Vatican City aka: Vatican

A picture of the four of us after Easter services in 2009. We did not go for the service but we were at Good Friday mass with the Pope at the Colloseo.

I went with a tour group and didn’t have to wait very long. Plus, she was a wealth of information especially with all the art and architecture.

A fun thing to do: In the Vatican Museum gift shop, send yourself a postcard. Since it’s a sovereign city-state, they have their own stamps that you won’t be able to get anywhere else.

That place is soooo beautiful,its amazing how they built a city on the sea.

When I was visiting Rome, I got up early one morning to go to the Vatican museum. I had been told the lines were always long, so when I saw a line upon arriving to St. Peter’s Square, I got in the line. This line took a very long time and had very little movement. I’ll guess that I waited at least an hour or more. I never thought to ask any questions. I just waited enjoying the people watching.

The line eventually started moving and took me through not one, but two security screenings. I was a bit surprised by this, but was not yet particularly alarmed. I was alarmed, however, when I saw that everyone ahead of me had pulled out a ticket (red or yellow, I think)…a ticket that I did not have. The Swiss Guard were waiting ahead and I approached nervously. I explained in my broken Italian that I did not have a ticket and, to my great surprise, they waved me on.

I entered a large auditorium abuzz with human excitement and found a seat. (Still going along with it all, though I was catching on that I had NOT waited to get into a museum.) Turns out that I had waited for the weekly papal audience. I got to see Pope John Paul II address pilgrims from all over the world…and me. It was one of the most powerful and moving experiences of all my travels. I guess being clueless can occasionally pay off!

Hopefully for fun and enjoyment and spiritual growth, and not to get an annulment from my b&#$@ c@&$ future second ex-wife!!! LOL