Blogs from Vatican City, Europe - page 19

8 kwietnia - Rzym Wyjazd byl nagly i niespodziewany. Jedziemy na pogrzeb papieza. Bardzo chcialam tam byc tego dnia, bo odkad pamietam to wlasnie Jan Pawel II byl papiezem, czlowiek wyjatkowy i Polak .... Na poczatku myslalam, ze to takie nierealne. Ale warto dzielic sie swoimi marzeniami, bo po chwili narzekan, ze chcialabym tam sie znalezc znalazla sie osoba, ktora tez chce jechac i szybko zaczelysmy wszystko zalatwiac. Podroz nie wydawala sie dluga i warto bylo poejchac. Myslalysmy po drodze jak to bedzie kiedy znajdziemy sie na Placu sw. Piotra, wsrod tylu ludzi i, ze ci wszyscy ludzie przyjechali do jednej osoby..... kiedy zaczeto nas zasypywac sms'ami "trzymamy kciuki zebyscie dojechali jak najdalej", "Rzym zamkniety, nie dojedziecie, korki" itp. szczytem marzen bylo zeby dostac sie do Tor Vergata pod Rzymem. Juz zwatpilam, ze cokolwiek zobaczymy, ... read more

This morning we were dropped off at La Giustiniana station, and as there was a train strike today, we were expecting the worst. Our first destination was to the Piazza San Pietro, home to the Basilica of St. Peter's. It seemed quite busy today, well apparently busier than normal. It was only when we got closer that Paul said the late Pope John Paul II was going to be reading his sermon today to the pilgrims. We couldn't believe it, what luck we thought. We did have a tour of the Colosseum booked up for that morning, but we all decided that we wanted to stay to see The Pope, as this would be a once in a lifetime experience. We could always go onto see The Colosseum later that day, so we waited at the ... read more

Chapter 4: At the Pope’s Joint Up for breakfast, once more a delight and straight to Piazza san Pietro by bus No.40, a fairly pleasant way to travel. Within 15 minutes they arrived at the famous St.Peter’s square and once more Rome didn’t let them down. A vast piazza opens up with columned arches drawing the people in and at the far end of the square, St.Peter’s Basilica where the Pope greets the crowds.(It was his day off today, though didn’t prevent a huge mass of people from gathering). St.Peter’s Basilica built on the tomb of St.Peter by Constantine and decorated by Michael Angelo and Bernini holds 60,00 people. Tourist site 7: St. Peter’s Basilica History: The Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano is the most prominent building in the Vatican and provides a focal point ... read more