Back in Rome...

But internet is a bit iffy, and no camera for now, so no pictures. 
Once I arrived, things went smoothly.  A friend from Germany was in town for a few more days from my arrival, so we spent some time together in Rome and one day in Assisi. 
Let me tell you about that trip to Assisi, though.
Four of us from 3 continents met up at Termini station at 7:15 to catch our train.  We had round trip tickets as our German friend wanted to be sure of our seats.  It had been exceedingly hot here up until the morning we left.  In fact, in the middle of the night before our trip, we all woke up (except our young German friend) to about an hour of constant thunder, lightning, and rain.  By the time we arrived in Assisi (on time), it was sunny, cool, and breezy.  We enjoyed our morning visit to the Basilica of St. Francis, where we attended Mass.  Then we went for lunch, and it cooled off outside and started raining.  The power went out momentarily in the restaurant, so we ate by candlelight.  Then we went walking to a castle (Rocca Maggiore), and it rained on us there.  We split up after, sending two from our group to the cathedral of S. Rufino while the other two of us went exploring.  While we explored, the skies opened, and it poured on us and we were quite soaked by the time we caught up with the others.  Then we had time to visit one more basilica (St. Claire) before catching our train back to Rome.  Only, when we got to the station and asked which platform the train would leave from, they informed us that there was no such train.  Indeed, that one had been crossed off the schedule, and the new option was a train leaving 2 hours later with a transfer a couple of stations down the line.  That one was late, and instead of arriving in Rome at 8:30 per our schedule, we arrived nearer 10:30.  Some friends who wanted to see us before our German friend was to leave the next day stayed at the Rome station to meet us when we got off.  Then we went for dessert at a restaurant nearby and talked until midnight.  By then, I was finally dry.  Next day, it was hot again.  Such is Rome.
Now to work on registration...