Well, the last two days have been beyond amazing. We got to go to Papal General Audience yesterday and got front row seats! Oh man, but how is a story in itself. I feel like I could write for centuries on everything that has happened and my viewpoint, but since I'm quite tired, I'll just hit the highlights and then details if I'm still awake.
Afterwards we went to another Church (don't remember which at this point) and then we went to the actual stairs that Christ walked up to Pontius Pilate on. That was very intense, while my thoughts were hardly recognizable, my heart felt something special about that ascent.
Later that night we went to a specialty spaghetti restraunt and OMG, it was unbelievable...the noodles al dente, the sauce that I got was pesto, tomato and cream and rocked my socks off. Also had some very tasty gelato...I am thoroughly enjoying eating gelato while walking through quiet side streets at night.
But most important/prominent in my mind is the Scavi tour that we had this morning. We actually saw the bones of St. Peter, but it was SO much more than that! It was history, it was walking back in time, it was fantastic! I guess a few days ago the Basilica was just another tourist attraction, but by the end of the tour it was so much more...It IS ST. PETER'S BASILICA! AMAZING! I touched me in a very profound way.
We also went and prayed at the tombs of St. Catherine of Siena, St. Monica, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and others. We even got to pray in the room where St. Catherine died. It was just beautiful.
And amongst that spiritual beauty, I've discovered some essentials that one should know upon visiting Rome: 1-Do NOT look both ways before crossing the streets. 2-Crossing the streets is like a real life game of Frogger, also relatable to jumping horses where hesitating could equate to a painful end. 3-There is no such thing as a 'simple' Church in Rome, they are all super beautiful. 4-Gelato is an essential part of the diet. 5-Am I really going to be staying here ALL summer, unbelievable.
Tomorrow we are going to the Vatican Museum and visiting more churches and I'm sure there will be more great memories.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Prego!
I have made it safe and Italy and I can hardly believe that I am here!!! We toured St. Peters today. I have a few stories already. First...the rumors they say about the Italians not much caring about "rules"...they are true. No one checked our passports, they just sent us into Italy, which is a bummer because I really wanted a stamp in my passport! I guess I'll just be forced to come back. As I was also told..."prego" is a very common word. I now know ciao, grazie, and prego. See? I'm well on my way to speaking fluent Italian.
I don't think it has hit me yet that I'm in Rome. Today was full of awe inspiring sites. I experienced my first European train ride, we toured St. Peters, and saw the incorrupt body of Blessed John the 23rd...that was pretty awesome. Since today is the feast day of St. PhilipNiri we got to go to his Church and God sent us an unexpected surprise...a random tour guide who had looked after/lived in the Church for 6 years. He told us about the design of the Church - based on Mary, how it is the "new" Church of Rome...and still older than America, and because today is his feast day they showed his body and a picture somehow (can't remember) related to him from the 13th century. We also went to the Church of St. Agnes and got to see a piece of her skull, it was great to pray there for a while and reflect on what it must be like to give your life up to protect your purity at twelve years old.
So far the group has been great, there are 2 other girls about my age and it seems like I've known them for years, Anda and Brooke. And yes I somehow have been ridiculous me, telling stupid knock knock jokes and saying silly things. For example, tonight we went to dinner and of course had wine. I may, or may not have had too much. On the walk home there was a sign that said BAR...but the B and R were backwards...I could not figure out why. Anda told me the sign was facing the other way - we were on the back side. Ridiculous. And the food was amazing...I had vodka sauce pasta..mmmm. AND prosciutto with mozerella (sp?) was delicious. I could get used to this life.
Tomorrow we have a Papal general audience and I can't wait. We have a 2 Phase plan to get to the front row...it'll be chaos for sure! I'll post pictures soon. Oh! And the drivers have no mercy...they are a bit crazy around here, but then again who isn't? I've already been dubbed the crazy mischievious one in the group, not sure how that happened, :). Anyways, God has made it clear He wants me here, I just don't know how yet...we'll see!
Love you all,
Tracie
I don't think it has hit me yet that I'm in Rome. Today was full of awe inspiring sites. I experienced my first European train ride, we toured St. Peters, and saw the incorrupt body of Blessed John the 23rd...that was pretty awesome. Since today is the feast day of St. PhilipNiri we got to go to his Church and God sent us an unexpected surprise...a random tour guide who had looked after/lived in the Church for 6 years. He told us about the design of the Church - based on Mary, how it is the "new" Church of Rome...and still older than America, and because today is his feast day they showed his body and a picture somehow (can't remember) related to him from the 13th century. We also went to the Church of St. Agnes and got to see a piece of her skull, it was great to pray there for a while and reflect on what it must be like to give your life up to protect your purity at twelve years old.
So far the group has been great, there are 2 other girls about my age and it seems like I've known them for years, Anda and Brooke. And yes I somehow have been ridiculous me, telling stupid knock knock jokes and saying silly things. For example, tonight we went to dinner and of course had wine. I may, or may not have had too much. On the walk home there was a sign that said BAR...but the B and R were backwards...I could not figure out why. Anda told me the sign was facing the other way - we were on the back side. Ridiculous. And the food was amazing...I had vodka sauce pasta..mmmm. AND prosciutto with mozerella (sp?) was delicious. I could get used to this life.
Tomorrow we have a Papal general audience and I can't wait. We have a 2 Phase plan to get to the front row...it'll be chaos for sure! I'll post pictures soon. Oh! And the drivers have no mercy...they are a bit crazy around here, but then again who isn't? I've already been dubbed the crazy mischievious one in the group, not sure how that happened, :). Anyways, God has made it clear He wants me here, I just don't know how yet...we'll see!
Love you all,
Tracie
Friday, May 22, 2009
Tester
So this is a tester post, to make sure y'all can actually read what I'm writing. I decided that instead of going to through facebook or sending out mass emails, I will just send everyone who is interested this link and then you can read my records of travel as you so desire. My goal is to update at least once a week with stories, pictures, and/or ridiculous Tracie moments. Okay, the end of test blog. :)
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