Sunday, October 15, 2017:
Wow! What a busy last full day in Roma!
Unfortunately, an otherwise glorious day began with sadness.
The Huskies lost
NUTS!
After getting over the initial shock, we all regrouped and headed down the street to St. Peter's Basilica so that Sandy and Loren could both get there first peek at the world's largest church.
We hurried along so as to be in time to go through the Vatican Security system before the start of the 10:30 a.m. Mass began.
Wait, what was this?
We made it on time but because eight new saints were being canonized today, the 10:30 a.m. Mass was being held al fresco in St. Peter's Square not in the Basilica.
As a matter of fact, St. Peter's Basilica would not open until after the Mass ended in the Square.
On a scorching October morning the fact that it was also to be a Solemn High Mass for our new saints did not bode well.
On the plus side Pope Francis was saying the Mass so we were all a little giddy as this most non-Trump of world leaders was in our presence.
The 10:30 a.m. Solemn High Mass did not end until 12:15 p.m.
While the crowd, when we arrived, was large but manageable, by the time that Mass was over St Peter's Square was PACKED!
My mind and cellphone camera
wandered a bit during this long Mass
Still strong after all of these years
Who are all of these saints?
Crowd Control
courtesy of the Swiss Guards
Loren and I found a shady spot
to worship from afar
The columns fascinated me
After the Mass, Pope Francis hopped
on a large, Segway type scooter
to high five the assembled multitudes
Finally, with Pope Francis safely in his Vatican apartment, the doors of St. Peter's Basilica were opened to the public at 1:00 p.m.
The Entry Portico ceiling beckoned
St. Peter's Basilica was consecrated on November 18, 1626.
But this photo-op beckoned more with
St. Peter's Square in the background
Immediately Sandy was in awe
of her first sighting of . . .
. . . Michelangelo's Pieta
DON'T PULL ON MY BEARD!
We said our final goodbyes to Sandy
in the main hallway fully knowing
that at any second she would
indeed blissfully ascend into Heaven
Those are two BIG angels
Bernini's Main Altar
Bernini's Canopy is over the
Main Altar while St. Peter's
tomb lies below it
Pope Gregory XIII
Marvelous Marble Floor
Air vent for the basement of
St. Peter's Basilica
Pope Pius VII
Jesus Christ
and friends
Another Mass in progress
it was both shorter and cooler
than the one we attended outdoors
On the other hand, it was not Pope Francis leading the faithful.
Can't get enough of
Bernini's Canopy
Swiss Guards on duty
St. Peter and the
Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven
The façade of St. Peter's Basilica
Our final photo op on
St. Peter's Square
We sat on a nearby sidewalk to share sandwiches and beverages while debriefing each other on the wonders of our visit to St. Peter's Basilica and Square.
There was a lot to consider.
And then we taxied . . .
To Rome's iconic Colosseum
An amazing structure
built between 70 and 80 A.D.
The Arch of Constantine
The view through the
Arch of Constantine
The Roman Forum
in the distance
With the Arch of Titus
as a backdrop
And then we taxied . . .
We were all a tad haggard by this point and opted to head back to our AirBnB apartment to rest up before dinner.
And then we taxied . . .
We were off for some Roman Cuisine
with more American Football friends
both old and new
We have been fortunate to meet so many wonderful people over the past decade while getting involved in EuroBall coaching.
Tonight we would be joined for dinner with one of Europe's very best coaches, Bart Iaccarino, his wife Chiara, their son Bart, Bart's assistant coach Mattias Giovagnoli and his friend Carlotta Vallecoccia who is a sommelier.
Her choice of red wine with dinner was amazing!
The two Barts
Talk about a cute baby!
This is what a GREAT Roman
Cuisine dinner looks like
Team Photo at Ristorante Pecorino
What a great way to end our last full day in Roma with good friends both old and new, amazing food and drink and, of course, some American football talk!
And then we taxied . . .
The Adventure continues tomorrow as we fly to Paris in the afternoon to rejoin Mark and Susie Johnson and a few other couples.
Stay tuned . . .
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