Rome, Italy

Before dinner in the first night the people in the convent held a ceremony for the pilgrims who had just arrived. They read a prayer and then washed and kissed our feet.

There are two American girls who live in Rome and volunteer at the Convent where I was staying. Of course they were gold mines of knowledge as far as sightseeing in Rome was concerned, but even better were the conversations that I had with then about their faith.

I have never talked to a Catholic who was my age and actually took their faith seriously. (But I haven't been looking for them or moving in the right circles to for that). Mary Kathryn and Corinne are obviously Christians and they believe in the gospel--that we are sinners saved by Christ alone. We then talked for hours about our differences and I had a lot of miss-conceptions and assumptions corrected. Conversations like this are the reason that I travel. They are wonderful people. (And Erin too, who dropped by).

I had always thought that the saints were viewed almost as lesser-deities who had earned their statuses by living good lives, but they aren't. They are roll models, just as we look up to and emulate Calvin or pastor Rayburn. Erin said that she asks for her friends to pray for her, why then, would She not ask the "great cloud of witnesses" to pray for her too? I thought it was a good point.

On Friday I went out to see as much as Rome as I could. I went with two other pilgrims who had arrived at the same tine as me (they had bicycled which is why I didn't encounter then earlier). Their name.were Oscar and Alexander and they live near Milan.

First we went back to St. Peter's square and applied to the Uffizi gate of the Vatican to receive our Testimoniums, which are certificates proving that we did the pilgrimage. We were allowed in by two medieval Swiss guards and ushered into an office where we were given visitors passes. We felt very important.

Then we went to another office where we gave a man our credentials and then waited. After a while he returned with the very official documents. They have the Vatican's stamp on them!

We took one look at the line into the Vatican Museum and decided that we'd try again later.

We walked to the Spanish steps, the Trevi Fountain, big government buildings ans this magnificent monument/museum dedicated to fallen soldiers. Then it began to pour rain and we took cover with a crowd of people under and awning for about 45 minutes.

Then we continued to the Roman Forum, the Palentine Hill, and the Colliseum. I had read that if we buy our tickets to all the forum then we can skip the ticket line at the Colliseum, and this worked like a charm. We had no wait at all at the forum, and skipped at least an hour's worth of line later on.

The ruins were pretty amazing. But they barely suggest the grandeur which they building must have had when they were intact.

By that point we were pretty tired, So we headed home. I spend most of the rest of the day just talking to them and other people in the convent.

After breakfast the next morning I said goodbye to all my new friends and went off to find my youth hostel. (Pilgrims are only allowed to stay 2 nights). I plan to see the girls again on Sunday in Saint Peter's square. We are going to watch the pope wave.

I walked all the way across Rome to my hostel and then to the train station, to try to figure out a reservation to Como. But Como has three stations and I don't know which one to go to. So I'll have to contact Sari or Ilaria and find out.

The next day I found my youth hostel and then took the metro to a Cappucini Monastary. In this monastary is a crypt where some 16th century monk with artistic ability and a morbid sense if humor decorated the crypts with the bones of 6000 dead monks. It was a sight to see. I wasn't allowed to take photos but you should Google it. Its incredible.

Then I headed to the Vatican to begin waiting in line for the Museum. I had been told that the best time to go was early afternoon. But the line still took me 4 and a quarter hours. I was one of the last people they allowed in. It was aweful. So I sprinted through the Museum and barely got to see the Sistine Chapel before it closed. But I got to see it. It was pretty awesome.

Then I went back to the hostel, made dinner, and called my family. I should do that more often.

On Sunday I checked out of the hostel very early and took the metro back to the pilgrim house where I met Mary Kathryn, Erin and Corinne at 8:45. Together we walked to the North American International Seminary, which is just a few steps from Saint Peter's. The place was full of American Seminary students. It was a culture shock for me. Its the first time I've been to an English service in over a month.

The guys were great. Afterward we all had a brunch together and about 10 of us crowded around a small table and chatted. I felt so at home.

Then we rushed to Saint Peter's and recieved a blessing from the Pope! It was so cool to see him in person (although he was very far away). After that deacon Taylor (from the seminary) mentioned that he had to go to frisbee practice. So of course I went too. We had a great time playing ultimate.

Deacon Taylor and I then had an intense discussion about the Catholic faith as we waljed back into the center of the city. He gave me a rosary that he made himself. I will treasure it.

This has been a perfect day in Rome. No monuments. Just genuine people. Tonight I'm going to the pilgrim home once more then catching an overnight to Como!