When I went to Rome in 2008, I managed to attend a General Audience with the Holy Father, at that time Pope Benedict XVI. It was a one in a lifetime chance to pray with and receive blessings from the Holy Father, or so I thought. I barely saw him. He was a white speck […]
Rome: Relics, Churches, and Gelato
When I got back to Rome after visiting Ostia Antica it was late afternoon. I spent the remaining daytime walking in and out of random churches. Everything was so awe-inspiring. I wished I had more time. My last full day in Rome was a Sunday. So I went to Mass at Santa Susanna, the American […]
Day Trip to Ostia Antica
After 5 days in Rome, I decided to leave the city and see a different part of Italy. Alas time and my pocket-book would not permit a trip to Florence, Pompeii, nor Venice, so I decided to go to Ostia Antica, the harbour city of ancient Rome. Ostia Antica is a large archaeological and […]
Confession in Rome
“Father, it has been eleven years.” I had thought about going to confession in Rome but didn’t actually plan on doing it. I have been to confession only on 3 occasions – my Communion, my Confirmation, and another random time. I know being shy is not an excuse not to go to confession at least […]
Borghese Gallery and Stumbling Upon Sights in Rome
After leaving the serene atmosphere of the Vatican necropolis, I joined the bustling crowds on earth above, cooled myself with gelato, and boarded the electric bus (116) to the Borghese Gallery. The bus passed through Campo de’Fiori and as I had enough time to spare before my reservation at Borghese, I got off the bus […]
Scavi Tour
Finally, the day of the tour that brought me to Rome had arrived. The Scavi Tour! I had planned to climb the Doumo of St. Peter’s Basilica before my Scavi Tour but that required waking up very early but I was spent and my butt muscles ached at the thought of climbing 300+ steps for […]
… and Air One/United is no better
I really should stick to known airlines. I had never ever heard of AirOne when I booked my flights to Rome but I decided to give them a try (or maybe I was being cheap). But I did read up on them, and before I booked my ticket, I knew that Air One was a […]
An Audience with the Pope
General audiences with His Holiness are held on Wednesdays around 10:30 am in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Hall of the Papal Audiences, St. Peter’s Square, or the Pope’s summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. Tickets are free and can be received by writing to the Prefecture of the Papal Household. I got mine from the Church […]
Day at the Vatican
I spent most of my second day in Rome not in Rome but rather in the sovereign state of the Vatican. I had booked a tour with Through Eternity to visit the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. I could have braved the museum and St. Peter’s with my travel guide, or with the Vatican’s […]
Grievances against Travelocity …
My trip to Rome was pleasant with the exception of one thing – the flights! As previously recounted, I had misadventures with AirOne/United and I know now to be leery of AirOne. But Travelocity itself is not without fault. I find it ironic that the Travelocity Guarantee states ” Everything about your booking will be […]
A lover of mangoes. A woman - smart, without pretense, lefthanded, Afropolitan - navigating this thing called life. An unapologetic believer in social justice and karma. Choosing to radiate positive energy and be true to myself. Here, my musings.