Day 12- The Pope

So the next morning, my new friends leave and I head out on my own for the day. So I go to see the Vatican the where the Pope Benedict XVI lives. I am baptised Catholic and thought I should go see it. So they have a underground train system called the Metro. Its 1 euro a ride and 4 euro for an all day pass. So they have TVs in the station and on the train, they are one up on us. So Mom, I got my Metro card! Also the air conditioning worked really well, despite the amount of people on them.

So it turns out that the Pope is giving a blessing there and not at mass as I thought. So I decide to stay and wait. I get a nice seat on the railing by the fountain and wait over an hour. That sun was beating hard on me, luckily I still have my broke down umbrella in my bag. I hold it up and drink my hot water. So about thirty minutes before noon the window where the Pope will speak opens. We have to look up at this building and are nowhere close to him. Everybody cheers, then right at noon a curtain is pulled and the Pope appears.

He is speaking in Italian and has a mic hooked up to him so everybody can hear. I can pick up on a few words, then he speaks some in English, Spanish and a few other languages. I think this man is phenomenal. He knows all these languages, people love him, they sale all kind of stuff with his picture on it. Its better than being the president.

So after I find some place to eat and change. So to go inside Saint Peter's Basilius women cannot have on pants or skirts that are above the knee nor have on shirts that show your shoulders. So I had some leggin in my bag that I put on and a scarf which I will use to cover my arms. I'm so glad I could make this quick change. So I wait forever and I'm finally able to go in. It was by far the best. I was able to go up to the top of the tower, I bought the elevator lift ticket and still had to walk up 320 stairs to go go all the way to the top.

Those stairs where no joke, I had to take a break half way through, along with some other people! By then I was also out of water. I really need to use this exercise ball I bough and look for a gym. The stair way is really small, narrow and half the time the wall is touching you. I make it up and the view is so awesome. I can see all of Roma and beyond. There is no way really to describe how it feels to see all these amazing things.

I make it back down, there is a refreshment stand and buy some water. Then I go into the church and look at all the sculptures, paintings alters inside. So they have the bodies of the some of the past Popes. Some are in the clear alters and you can see the bodies. It's very....interesting, but some people want to see it.

So I look around and next thing I know it's time to catch my train. So being in Roma for two days, I didn't a chance to see half of the sights. I'll be back for a field trip in a couple weeks. So I take the first train back to Firenze, the second train back to Lucca brakes down. Luckily we had just pulled into a station, so we sit on the train. My car has no power which meant no AC and the doors could not open. They have these really cool doors that open with a touch of a button. So I move to the next car and then the conductor tells us to get off another train would pick us up. I get on the second train and it almost breaks down also. The cars kept losing power.

I finally make it back, so glad to take a shower once again. But I am also coming down with a summer cold. I couldn't find the 24 hour pharmacy, I go to restaurant to at least get something to eat. I must have had the worst lasagna, but I did get to see the soccer game. So Italy ends up losing and they are out! There was no celebration like the last game.