Buona Pasqua!

I know this post is long after Easter, but I figured it’s important enough to still write about it.

For Easter Sunday we decided to go to the Easter mass at the Vatican. I mean, how many times will you be in Rome on Easter Sunday? My flight from Paris didn’t get in until late Saturday night, and I didn’t get back to my apartment until almost 1 am. The mass began around 10 am, and we planned to get there around 8 am, meaning I got a very limited amount of sleep.

So I wake up Sunday morning after 8 am. Apparently the time changed, and I had no clue. I didn’t even think Italy did daylight savings. And I don’t know why it’s weeks after the US either since we’re in the same hemisphere.

So after that panic of waking up late I had to get ready quite quickly. Luckily the Vatican is walking distance so we got there around 9:30 am or so. There were so many people! There might have been more people than when I was there for the election, but it wasn’t as chaotic. And St. Peter’s was decorated with flowers at the altar.

We got a decent spot, still in the square but a little farther back. And it was a beautiful sunny day! It was a very traditional service, and basically all in Italian, so for the most part I had no idea what they were saying. Some parts they had translators, but usually only for the Bible verses. It was your typical over 2-hour mass. And when you’re standing the whole time, it seems much longer. And when the children behind you keep hitting you and their parents not doing anything about it; that makes it even longer. I don’t know why you would take your young children. Little Mario did not make me happy. Especially when he was playing video games during the silent prayers. Let’s just say, if it wasn’t Easter and if I didn’t have a conscious, little Mario would have been kicked back. Very hard.

Okay sorry to ruin the spirit of Easter, but that was how my morning went. But it was a beautiful service, if only I could understand it. And it was nice to see the Pope again. We should just be friends now. Once the service was over he rode around the square in the Pope-mobile! I was really excited. There was a path aligned throughout the crowd, and we were right by one of the barricades! He stood on top of this jeep thing and went all around the crowd. I was surprised because he wasn’t even in a bulletproof case or anything with protection. He was just there. I definitely give him props. He seems so cool.

The jeep actually was driving kind of fast, and I could his head speeding through the crowds. They were also projecting everything on the screens. He got closer and closer, and everyone was anticipating when he would turn our corner. I could see him coming, and I wanted to take a picture and a video, since we were so close! I got both my camera and my phone ready, but it just did not happen. When he passed he faced our side for like 3 seconds so I couldn’t get a picture of his face, and then my video started after he passed. So that was a bummer. But I was like 5 feet away from Papa Francesco! It was awesome! It was definitely worth the wait, and even enduring little Mario.

The best picture I could get.

 The Pope was even kissing babies as the passed through as people would literally lift their babies up to him. He even blessed a disabled boy, and it almost moved me to tears.  After he rode around he gave a blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s. It lasted about 20 minutes or less. And then it was all over. Everyone was in Easter spirits, so it was nice.

Leaving the Vatican wasn’t as crazy as I expected, and we got out without any problems. Not compared to when I left during the election. We ate at a local restaurant as the crowd died down, and I got spaghetti for the first time since I’ve been in Rome. I don’t know why it took me so long. But it was really good! I really want some meatballs, but I really don’t think that’s a thing here.  I basically did nothing the rest of the day because I was still jet-lagged.

Spaghetti

The Monday after Easter is a holiday known as Pasquetta, where Easter Sunday is Pasqua. Typically families go and have a picnic and still celebrate. It was a really nice day, but I needed a rest from the whole crazy week of Spring Break, so I’m glad we had that holiday. The only thing I did was go to the grocery store, because I had no food. Chocolate eggs are a popular thing around Easter time, and they sell them everywhere. They can be small, to almost big 20 pound eggs! I’ve seen some huge ones! And if they’re handmade they’re decorated all nice. But they can get really pricey. I saw one egg for almost 80 euro, which is over 100 dollars. I bought a medium-sized one for 2 euro at the grocery store. It even had a surprise inside, which was a little toy gun. But it was tasty! And it took me about 3 days to finish.

Of course through all the eggs I couldn’t forget the real reason for Easter. Jesus of course! I’m so blessed to be experiencing so much. I know I keep saying this, but I really am so thankful for all of these things happening in my life.