Classes were canceled today so all the
jforce students could see the Papal audience. The address was long
because the Pope had to read his address and blessings in 7 different
languages. It was really cool though to see Pope Benedict XVI in
person especially since I had only seem him in pictures or on TV.
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| Really talented Mariachi band from Mexico who played for the Pope... front row seats! |
I spent another hour or so poking
around Vatican City until I got caught by some Swiss Guards who were
not very amused, especially when I tried to take some pictures with
them as I was getting kicked out. I walked around with my friend Nina
and then met my friend Angela for lunch. Angela has been living here
since August and working by the Vatican so she is somewhat of an
expert on the area. We bought sandwiches (panini ) at a really good
(and inexpensive) sandwich shop which was completely void of
tourists, and took out lunch to the park around Castel San Angelo. We
had a good time talking and catching up. After lunch I had a few
hours to kill before my tour of the necropolis. I wandered around,
found a really good gelato place, and caught up on some history
readings in a quiet spot I found near the Basilica. I really enjoyed
being able to read a letter by Cavor only minutes away from a piazza
dedicated to him. Having some time to be alone in Rome was a nice experience.
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| Creeping... |
At 3:15 I made my way to the Necropolis
tour office. I had to get checked out by the Vatican security, then
escorted inside. The tour guide was really adamant about us not being
able to take pictures, and since there was only a few people on the
tours I didn't want to risk it.
I walked ancient streets, saw 2000 year old frescoes inside of tombs, and was in the presence of the body of St. Peter all18 meters beneath St. Peter's! The tour was one of the best ones I have gone on in Rome. If you are ever in Rome I HIGHLY recommend it. The ruins are so well preserved and the history is so intriguing it seems almost unreal. Fyi, you have to book way way way in advance, and they can't talk big groups.
