Wild Boars and the Order of Malta

Wild Boars in the Riserva Naturale
So one of my daily chores of accepting this assignment in moving to a large ancient city - is to figure out how to exhaust our over active Weimaraner.  We took on Grady as a rescue exactly 11 months ago. Knowing this breed, we knew Lake Tahoe would be a perfect fit for him and we were ready for a new trail running buddy. When the subject of Rome came up I briefly considered finding him a new home so he could stay in Truckee, but that would be his 4th home and we had already made the commitment to him. We love him and this just didn't seem fare. The thought is something I've cried over. Is he better in Tahoe under another abandoned circumstance, yet he can run and swim free till he drops? Or is he better off with us, even thought we now live in an apartment where he's got to be attended outside and on leash with very limited options to run free?  Please let me know if you have any personal opinion or dog therapy insight. I'm torn with what is truly better for him and I will only do what is best for him.

Darcy and I have had 4-5 dogs throughout our relationship and because of their need for exercise, I've found wonderful trails and parks I would otherwise not have discovered if it wasn't for our furry, four-legged friends.  Close to our apartment is a large reserve that I've just learned more about. The Via Francigena from Canterbury (UK?) to Rome was a route which was passed by thousands of pilgrims traveling to reach the tombs and the site of the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul. It was an important major road connecting Europe in the Middle Ages; it was in the beginning of the second millennium that its territory was crossed by a multitude of people in search of their roots in religious mystic (hence my gut feeling, keep reading). It owes its name to the fact that it was used as an access road to this side of the Alps from France, who made it the most 'important link between Middle Eruope and Mediterranean. And while the trail seems to pick up and drop off, it's enough for Grady to get an open-field run for a fare amount of time. It's an interesting piece of property. Before learning this trails history, I'm often out there alone with Grady and feel this mystical/magical presence that has me walking amongst historic eras, almost like I'm on a movie set or a dream. For example, one day two huge herding dogs were playing in the field.  Grady ran across to go say 'hi' and they disappeared. I swear I blinked and they were gone, (anyone remember those two creepy Redrum twins in The Shining?).    Also, people kept saying, "watch out for the wild pigs".  WTF? We're in Rome?   Sure enough, Grady ran into the bushes and after squealing and a squalor of dust and bushes, he came racing out shaking like a leaf. Thankfully he's got speed as an advantage. Those pigs tried to take him down, enough he was banged and scratched up on his under belly.  I never actually saw them, but the days following I felt like I was being hunted by the wild pigs and Grady wouldn't leave my side.  At one point we heard something crackling and both took off running. I finally had to look up my phone and get a crash course on wild boars in order to chill out. It confirmed that boars don't actually sit around in bushes waiting for American women to come along with their over-active dog after all. We still stay on high alert.  The park is also up against this beautifully manicured farm that's got surveillance, gates and a lot of "courier deliveries". It's very suspicious, but maybe I just have a lot of time to think about all the illegal things it could be. Maybe it's the mafia's drug operation and they're covering it up as a sheep farm. That's my latest theory.

Order of Malta

Our relocation agent, Bonnie, an american married to an Italian, invited a few of us as her guest to an organization called American Women's Assoc. of Rome. They meet monthly for a luncheon with guest speakers, along with ways to give back to the city. The luncheons are held at prestigious locations not often available to the general public. One reason alone to join. Their kick-off lunch was last week at the Sovreign Order of Malta. A necessary stop for tourists to view through the key-hole for an exceptional view of St. Peter's Basilica, the eye crosses 3 sovreigns (Order of Malta, Rome and The Vatican). The actual luncheon alone was hosted inside the Villa del Priorato of Malta, where the Order of Malta conducts their global good deeds as a jurisdiction not to be touched by any country in the world.   I knew very little of the Order of Malta but the description I found on this blog seemed to help explain in layman's terms - something I often need.  Knights of Malta 101.  The lunch guest was Ms. Natalie Brown, Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Mission to the UN Agencies of Rome. Next luncheon is being held at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the guest speaker is David J. Lane, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Agencies of Rome.  There's a lot of global agencies here, so between World Health Organization, United Nations, Foreign Ministries, Ambassadors, Diplomats, Embassies, Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations.... my head spins. Expats are often tied to one of these organizations. So when someone asks me "What brings you here? UN? Embassy?"  They double take when I say, "No. Football."

Thanks for reading.   -Inger
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