Easter Mass at the Vatican

Shuffling in for mass in Vatican City (photo by TravellingFool.com)

We had another late night last night which made this morning, Easter, rather painful. I was the last to rise and as such left HT and Joe waiting. I put on the only nicer clothes I brought and we headed to breakfast.

After eating another delicious pastry - chocolate this time - we parted ways. HT and Joe went off to the subway while I headed to my tour bus. The plan originally was to meet at the Vatican and enjoy mass together but due to my poor sense of direction I ended up walking an extra 40 minutes and then the bus was late. By the time I arrived at Vatican city mass was getting ready to start. I stood and I listened, annoyed by all of the people who wouldn't stop talking since it made it difficult to hear.

When mass was over I began to head out since I wasn't interested in listening to the pope's speech which was in Italian or Latin. I headed out in search of a place to sit - standing for 3hrs is rough - and to look for a book for Denise. Turns out the pickings were slim on the book front so I simply found a place to sit where the tour buses go. I found my bus was going to a different area so I quickly walked there in hopes of picking it up. As I sat and waited I kept an eye out for Joe and HT. I sat on the corner for about two hours thinking of how to get home. I saw the regular public bus went back to Termini so I waited for the massive waves of people to diminish before boarding.

I made my way back to Termini and got a little lost. Not wanting to end up next to the Colosseum again I took my time and found my bearings. When I got to the hostel I didn't see HT or Joe so I wasn't sure if they had gone somewhere or were there and I was starving. I headed back towards a sidewalk cafe, trying to find Alfredo along the way, and ended up with fresh tomato pasta. It was so good and tasted homemade. After eating I made my way back to the hostel again to try and pick up the wifi signal to email the boys when a young couple entered the building door in front of me. I waited for them to enter before grabbing the door just before it shut. I found another door to the courtyard and remembered that we had opened the window for fresh air. I faintly heard Joe's boisterous laugh and said Joe? His face appeared in the window and he demanded to know where I've been.

It turns out the boys were home for 3hrs drinking wine and waiting for me. They also saw me in the crowd at the Vatican today but weren't able to catch me.

So we played taboo and HT decided suddenly to head to the Trevi fountain. I saw it from my bus and with night swiftly approaching I decided to pass. So far I have yet to be in a town that I wasn't scared to walk in at night alone. Although I'm always with the boys they walk much faster then I do so I spend all of our time on foot 50meters or so behind them. It only exacerbates my anxiety and in Amsterdam nearly gave me a panic attack. So I passed and since they took the only keys with them, I'm here waiting so I can get some dinner.