The Vatican and...

In 2008 - I was beyond blessed to be able to experience Jerusalem... the West Wall... the Sea of Galilee... the River Jordan... The Church of the Holy Sepulchre... (and so much more.) To walk the paths of Jesus. 

Fast forward almost 4 years to last week - and I'm blessed again to be able to set foot in St Peter's Square, and ultimately... in the Vatican. 

Those who know me really well know that I am not an overly religious person. I do believe, yes... the extent of my church going is taking my children to/from VBS in the summertime. However, there is something so breathtaking.... so revealing about stepping foot inside the majestic cathedrals in Europe. Like your exterior opens up and your soul is bared before God. Walking past the tomb of Pope John Paul.... wow. The way the light bounced off the statues of angels... wow. The ceiling, the altar, the echo of footsteps on the floor... wow. The connection I felt to God, especially here... (I can't even say wow.) It was that breathtaking. 

St Peter's Square was surprising. I expected it to be more enclosed, smaller maybe? The kid in me wanted a huge flock of pigeons so I could run through them and watch them scatter. The biggest welcoming sight upon arriving though was a fountain with which to soak my hat. 90+ degrees, roaming Rome by foot... I was desperate to be cool!

Unfortunately, we didn't make it into the Sistine Chapel, and we skipped the Vatican museum. The prices to get into some places, mixed with the fact that we had small kids with us who wouldn't respect the necessary silence... well - we saw what we could. Which, in my opinion, was more than I ever could have asked for. 

Wow.

The Vatican

A Guard

Pope John Paul's tomb

St Peter's Square (and that cool, WET fountain!)