Patron Saint of Lost Causes

 A good friend of mine (we will call him him the patron saint of lost causes) moved away. He told me that he kept seeing doppelgängers of everyone he loved because he was homesick. Mine was an Asian chick on a bicycle in China town. I told him that's the problem with travel- you leave pieces of your heart everywhere. Part of my heart is in Italy, at each of the street shrines.  

 

 Both of these shrines were along a hiking path that crossed the mountains between Bellano and Verrano. One even had a tiny water fountain next to it for hikers to drink from. It was so remote- such a strange spot for someone to place not one but two of these altars. Someone obviously hiked in to plant flowers and light candles, long since extinguished. It spoke to a passion and a subservience to something I don't recall ever having, but hunger for sometimes. 

 This one was in an alley in Bellano as we climbed down the mountain. The worn paint makes me think about how the things we love don't have to be shiny and new- they get scars from our love, from our handling, and that makes them even more precious. 

 The outside of this is so pretty, but it completely conceals the little statuette inside, and that made me sad. I don't think anything should be so pretty on the exterior that the interior doesn't also get to shine through. 

A shrine located in the town center of Varenna, Italy. 

  An extremely old one, in Pompeii. The only pagan one I saw, but fascinating all the same to think that even in ancient times, the tradition existed. 

This one was at the top of the mountain, along an extremely narrow highway. Probably the best placement for a place to pray, as it was very dangerous. 

 Along the climb in Bellano, there were two churches. One had the stations of the cross along it, each with its own little shrine. I didn't really think about them on my way down, but on my way up the mountain, panting and exhausted, I carefully considered each one. I was moving so slow I didn't really have a choice. They were an amazing testament to effort, and will. Things I needed in Europe, as everything interesting seemed to be an  uphill trek both ways. The street shrines were one of my favorite parts of Italy. It's what captured my heart- I think my Patron Saint of Lost Causes would have approved.