The Elevator Saga Continues

It is bitter sweet getting up this morning. Our bodies have adapted to our new time zone and we are ready and raring to go with our conference, but we have to leave Daniela and Suri which is sad because staying with them is like staying with family.

After breakfast we realized we had a little time to go explore and headed back behind the apartment we were staying to check out the enormous historical structure that sits fenced in. The guard at the gate said we could go in and the building was open that we could look around inside. It turns out that the building is the department of Architecture. As we went in the main room under the rotunda, had screens all around. As we further investigated we found that they were touch screens allowing you to access the world and see satellite pictures of any area, photos and videos of the day and week through RSS feeds off another screen and so on and so forth. For a techno geek, as I have been deemed on this trip, it was like a huge toy laid out in front of me...and no time to explore and play (of course it would have taken me days to figure out all the applications and possible implications of such a magnificent system). After leaving there we came across another Cathedral and more ruins.

After we finished with our exploration adventure we grabbed our bags and headed to elevator. After all who wants carry their bags for an international trip down five very long flights of steps? Being smart we decided the elevator could only hold one of us and our bags. Dale and Cathy went down withou ta problem. Then I went down, stopped and went directly back up to the fifth floor where Carolyn was rather surprised to see me when she opened the door. So we sent me back down again. This time the door opened on the wrong floor so I hit the button again and the door shut and opened, again on the same wrong floor. At this point I was convinced the elevator was posessed so I grabbed my bags and got off carrying them down the last flight of steps. When Carolyn came down the steps the same thing happened so she carried her bags down the last flight as well. Although we will miss our B&B, we will NOT miss that elevator!

After safely vacating the elevator for the last time we picked up our bags and headed across the street to Termini. There we caught a train to Assisi where our conference is being held. The two hour train ride was rather smooth and allowed us to see other areas of Italy that we could not have seen otherwise. When we arrived in Assisi we were met by our host, Fabio who led us to the hotel. (Okay, before I get blamed for omitting things, Fabio was kind enough to drive my suitcase to the hotel, because I did not have wheels on my bag. He also brought it in and said he would get it as close to the elevator as possible, before he keeled over and died from the sheer weight of it.) Cathy and I got checked in and promptly ran out to find food because it was after three p.m. and we had not eaten since eight that morning. We found a little place and enjoyed a variety of sandwiches, chips and Dale and Cathy also enjoyed some Gelato.
Headed back to the conference center we stopped in at the seventh largest Basilica in Italy, dedicated to Sister Los Angeles. I must say one of the most interesting features of this basilica, is the stone church that sits inside of it. The art work, marble and other features are also amazing.

Back at the conference we got registered, got on line which has allowed me to post for the last three days at one time, and got ready for the opening reception and dinner. I am not sure what I expected but this conference is very unique. There are Extension representatives from all over Europe and several invited guests from the United States. We were excited to see our friends Tim and Arthur from our experience in Portugal last year. We also had the opportunity to meet others from Egypt, United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland not to mention Indian, Georgia, and Maryland. The relationships and networking of ideas is rather amazing. I understand that most of the Italian delegation will arrive tomorrow since they are coming from in country. Overall there will just over 100 people in attendance.

I can't wait until the conference begins tomorrow. Carolyn will be going on a trip to Perugia which is where the University is located, just north of Assisi. Dale also presents his paper tomorrow and Cathy and I will present on Friday afternoon. Stay tuned to our blog as we do our best to keep you up to date on this incredible opportunity.