Now<\/span> it\u2019s 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\u2019s done is done.<\/p>\nHeading out the door, we were met with a huge crowd who were all rushing to go to the Pope\u2019s service just as us. Now, this part was particularly hard for me. So you know how in America if you\u2019re within 2 feet of someone you don\u2019t really enter their bubble space. Well here, everybody\u2019s just all up in everything. I have a very specific problem when it comes to this because, you see, I\u2019m 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\u2019m 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\u2019t say you\u2019re sorry and you\u2019re not being rude, it\u2019s just this common understanding that \u201coh physical contact. Whatever\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s going on. So after, let\u2019s say an hour? Hour and a half, the screens plastered to the surrounding columns went on. Then we saw the Pope\u2026 on the screen\u2026. 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.<\/p>\n
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, \u201cno big deal, we\u2019ll stand in the rain, like the dedicated people we are.\u201d Anyways, the service actually started to pick up when the Pope arrived. And when he comes, he comes in style.<\/p>\n
He cruised down the aisle ways like a rock star in a car\u2026 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\u2019t 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\u2019s the man and all, but still, I\u2019d 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019re welcome.<\/p>\n
Oh and thanks Ms. Stark for suggesting this event. It was awesome.<\/p>\n
After that we were done, and by now it was lunch time.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
While going there we got to meet the foreign affair officer. She was pretty cool and has a very interesting job. Now this isn\u2019t 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?!<\/p>\n
After the Embassy, we got to see some more ancient ruins. One in particular that I liked was seeing Nero\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
He also had this chariot racing track which was huge. So that was all cool as well.<\/p>\n
Again I\u2019m pretty worn down from this whole Rome thing, so with tired eyes, I say good-bye.<\/p>\n
Till next time, Daniella.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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