Day 29 - A Special Sunday

June 29 – Sunday at the Vatican

Shannon and I woke up early, had breakfast and got ready to go to the Vatican. We knew there would be Mass there so we thought it would be cool to go. So off we go. We used our Roma Pass to use the subway for free. We got there around 9 something. The lines were not too long but the heat made it feel painfully long. Anyway, we got in the basilica and I was just in awe. It’s ginormous, beautiful, elaborate, magnificent. Simply amazing. Then we found out the Pope was giving the Mass. I was exciteddd! The place was packed. The middle part of the church was cordoned off because Mass had begun. So, the sides were supercrowded. Shannon is 6’9” so she didn’t have much trouble trying to see the altar and such. I had given up hope so we kinda wandered off to the church bookstore where I bought a few stuff. We were walking around for a long while and taking pictures and such. I sat in one corner and started writing postcards. Then I realized Mass was still going on. LOL. Ummm so I abandoned my writing and got back on with the program. The Mass was in Latin so I really had no clue what was going on except for the “peace be with you” part. :P Anyway, we had been there for a while and so we started to head towards the door. Then, I realized I really really wanted to see the Pope. My camera lens had seen him but I said that doesn’t count. I had come all the way here and I ain’t leaving until my naked eyes see the Pope! So, after long stretches of tiptoeing and neck-craning, I finally caught a glimpse of the Pope who was probably a kilometer away from me. So, we started heading towards the door when we agreed to just finish Mass. That was definitely a good call. Next thing we know, it was Communion already. That place was packed. I’m telling you. I never thought that I would be able to receive Communion because there were so many people. Good thing though there were so many other priests that they were dispatched all throughout the church. A curious thing – when they give you the body of Christ, there are people who make sure you eat it. I don’t know why that’s so. I’m thinking maybe there are people who sell those on eBay or something? Haha. Idk. Anyway, when I received mine, I seriously almost cried. It was such a good feeling. I was beyond belief that I just received Communion at St. Peter’s Basilica during the Pope’s Mass. To add to the excitement, we stayed until the whole Pope entourage walked down the aisle for the exit. It was cuh-razyyyy. There were probably 6 people in front of me but I couldn’t be shot down. :P I was going to see the Pope and I didn’t care for how much longer I needed to be on tiptoes. But boy did that hurt. LOL. It must have been 15 minutes before the Pope finally passed by. Luckily, my camera has a continuous shoot mode so I just held down the shutter button while I savored the Pope’s presence with my own eyes. It was incredible. The Pope was literally 2 meters away from me. I could say that must have been one of the most important moments of my life. :P

After that whole pilgrimage, we were so spent. We decided to head back to the hostel. We got back and I took a long nap. I didn’t go with Shannon to go back out because I wanted to sleep more. I finally left the hostel around 5pm to walk around some more. I hit up a few plazas and went to the Pantheon but it had already closed. I didn’t care though. :P I was a happy trooper that day.

We went back to the hostel where we met 2 Mexican guys who were also backpacking. We went to a restaurant to watch the Eurocup 2008 Finals between Germany and Spain. I never doubted that Spain would win. And so we did, 1-0. Goal by Torres. It was such a shame we weren’t in Spain for that. I can only imagine how crazy things got in Spain. Pssh.

Anyway, we all went back to the hostel and we were a full house – 4 Mexican guys, 4 Argentinean girls, Shannon, and me. We talked in Spanish for the longest time and it was so much fun. The Argentinean girls definitely had so many stories to tell. Even though, I didn’t really understand it fully I still got the general gist of it. It was so much fun just talking to them.

Today was a good day. :)