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