After breakfast and shower & shave time, we grabbed a cab to San Pedro -- St. Peter's for the Papal Audience. We had nice seats for "first-come-first-serve" tickets and got there an hour a head of time. Sarah and I were right on the aisle -- a straight shot to the Pope's perch. Two pics of the Pope here (one where he is about 2 pixels tall and the other pic where he is 10 pixels tall): 
The North American College Dioconate Party was specially acknowledged by the Pope (that's us -- seriously he did take the time mid-cermony acknowledge the party in English). Also, one lucky person is getting a religious object that we got blessed by the Pope today (when we return).
We 'hedged' on location toward the end to beat the crowds to the Vatican Museum. No, we didn't skip out on the ceremonies; we just relocated in preparation to walk at Mathews pace (jog for others) to the Vatican Museums. We got in faster than expected and grabbed lunch.
Sarah and I then walked for the requiste 1.5 hours and passed the 10 gift shops to the Cappella Sistina (Sistine Chapel). Here are three shots: 1) a Cappella Sistina general shot (where photographs are banned with one of the guards saying 'No Picture' in a very strong Italian accent), 2) Me somewhere else nice, and 3) Sarah in one of the Stanze di Raffaello (one of the rooms Raphael painted).
Then Sarah and I grabbed a quick snack near the Vatican and provided a lesson on how to manage tourist traps to our neighbors at the table next to us -- don't pay!!! When the person that spoke perfect English to get you into the cafe suddenly loses his 'tongue' to charge you a "service fee" you know to just "walk away -- don't pay!!!" (New Eric-ism).
We then had to hurry to the bus to for the Prayer Vigil for the Dioconate. We almost got lost but instincts and intuition paid off -- seriously had zero time (another story worth telling in person). We arrived at St. Paul's Basilica for the sevice and captured nice photos (1. a shot in the courtyard and 2. Sarah in front of St. Paul's Sarcophagus writing a prayer of special intention for her family):
We then grabbed some dinner with other family and friends of the Dioconate (North American College) near the Catacombs.We got dropped off at San Pedro's and grabbed some nighttime photos.
We then caught a cab, bought a bottle of vino, and called it a night -- which means blogging (right now), planning, and emailing AND then sleeping.
For the folks at home, we did grab some video during the day and almost "uttered" -- maybe we can utter (http://www.utterli.com/ecmathews) tomorrow when we are in Basilica de San Pedro.
For now though it is time for bed once again. This time we are going to get a good rest and take it easy in the morning. For you that may mean a little less material for tomorrow's post, but probably not. For Sarah and I that means a little more rest for the final push . . . 4 days left then a wake up . . . We are half way done. Sad to leave so soon, but happy to be returning home to our famiy and friends. Buona sera!
2 comments:
I love your blog. I wish you could just move to Europe and blog. More than that I wish I could move to Europe and blog. The pictures are breathtaking, thanks for taking time to share everything along the way. Looks like you're having a wonderful time and what a unique Roma experience you get to have!
Wow-what a great first day in Rome! This is so great knowing what you're doing each day, and there's pictures, too! You know I am not a technical person - so I couldn't figure out how to get the sound on my computer - so your video's are like the silent films of old...but in color!!!
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