Easter Weekend

I was in Viterbo Italy, this past Easter weekend. I thought Easter would be a bigger deal in Italy than it was. In North America, the start of the weekend is called Good Friday and is a holiday. In Italy, home of the Catholic Church, the Pope, and the Vatican, it’s known as Friday.

Rabbit Hole

A not-so-small note on how the date of Easter is determined each year.

The basic rule is that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox (an equinox being the point when the sun is exactly above the equator, and it only happens twice a year, the vernal and autumnal equinoxes).

This definition seems quite straightforward; however, there are two ways of determining the equinox, astronomically and ecclesiastically.

The astronomical dates are calculated scientifically, while the ecclesiastical date was set in 325CE. The ecclesiastical date for the vernal equinox is always March 21. The astronomical date can be anywhere from March 19 to early March 22.

This discrepancy in dates can cause some problems, like in 2019.

The March 2019 equinox occurred on March 20 at 1758 (5:58 PM). The full moon occurred four hours later so Easter should have landed on March 24. But because the full moon happened before the ecclesiastical date, Easter didn’t occur until after the next full moon, pushing Easter to April 21, 2019. Easter can occur anytime between March 22 and April 25.

Unless you belong to an Eastern Orthodox Church, then Easter occurs between April 4 and May 8. Why? The Eastern Orthodox churches never switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar when the rest of Europe did in 1582.

Trivia footnote: the full moon that occurs after the vernal equinox is called the Paschal Full Moon. Paschal from Pascha, a Latinized version of the Hebrew word Pesach, meaning Passover.

And while we are on the subject, 325CE was the First Council of Nicaea, a religious council convened by Constantine to unify the Catholic Church, which was suffering from numerous alternative explanations for, well, everything. Among the things decided (other than the date for Easter), were the Nicene Creed that defined core Christian doctrines, the organization of the church, and the settling of the Arian controversy, which was condemned as heresy. (The Arians believed Christ was created by God and not co-eternal.)

I told you it was a long Rabbit Hole. Enough of this, back to me.

End Rabbit Hole.

On Friday, much like Jesus, I faced a near-death experience, although, really, Jesus faced an actual death experience, so maybe not the most accurate comparison, although I did ionvoke his name at the time.

I was walking through the parking lot of my hotel in Viterbo when someone pulled out of a parking spot and hit me, knocking me down. He immediately stopped to help me and was very apologetic. I assume he was apologetic; he was speaking Italian, so he could have been apologizing, cursing me, or giving me his Nonna’s orichette recipe. I’m not really sure.

I think he was apologizing because, when it became obvious that my left leg was no longer weight-bearing, as evidenced by my falling when I put weight on it, he drove me to the local hospital.

After a battery of tests and a lot of Google Translate, it was determined that I had a knee sprain but nothing broken or torn. I was leant crutches (to be returned the next morning on my way to Rome), given Tylenol with codeine and explicit instructions to P.R.I.C.E. my knee for at least 48 hours (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate). Although they said that in Italian so it wasn’t PRICE but P.R.G.C.E. When they said it in Italian (Proteggere, Riposo, Ghiaccio, Comprimere, Elevare) it sounded a lot more exciting and important, especially with lab-coated people talking quickly and waving their hands all about.

I spent most of the next 48 hours with my leg elevated, except when I was driving down to Rome to overnight there before catching my flight to Canada on Sunday.

Rabbit Hole

Incidentally, flying on easter Sunday is surprisingly pleasant. The Rome and Toronto airports weren’t nearly as busy as they usually are, the lounges were only half full, plus both flights had seats open.

While the Easter weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year, Easter Sunday is not as busy, probably because that is the day most people are travelling to be home for. Friday and Monday are typically very hectic and busy.

End Rabbit Hole

My adventure hadn’t ended with my arrival at the airport, though.

My suitcase broke. Specifically, the retractable handle broke and refused to retract. The airline would not take it if the handle didn’t retract so it was off to find a new piece of luggage, repack and check it in before my flight left. THIS is why I arrive at the airport hours before my flight. Not laughing at this early, early bird now, are you?

Enjoy the excellent videography that follows!

Fortunately, there was a luggage shop at the airport. Unfortunately, the luggage shop knew they had a desperate clientele and their prices reflected that.

My saviours

All this time I am hopping around on one leg. Remember, I had given my crutches back upon leaving Viterbo the previous morning and was basically using the suitcase as a cane to help me walk. This may have contributed to it breaking.

So I am hopping the length of the third floor, from the Air Canada check-in desk to the elevator, going down a floor and then hopping most of the way down the second floor to the luggage shop.

The negotiations started as soon as I explained my need and showed them the broken handle. It was agreed that my suitcase was irreparable and I must replace it. How about this nice hardcase for only €400?

I suggested a softcase for €49.50.

After much discussion and hand gesturing of the various benefits and drawbacks to each case, it was decided by the store employee that the €400 case was better and I should buy that one. I pointed out that I only needed it for this one day. More discussion. And because I had arrived so EARLY, my anxiety level at the possibility of missing my flight was only moderate.

Eventually, I hopped out with the less expensive case, repacked and headed on my way.

I’m now back home, catching up on my sleep, and the knee is doing very well, unless I use it.