Today was quite the exciting one.
To start of the morning, I’m just lying there perfectly content in dream land when I hear the loudest banging on a door possibly created… or so I thought. Immediately I jump out of bed with complete alertness like some burglar is trying to get in. Fortunately it was just the wake-up call for an early morning to see the one and only man who can bless an entire crowd within 5 seconds; the Pope.
So before that I had to have breakfast. Doing so, I got yogurt and other goods to start my day. Now it’s time to go. I think we were supposed to leave the building a little earlier than we did, because of anticipating how big the crowd was going to be, but what’s done is done.
Heading out the door, we were met with a huge crowd who were all rushing to go to the Pope’s service just as us. Now, this part was particularly hard for me. So you know how in America if you’re within 2 feet of someone you don’t really enter their bubble space. Well here, everybody’s just all up in everything. I have a very specific problem when it comes to this because, you see, I’m not too fond of people, so when there is a ginormous crowd of people all heading in the same direction, we all get a little up close and personal. My immediate reaction is to say I’m sorry to every human being I touch accidentally on the shoulder or bump into, but I had to be tougher than that. You see, here in Italy, you don’t say you’re sorry and you’re not being rude, it’s just this common understanding that “oh physical contact. Whatever”. So we pressed on into the Vatican with tons of other people as well. I had to cut some people and do things I would never do in America, but hey, what can I say, I made it to the Pope’s service.
After getting in we stood for a good thirty minutes before the service actually started to have some action. But the problem was, it was just announcements, and shout outs, that were translated in like fifty different languages just so everyone could be satisfied and know what’s going on. So after, let’s say an hour? Hour and a half, the screens plastered to the surrounding columns went on. Then we saw the Pope… on the screen…. Kissing children. It was cool and all, but after the twentieth child I was over that. So I sat on the floor waiting for the real action. *Side note, one of the children who got kissed and blessed by the Pope was staying in the same hotel as us, so that was pretty cool. Finally after like three hours, he made his way down to the people.
It was actually the first cloudy day, to what I heard, in a long time for Italy. And it started to sprinkle here and there, but nothing major like torrential down pour or anything. Funny thing is, is that when the slightest rain drop fell from the sky, everybody in the crowd pulled out their ponchos and umbrellas like they were going to melt with the slightest touch of water on their skin. Us Floridians were like, “no big deal, we’ll stand in the rain, like the dedicated people we are.” Anyways, the service actually started to pick up when the Pope arrived. And when he comes, he comes in style.
He cruised down the aisle ways like a rock star in a car… standing up. He kissed even more babies and waved his hand in celebration a lot. Funny story, all the children were being brought to him by security guards, so all you see are these kids flying it the air as security holds them to the Pope. I don’t know about you, but to me it was just weird how some people would willingly hand over their child to security for the Pope. I know he’s the man and all, but still, I’d want to make sure my kid was safe before handing them over. Anyhow, I got a video of him cruising by, and that was pretty amazing.
He then, went up to the alter, read some lines, and we had to hear those lines in all fifty languages as well, and then the service was done. He blesses all of us, our family, our sacred items, and the ill in his speech, so all of you at home, did you feel a certain presence at like 5ish this morning? You did? Well that was the Pope blessing you. You’re welcome.
Oh and thanks Ms. Stark for suggesting this event. It was awesome.
After that we were done, and by now it was lunch time.
After lunch we went on a little tour to the US Wmbassy. It was really nice to be back on US soil for an hour again. It was like a little piece of home.
While going there we got to meet the foreign affair officer. She was pretty cool and has a very interesting job. Now this isn’t necessarily my field of interest, but just listening to her talk was amazing. She was very vibrant and passionate about what she does along with all the other people there, and it seemed like a really cozy environment. Another fun fact, everybody there looked like they were 25. They were young and changing the world. How awesome?!
After the Embassy, we got to see some more ancient ruins. One in particular that I liked was seeing Nero’s theme park. Nero was this crazy superstar back in the roman days, who burned an entire town for his pleasure and continued to relish in the glowing light from the blazing flames as he sang and played his instruments.
He also had this chariot racing track which was huge. So that was all cool as well.
Again I’m pretty worn down from this whole Rome thing, so with tired eyes, I say good-bye.
Till next time, Daniella.