The Vatican and the Eternal City of Rome!
I have always wanted to experience the grandeur of Rome and the Vatican during the Christmas season…including attending Christmas Eve mass with the Pope.
So while researching options for this bucket-list adventure to the Eternal City, I found that anyone wishing to attend Christmas Eve mass is welcome (free of charge) to stand outside in St Peter’s Square and watch the mass on the Jumbo-trons (St Peter’s Sq holds approximately 90,000 to 130,000 people — hard to get exact numbers because many sources have different ways of calculating this information) …however, a select few (approx. 3 to 4 thousand) can gain admission inside the Vatican (the world’s largest Christian church) and experience the pomp and circumstance first hand with the Pontiff and receive holy communion.
So in early October (rather late for asking for a seat at the alter — if I may:) , I wrote to the Vatican to request a ticket for the Midnight Mass (actually held at 10:00pm because of the Pope’s age and endurance). My odds of securing this special ticket/pass were not good and understandably so, with so many people traveling from across the globe to attend this holy event and for a chance to meet or see the “85″ year old leader of the Holy See – BUT, (drum roll please) four weeks later I received one of a few thousand golden (green) tickets to experience Christmas Eve mass inside the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI….hip-hip “” !!
Ticket for Midnight Mass at the Vatican (St Peter’s in the background)
With a Pope pass in-hand, a plane flight that only takes 1 hour and 25 minutes from Paris and all the pizza, pasta and prosecco one can handle, waiting for me…I was all set to reunite with one of the world’s most historic and dynamic cities….Rome, Italy.
Here are just a few highlights of my trip:
Day of arrival, I needed to pick up my ticket (pass) for entry into the Vatican for Midnight Mass. Tickets were monitored and given out by the Pope’s private security team — the Swiss Guards (equivalent to the Secret Service).
Needed to arrive 3 hours prior to start of Mass to be guaranteed a seat (otherwise you could end up standing for the 3+ hour mass).
The line for mass grew quickly in St Peter’s Square. An incredibly large Living Nativity Scene is created in the square (located in the replica barn with the blue light). The picture may be too dark to tell, but the line for entry has thousands of people in it and is circling St Peter’s Square numerous times.
Inside the dramatic St Peter’s Basilica waiting for the Pope and Mass to begin (thousands are seated).
Pope Benedict XVI arrives with great fanfare.
After Mass, Pope Benedict made sure to say goodbye to me before leaving!
Now for the sights, food and history of Rome!
The Beautiful Pantheon — still has the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. The Pantheon is still an active church.
Trevi Fountain
Fontana di Trevi by night
Piazza Navona
“Fountain with Four Rivers”, in the heart of Piazza Navona
Ponte Sant’ Angelo and Castel Sant’ Angelo
Capitoline Hill….along with Italy’s unknown solider memorial guard.
A night time view of the Spanish Steps from Rome’s 5th Avenue — Via Condotti
Afternoon view of the Spanish Steps
Standing at the top of the Spanish Steps (at dusk) looking towards the Vatican (St Peter’s dome is back left).
The Colosseum
The Colosseum…construction started in 72 AD and completed in 80 AD.
Gladiator games, public speeches, executions and hunting games all took center stage in this 50,000 seat venue.
My new friends….
I’m still waiting to hear if my audition was a success!!
One of many Archeological digs ongoing in Rome.
One of Rome’s mythical stories is that a she-wolf fed the twins Romulus and Remus –
In the end, Romulus killed his brother Remus and Rome was named.
It is said that espresso is Italy’s drink of choice…with trattorias (or caffè) on every corner for the simple act of walking up, grabbing a quick or social espresso and sweet treat (cookie, piece of tiramisu, etc), then get back to life.
I enjoyed this very comforting and communal activity…you really felt assimilated into the culture by participating in this casual act of Italian life.
Here I’m chatting with Ilaria (barista) and two new friends (Sabina and Rosaria) who stopped in for a quick espresso (for energy) before they continued shopping the boutiques.
My decaf espresso and delicious almond/pistachio cookie
Pizza – Italy’s Pride and the world’s Joy!
In Italy you pay by the size (weight) of your pizza slice…the server will suggest an initial size and you will simply point or say — grande (bigger) or piccola (smaller)!
Your individual piece is cut, placed back in the oven (if you would like hotter), then cut-in-two and put together like a sandwich…perfect, crunchy crust–tangy/sweet pomodoro sauce! A slice of heaven has been created in minutes.
There is a strong case to be made that there are as many types of pasta as there are saints in Italy!
When in the pasta capital of the world — Who could pass up a mouth watering rigatoni arrabbiato (spicy tomato sauce), a bold Chianti and people watching by the Spanish steps….not I !
Rich, creamy, extremely flavorful, it must be Gelato — Did someone say Dessert?!
Leave a Reply