunch, or pranzo, is usually the main meal of the day and begins at 1:00 and is served in courses. Get used to a lot of pasta. The primo piatto, or first dish, will be served in a bowl. The primo piatto is almost always pasta, but may be rice or soup (usually for dinner). After the first dish, comes the secondo piatto, or main dish. This will consist of meat like chicken, beef, veal, fish, or occasionally rabbit. The meat is accompanied by a contorno, or side dish, which is often a vegetable or salad. After the main dish comes fruit and sometimes ice cream for special occasions. Espresso or liqueur may follow a meal. Keep in mind that Italian coffee is much stronger than American coffee, so do not drink the same amounts as you would at home. Italian society slows down significantly after lunch, and most businesses and churches close until mid afternoon. Dinner is lighter than lunch and will never start before 7:00pm. It is usually lighter than lunch; however, if we are offering a group meal served at dinner, it will be like the lunch described above. In the past, some pilgrims have commented that the meals are too large. Eat only what you want and do not feel obligated to eat everything - nothing will go to waste, and no cook will be offended. Italians serve abundant meals to honor guests, and anything less would seem rude by Italian standards. Note that the hotels offer group meals and may not be able to accommodate specialized diets.

 

MONEY/CURRENCY (I SOLDI)

The US dollar is currently weak in Europe, so things will appear expensive. We would recommend planning on spending between $200-$300 per week (or more or less depending on your spending habits). Donations will be collected for friars, nuns, and driver (calculate an average of $10/day). Before departure, you can get Euro cash in the airport exchange booth. Once in Italy, the easiest and most economical way is through an ATM machine. Other options are changing in a bank. Traveler’s checks are becoming more inconvenient to use as increasingly fewer places accept or cash them. Generally, the worst way to change money is through an exchange booth in Italy, as you will get a low exchange rate plus a change fee. Most large stores in Italy accept credit cards, while smaller stores prefer cash only in Euro. Visa and Mastercard are more commonly accepted than AmericanExpress, however Italian merchants often balk at credit cards. It is advisable to check with your banking institution to verify that your ATM or credit card will work in Italy, and what the charge will be. You should also advise them that you will be withdrawing money and making purchases in Europe, as they may detect unusual activity and freeze the card. Italian banks are generally open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 1:00, and for an hour in the afternoon. In many tourist areas banks can be found open throughout the lunch break. All banks are closed all day on Saturday, Sunday and on holidays.

 

PASSPORT (IL PASSAPORTO)

A current passport is required for international travel. Your passport must be valid for at least 90 days after your scheduled return date. As an American citizen, you do not need any prior visa to enter Italy. If you are not an American citizen, check with the Italian consulate to see if you will need a visa before arrival. Your passport is probably the most important possession for you to keep track of once in Italy. Make a photocopy of the signature/photo page of your passport to be kept separately. If it is lost or stolen, a new passport must be issued at the American consulate in order to return to the US.

 

PUBLIC RESTROOMS (BAGNO PUBBLICO)

Restrooms are identified by WC (water closet), and can sometimes be challenging to find. Shop owners are generally reluctant to allow the public to use their restroom. Public restrooms are usually available in touristy areas; it may be a good idea to keep your own tissue with you. Note that public restrooms sometimes require a small fee.

 

SCHEDULES (GLI ORARI)

On some days the schedule will be intensive. As such, it is important to be on time. Please stay together with the group and avoid wandering off. Staying together is a wonderful opportunity to create community; we also recognize that it can be challenging at times and so we have scheduled some free time. If you need to separate from the group for any reason, please notify group leaders. Also, please be flexible and know that at times, we may need to modify the schedule due to factors out of our control. However, the spiritual nature of the pilgrimage will never change.

 

SHOPPING (FARE LE SPESE)

Normally shops are open from 9:00 am to 1:00 p.m. and then from 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm; however in large and tourist areas there is nowadays a tendency to remain open. When you go to Italian stores or restaurants, in general you should expect lousy customer service, as Italians place different value on the customer than do American businesses. Also, note that the store windows are for ‘browsing’ and Italian merchants often expect you to purchase something if you enter. Often Italian merchants balk at giving back a lot of change and prefer small bills or exact change. Sales tax is included in the advertised price. To discourage tax evasion, by law you must keep the receipt within 100 meters of the store (however, I have never witnessed the police ask to see a receipt.) Note that some pilgrims feel that excessive shopping detracts from the experience of pilgrimage.

 

SPIRITUAL PREPARATION (LA PREPARAZIONE SPIRITUALE)

We recommend praying that God guide and move you before, during, and after this pilgrimage. We strongly suggest a novena to St. Francis or St. Clare before going, and if possible fasting from food or something else. Many lives have been transformed on our pilgrimages, and the more spiritually prepared you are, the more open you will be to God’s graces. We also recommend reading a biography of St. Francis before you arrive. A classic is: St. Francis of Assisi - A Biography by Omer Englebert. Another good book on pilgrimages is The place we call home - Spiritual Pilgrimage as a Path to God by Murray Bodo, OFM. Our purposes/goals are: to deepen your Catholic faith by immersion in the spirituality of saints, place, community and simplicity. Remember that you are part of a group and that people have different expectations of what is spiritual. For some, it is devotional prayers, while for others it is an honest sharing of their personal lives. We recognize different types and levels of spirituality and, thus, try to present spirituality in an open, non-threatening manner. Also note that on the bus, some prefer quiet time for prayer, so be considerate when talking loudly.

 

TELEPHONE CALLS (LE TELEFONATE)

Public pay phones are common, but are often out of service. The most economical way to make phone calls home to the US is with an international phone card purchased within Italy. If you use a calling card purchased in the US, make sure it offers service in Italy, in which case you must obtain the Italian toll-free access number and pin number before departure. You may be able to use your US cell phone (with tri-band or quad-band service) in Italy. Notify your provider before you leave, as some companies require the phone to be enabled for international service. Note that it is very difficult to obtain a local SIM card in Italy for your US cell phone.

 

TIME ZONE (FUSO ORARIO)

The time zone in Italy is six hours ahead from the US East coast and they observe daylight savings time just as in the US. So at 8:00am in Atlanta, it is 2:00pm in Italy. Europeans typically use military times instead of am/pm, thus 5pm is 17:00.

 

WARNING (UN AVVERTIMENTO)

Italy is on the whole a very safe country and violent crime is extremely rare. Nevertheless there are pickpockets and thieves. Most theft and crime occurs in areas where large numbers of tourists are concentrated, such as public buses and train stations in the big cities. When we are in vulnerable areas, it is recommended to carry valuables, documents, passports, cash, etc. in a hidden money belt or bag. There are many beggars in the big cities - use discretion as to whether or not you wish to give; there are poor boxes in most churches which may be a better way to ensure that money goes towards a legitimate end. Note that smiling and saying hello to people in Italy is usually done by acquaintances, friends, or relatives. While in the US it is a sign of courtesy and politeness, smiling at an Italian whom you do not know could cause them to get the wrong idea. A young woman should not smile at or make eye contact with a man on the street, which could be interpreted as a come-on, leading to unwanted attention. Women should also note that Italian culture is more accepting of certain male behaviors that could be considered harassment in the US.

*N.B.: most of your time on the pilgrimage is structured and spent in groups, rendering such negative experiences very unlikely.