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The Old Ratclifan 2014 | Introductionhe Old Ratclifan 2014 | Old Ratclifan News The Old R T The Old Ratclifan 2014 | Introductionatclifan 2014 | Old Ratclifan News and master the art of banana leaf walking down the aisle. Bearing I heard that the northern states of canapés and their warm hospitality was the early hours, we returned to Andres’ time and his energy to ensure that we dining. Far from feeling out of place, witness to a ritual so vibrant, yet India are busier and over-crowded, truly wonderful. Dinner in the evening home for a good night’s sleep. were all well looked after, well fed, and I was invited to make Madurai my harmonious, left me in amazement. particularly when compared with was at the Country Club in Bogota; we On January 19th, after breakfast, we well watered too! Thank you, Andres home. Tamil Nadu. In the south, towns had so much to share about our day, - you are the best! Thank you also to Reality travelled as a group to visit the town of A Marriage in Madurai The food, which I was delighted to such as Madurai are smaller, more and there was much wine and laughter! Guatavita and the Laguna de Guatavita. Catalina, Hernan, Ines and Jorge for all To my delight, on my second day, experience, did not make me ill. Local conservative, and value tradition On January 18th, the adventure began! In the evening, we had the official Old their care and companionship during our I was invited to attend a traditional people on transport were very helpful over Western influence. Perhaps I We left Bogota by road to Guasca. Ratcliffian Bogota Dinner at Andres stay in Bogota. Philip Wettern summed Hindu wedding. This, in my mind, when I was trying to find my way am mistaken in this comparison; We stopped en route for a coffee and Sardi’s home, complete with orchestra, up our visit well: ‘Colombia is a civilised I could compare directly with the around town alone. Basic Tamil is after all, I have not lived it. What I sampled the local corn pancakes and salsa dancing and fireworks. place, with civilised people, with lots to Church of England wedding ceremony. easy to pick up and pleasant to listen can feel confident about is that my sliced meats from a barbecue. We then do! It is not the last outpost of the ‘Wild Try as I might to follow it, the intricacy to and, when dressed traditionally or first experience of India took place in arrived for a late lunch at Andres Sardi’s On January 20th, we all travelled to the West’ as many imagine.’ We had an of the beautiful ceremony baffled me. conservatively, I was not stared at; the most welcoming environment for home in Finca. Andres had thought underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira absolutely incredible adventure! It did, however, stand in stark contrast indeed, I was complimented on my which I could have wished. of everything: room allocation, lunch, and, afterwards, enjoyed an additional Teresa Gamble to the simplicity of a woman in white attire. the bar, and even staff to look after us. tour of a rose farm, with a conducted Ex-Staff Member We were in for a relaxing and fun time! tour by our own Hernan Lara. In the afternoon, Andres offered ‘zip On January 21st, we thought we were Old Ratcliffian Reunion in Colombia wiring’ for those who felt brave, and for in for a quiet and lazy day, but this is those who didn’t, there were horses and not possible in the Sardi’s household! 16th – 21st January 2014 donkeys to ride! Andres has so much energy that he can never sit still. He wanted to take the In the evening, we travelled to a relaxed and special evening for all of restaurant for dinner, dancing and drama vehicles and horses for a trip around the us. It was a pure delight to be amongst in an unusual venue called ‘Andres local countryside. We went in various friends and to get to know the others ‘on Carne de Res’ in Lorombiano. Here, vehicles. I travelled in the jeep and we tour’. the place was jam-packed full of young followed Andres along terrain that was On January 17th, we enjoyed a morning people, with scores more queueing to just unbelievable. All was well until one vehicle got stuck, but we were rescued tour of Bogota. We visited the historic get in. It was definitely a popular venue, by Jeremy Knight-Adams with his ‘fence district known as ‘La Candelaria’, where and once we entered, we could see why! pole technique’. It was quite a sight to we found many large Spanish colonial- The whole place had been created out behold! style buildings. We saw the Plaza de of junk! Everywhere you looked, there Bolivia and the original Plaza Mayor with were articles of rubbish that had been With very heavy hearts, we all said our its cathedral, and Capilla Del Sagrario, recycled and made into art, items that goodbyes to our host, Andres; he had which houses valuable pieces of had been rescued out of a skip and been been truly amazing and so generous, religious art. We continued to the Museo given a new use and a new home. It was giving up his home, his bedroom, his de Botero, a colonial house filled with truly amazing! Leaving the restaurant in Andres Sardi (65) the works of art created and donated by Fernando Botero. It was a beautiful morning, full of wonderful sights. I took A Persecuted Prophet, by Fr Michael Hill IC (49) so many photos that morning, simply The Old Ratcliffans in Colombia because there were so many unusual This very welcome book by Fr Michael of the turbulent Italian Risorgimento, Ontology and the like, sights to behold. Bogota is a city of Hill IC (49) is a very readable account in which he played such an important l was amused by his When Andres Sardi (65) proposed an I have ever experienced in my life. We colour, contrast and tangible beauty! of the life and times of Blessed Antonio part. A friend of Pope Gregory XVI and illustration of three Old Ratcliffian Bogota Dinner during his were welcomed into Colombia by Andres For lunch, we travelled up to the Rosmini. many prominent intellectuals of the day, interlinked ideas visit to the UK in 2013, we were all in and Jorge (59), Hernan Lara (62), sanctuary of Monserrate by cable Born in 1797 into an aristocratic family, Rosmini made deeply devoted friends, through the dog, Toby! awe of the idea, but never really thought and many of their friends, including car, 500 metres above Bogota, for a Rosmini’s life is well set in the context but also enemies, the latter even leading Above all, Rosmini’s it would take place. However, with the beautiful Catalina Betancourt. We panoramic view of the city and Andes to a suspicion of his being poisoned. important concept of Andres’ hard work and enthusiasm, he felt like royalty, as we were greeted so in the background. We were all feeling The ‘persecution’ in the title refers to the ‘idea of being’ is brought the idea to reality - and what a warmly. Also at the airport were Maggie very hungry and thirsty, so a good lunch the shameful misinterpretation of some well explained. The reality it was! and Jeremy Knight-Adams (65), who in San Isidro was the order of the day, of Rosmini’s philosophical concepts, footnotes at the end had flown in via Paris on an Air France taken out of context and, sadly, used of each chapter are excellent cross- We knew that we were going to have an flight. We were all ushered into a and was concluded by Michael Parker by some opponents within the Church references to original sources and the amazing adventure when we received all waiting minibus which had a sign on the playing for us all on the piano. What a to undermine his influence on Catholic work is well illustrated. the emails listing the itinerary. Thanks window: ‘Old Ratcliffian Reunion’! pianist! In the afternoon, we visited The thinking. to Noel Josephides (65) and Sunvil Bogota Gold Museum, which was a truly I would strongly recommend this book to Travel, who took care of the travel From Bogota Airport, we were taken to fascinating place to roam and see how The launching of the mission to England all Old Ratcliffians as a fascinating and arrangements. Everything was first class the Hotel Pavilion Royal, a very modern gold had shaped so much of Colombia’s is well covered, including an account approachable introduction to the life, in organisation. and luxurious hotel in the centre of history. of the charismatic Luigi Gentili, the times and thought of the now Blessed Bogota. We settled in and then met for founding of Grace Dieu and Ratcliffe Antonio Rosmini. On January 16th, Richard Gamble (64) drinks in the bar after our long journey. Before dinner that evening, we were all College itself. and I flew from Heathrow to Madrid and Next, we walked to a steak restaurant invited to the home of Hernan and Ines Jeremy Gee (71) then from Madrid to Bogota. We met up near the hotel for some huge Colombian Lara. They live in a beautiful apartment For the general reader, Michael Hill Copies of ‘A Persecuted Prophet’ are with Noel Josephides and Sue Ockwell steaks! Later, we were joined by Carol in the centre of Bogota and we were able Fr Michael Hill (49) signing a copy of commendably reserves a short summary now available from the publishers at in Madrid and began the reunion. Our and Michael Parker (66) and Vesthalian to walk to their home from the hotel. his book on Antonio Rosmini for Fr of Rosminian philosophy to an appendix. www.gracewing.co.uk or, alternatively, arrival in Bogota was the best reception and Philip Wettern (65). It was a They welcomed us with champagne and David Myers (59) For those of us who struggle with from www.amazon.co.uk. the theories of Sensism, Empiricism, 44 Register online at www.ratclifanassociation.co.uknline at www.ratclifanassociation.co.uk 45 45 44 Register o