Giovanni Paolo!! Giovanni Paolo!!
What a great day...what a great way to finish our trip. Well, ok, we still have tomorrow. (that sounds like a love song....we've got tonight, who needs tomorrow..)
The morning started early, but it was worth it. I had booked everyone a ticket to the Papal Audience - a chance to sit in with the Pope!! The tour took us through some Rome places we had not seen, the Villa Borghese, the Olympic village (from the 1960 games), the soccer stadium, the tennis stadium, and over a very very swollen Tiber River. Its been raining A LOT since we left Rome a few weeks ago. Lucky for us, it was perfect weather today.. sunny and mid 60s.
Our tour tossed us into an overprice religious goods store (they outta all burn for what they want for a cross) - and then we went into St Peter's square to see the Pope. We were in the 10th ROW!!! We had great views of his worshipness the entire time.. and contrary to much belief, Pope John Paul II was looking rather sprite. He greeted us in 6 languages and gave us a blessing to take back home and give to you all. So, in case I forget, the Pope gives his shout out to all you all in Cali. (and other places). He also said ' Shaq is bad'. (ok, so I made it up).
Anyway, the throngs of people went absolutely nuts when he arrived in the Pope-mobile. In a million languages people sang and called for his attention and he waved in every direction, kissed some babies, blessed some handicapped folks, and said hi to a few wedding folks. As I said, we were pretty darn close, so I managed some great video and stills. All around us the Spaniards and Mexicans and Italians and others speaking spanish or italian (the majority there) were chanting 'Giovanni Paolo!? over and over. (thats 'John Paul' for those who dont speak neither language).
What a great day. Everyone was excited when I told then the surprise this morning. Even dad got a little giddy.
After our session with JP-II, Rosie and I ran thru the Vatican Museum so she could see all the works in blazing speed - while Jule, Mom, and Dad went for a leisurely lunch and then we met them inside St Peter's Bascilica. Today the catacombs were open, so we went down there and saw the graves for many many popes of the past.
After that, we just sorta took a stroll through Rome, via Piazza Novana, and made our way back to the hotel.
We just now got back from dinner and a bonus cannoli. Mmmmm. (for you 'Godfather' fans, recall when the guy said 'Lose the gun, keep the cannolis').
So the trip is ending. I'm ready to come home, I will admit. As much fun as we have all had, we are tired and looking forward to the USA. I love Italy and want to come back again and again as long as I am able. But it does grow tiresome of having to be sooo pushy in lines and ordering food and such. We've become tired of eating nothing but pasta and pizza (ohmygod, did I say that??). And definately, we have grown tired of strange beds, strange customs, tiny showers, and holes in the ground to poop in.
So in the morning (its almost 9pm here - noon back home) we jam ourselves into a tiny Delta aircraft for Atlanta, sit for a few hours, and then re-jam ourselves into a jet for Sacto.. all to arrive around 9:30pm PST. In total, about 16 hours of flight and one day gained back - sorta kinda maybe.
Its been wacky and fun. Jule and I alone have over 250 photos and some 5 hours of video. Not too many souveniers, but some neat stuff for our new home. I dont think I even remember where that is.
Someone get me a taco.
What a great day...what a great way to finish our trip. Well, ok, we still have tomorrow. (that sounds like a love song....we've got tonight, who needs tomorrow..)
The morning started early, but it was worth it. I had booked everyone a ticket to the Papal Audience - a chance to sit in with the Pope!! The tour took us through some Rome places we had not seen, the Villa Borghese, the Olympic village (from the 1960 games), the soccer stadium, the tennis stadium, and over a very very swollen Tiber River. Its been raining A LOT since we left Rome a few weeks ago. Lucky for us, it was perfect weather today.. sunny and mid 60s.
Our tour tossed us into an overprice religious goods store (they outta all burn for what they want for a cross) - and then we went into St Peter's square to see the Pope. We were in the 10th ROW!!! We had great views of his worshipness the entire time.. and contrary to much belief, Pope John Paul II was looking rather sprite. He greeted us in 6 languages and gave us a blessing to take back home and give to you all. So, in case I forget, the Pope gives his shout out to all you all in Cali. (and other places). He also said ' Shaq is bad'. (ok, so I made it up).
Anyway, the throngs of people went absolutely nuts when he arrived in the Pope-mobile. In a million languages people sang and called for his attention and he waved in every direction, kissed some babies, blessed some handicapped folks, and said hi to a few wedding folks. As I said, we were pretty darn close, so I managed some great video and stills. All around us the Spaniards and Mexicans and Italians and others speaking spanish or italian (the majority there) were chanting 'Giovanni Paolo!? over and over. (thats 'John Paul' for those who dont speak neither language).
What a great day. Everyone was excited when I told then the surprise this morning. Even dad got a little giddy.
After our session with JP-II, Rosie and I ran thru the Vatican Museum so she could see all the works in blazing speed - while Jule, Mom, and Dad went for a leisurely lunch and then we met them inside St Peter's Bascilica. Today the catacombs were open, so we went down there and saw the graves for many many popes of the past.
After that, we just sorta took a stroll through Rome, via Piazza Novana, and made our way back to the hotel.
We just now got back from dinner and a bonus cannoli. Mmmmm. (for you 'Godfather' fans, recall when the guy said 'Lose the gun, keep the cannolis').
So the trip is ending. I'm ready to come home, I will admit. As much fun as we have all had, we are tired and looking forward to the USA. I love Italy and want to come back again and again as long as I am able. But it does grow tiresome of having to be sooo pushy in lines and ordering food and such. We've become tired of eating nothing but pasta and pizza (ohmygod, did I say that??). And definately, we have grown tired of strange beds, strange customs, tiny showers, and holes in the ground to poop in.
So in the morning (its almost 9pm here - noon back home) we jam ourselves into a tiny Delta aircraft for Atlanta, sit for a few hours, and then re-jam ourselves into a jet for Sacto.. all to arrive around 9:30pm PST. In total, about 16 hours of flight and one day gained back - sorta kinda maybe.
Its been wacky and fun. Jule and I alone have over 250 photos and some 5 hours of video. Not too many souveniers, but some neat stuff for our new home. I dont think I even remember where that is.
Someone get me a taco.
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