Vatican City

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Our morning began with a delicious and generous breakfast at our B&B. We then hiked our way to the far side of Vatican City to meet our tour group. Again we had a delightful experience listening to the history, artwork, and architectural features inside the Vatican museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. We learned much about the different Popes and how Michaelangelo and Raphael contributed to the overwhelming beauty of the walls and ceilings. We were able to see all of the legendary paintings and famous sculptures. God creating man (touching fingers), the Sistine ceiling, the Day of Judgement, the Last Supper, a Tapestry of the Day of Resurrection, and the famous Pieta sculpture are just a few of the many works of art we saw together. St. Peter's was everything and more than we hoped it would be. You just can't imagine the impressive size and grandeur of everything. We saw the tomb of Pope John Paul II and many other popes inside. The chancel and altar were incredible! The letters up near the ceiling were 9 feet high. I could go on and on. We then hung around St. Peter's square, ate a sandwich, mailed 3 postcards from the vatican state, shopped, and spoke with the Swiss Guard - very cool. At 3:30 we went on a private tour of the necropolis underneath the Basilica. This scavi or "diggings" first began in 1940 to learn more about the graves and mosoleums underneath St. Peter's. They found the burial chamber of Peter himself and what is believed to be his bones under the old altar of Contantine's Basilica. I am a believer that Peter was in fact buried there. The excavations were stopped in 1949. In another section under the Basilica we saw many popes and chapels. After that we went inside a gift shop near the front door of St. Peter's. Janine encouraged me to buy a pectoral cross - so I bought two. I also bought two more for Andrew and Katherine. We went through the Basilica a 2nd time and enjoyed it even more than the first. It was a long walk home, but savored the goosebumps and aftereffects we felt from this day. We ate another impressive dinner, shared a bottle of wine, and watched the locals laugh and enjoy a real Italian dinner. Lot's of blessings today. Thank you Christ Jesus. Amen.

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Comments

[Katherine Laveck]

Just got caught up
I've just now taken time to catch up on all the blogging. As I read through the adventures in Rome, I could picture it all again. I spent 3 days there several years ago when I went for my sister's wedding. I wish I had had more time in the city - spent most of my time in & around St. Peter's. The incredible hugeness of the space was overwhelming to me. We, too, got to go into the under-croft, to worship in one of the small chapels. The artwork on the walls down there was also amazing. I can't wait to hear all the stories and see the pictures. You are missed, but we are all so exciting that you are able to travel, learn, grow and rest. I ended up with some of your "volunteer" tomato plants. They are producing, but not quite ripe enough to harvest and eat. Soon. Thanks for taking the time to blog. I won't wait so long to check for entries. See you in a couple of months. Katherine

[Pastor Webb]

Thanks for the Blog Comment
Hey. I hope you and Bob are doing well. It was fun to read your comment on my blog. I will be back soon...the question is will I finish completing my honey-do list before I don the clerical shirt again. Can't wait to catch up with you soon!