The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is an interesting time here in Viterbo. Students are on Easter Break, so there are no classes. Yes, it is referred to as Easter Break and, unlike in the US when the times for school breaks are dictated by teacher contract, this break always happens at Easter, even for us at the Schola Americana.
Knowing what will be open and what will be closed requires wisdom and experience well beyond that obtained by living here for a few months or even a few years. Some businesses are closed for the entire week. Others close early on Friday. As expected, everything is closed on Pasqua (Easter). That even includes the little bars and pastry shops which are normally open on Sundays. So far, so good. Then we come to the Monday following Easter. This day is also celebrated as a holiday, called Pasquette (Little Easter). Everything remains closed. It is traditional on this day for families to gather together for a picnic and, weather permitting, some outdoor time. So, not being ones to buck tradition, Amy the H-P’s and I packed a picnic lunch and went for a hike in the recreation area on Mt. Cimino outside Viterbo. There we discovered clear blue skies, well maintained trails, and very few people. It was an unexpected gem. We will return again whenever we need green space time to maintain our sanity.
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