Today was the big day: the day we made the trek from Florence to our final destination in Italy: Rome.
Our alarms were set for 7:15 and we would be walking to the train station, this time, WITHOUT getting lost.
Well, we woke up, ate breakfast at the hotel, walked out the hotel for the last time and started our journey, in the pouring rain, to the train station.
Alas, we made it to the train station........without getting lost!!!!!!!! Five stars for us!!!
On the train we rode first class, which was immaculate. We had big leather seats and there was no one in the cabin besides us. We got free snacks and a free newspaper to read too.
The ride on the train only took about 2 hours and we got to see more of the beautiful countryside of Italy. We were on the high-speed train and since we were riding in first class they had monitors which told us how fast we were going: 250 km/h (155 mph)!
We arrived in Rome to the train station, got on the metro and got off at the appropriate stop that corresponded with our hotel location. Now the challenge: finding the hotel in the streets of Rome. This should be interesting.
In the directions that the hotel gave us they said to get on a specific bus at the stop right outside of the metro, but because Allison is so good with maps and so scared of the crazy bus system, I found directions before hand on how to get there by walking. What. a. disaster.
We walked about an hour to get to our hotel. The directions were correct and we weren't lost (although we thought we were because we had been walking for so long) but it took us a whole hour, nonstop walking, to get there. When we arrived the receptionist asked how the journey was and we told her about our long walk. She said we had walked about 3 miles and proceeded to look at us like we were crazy, we really were, so I don't blame her.
However, before all of this, the Colosseum, which we had to see today because it'd be closed the rest of the time we were there, was closing at 2 p.m. due to the Pope coming for the Stations of the Cross. Well, after our walk, it was 12:30.
We had an hour and a half to figure out the bus and get to the Colosseum. We could do it.
Quickly, we threw our stuff in our room, talked to the receptionist about how to get to the Colosseum, and got on the correct bus to go.
We did make it before 2 p.m. and we did get to go inside. Apparently it was closing at 4, not 2. We walked around the Colosseum for awhile and took pictures and since we were planning on seeing the Stations of the Cross and wanted good seats, decided to walk across the piazza to the Palantine Gardens and the Roman Forum.
We walked through the entrance and just after us, they closed the gates and weren't letting anyone else in. We were literally the last people let in.
We wandered around the beautiful gardens and then down to the Roman Forum for awhile. As it got later in the day we decided it would be a good idea to stake out our spot so we had a good view of the Pope for later on that night.
By the time we had got down to where he was supposed to be there was already people starting to put their stuff down, so we did too. It was 4 p.m., the Stations didn't start until 9: it was going to be a long night.
I sat down and claimed our space while Amanda went to find a store to get dinner and snacks for the night.
Then, after sitting there for 2 hours, the guards told us that everyone needed to be pushed out of the piazza and go through security. Makes sense, but why didn't they tell us that before, instead of us waiting there for 2 hours with this perfect spot and now being put with the people who just arrived ten minutes ago. Needless to say, it was complete chaos: everyone started yelling and flailing their hands in the air.
Eventually everyone was pushed out of the piazza and standing behind these gates waiting to be let back in. Ambulances were trying to cut through the crowd and utility trucks were also trying to get through brining more gates to put around.
Finally, one last truck was let in, by this time, we were around the back of the crowd. Then, we see one man walking behind the very back of the truck, so we followed. When the people in the front saw us doing this, they started yelling again, but hey, it got us pretty much to the front of the line.
We were let in and then we sprinted to the spot we wanted to be. There was only one row of people in front of us. PERFECT. However, we still had three hours until the event even started, which meant we had to stand there for three hours. in one place.
A long three hours it was, but so worth it. The Scouts of Europa handed our candles to every person in the crowd along with a book of the Stations of the Cross to follow along. The candle sticks weren't such a good idea, because with candles, comes fire and that many people standing so close together with their candles lit, meant trouble. No wonder there were thousands of firefighters and medical people walking around everywhere.
After what felt like forever and a day, the Stations finally began. The Pope arrived and began in the Colosseum and then (magically) appeared under the red tent that stood over where we were. To his left was a cross made out of fire and circling him in the air were three doves. They continued to fly around him the whole time he was up there. When he first walked up everyone was screaming and yelling "Viva el Papa." That's what he is referred to in both Italian and Spanish. He talked for a little and then the stations commenced. He stood for about ten minutes of the stations and then sat back in his chair. There was a procession of priests and nuns that walked with a cross throughout the space in the middle of the crowd that was sectioned off, for each station, eventually ending up where the Pope was on the ledge. After the stations finished the Pope stood up again and spoke for awhile and then gave the sea of people a blessing. The ceremony was over and the Pope left.
The ceremony was so beautiful, to be in the presence of the Pope and be able to see him, is one of the greatest blessings. Such a life-changing experience.
By the end of the night our legs were shaking and we could barely walk. Now, it was time to walk to the bus and make our journey back to the hotel.
Well, Allison thinks she knows the Roman public transportation system and we got on a different bus than the one we were supposed to because the right one was taking too long. This led us to getting lost and only having a half hour to figure out a way back before the buses closed completely.
Long story short, we couldn't find our way and the bus driver wasn't helping us either, so we got the nearest taxi and just paid for a taxi home.
After a long day of traveling and standing, we finally laid our heads to sleep at 1:30 a.m.The only sitting we had done for the day was on the train at for 2 hours waiting for the Pope: our feet/legs were about to fall off.
Day 8: I'd do it all again
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