Day 5- Church and The Pope

Today we went to church on the college grounds. It was actually really handy because at quarter of 10 the bells started ringing and I started running around finding shoes and ran out the door to mass, just really a few steps down the hall and up a flight. Very convenient. However, it did feel a little weird being the only spot of color in a sea of black clerics. We sat in the back and I couldn't help but think that we were in some sci-fi movie and had been invaded by some strange people. Men, actually. Just a man invasion. So, ya, that was weird.

Then, to the Pope! Because we were walking with all the seminarians we saw lots of people standing by with their Iphones pointing at us in the bus tunnel and on the streets. They must have thought it was an invasion too.  We walked to St. Peter's Square and gathered thousands of other people waiting in the blistering sun to hear the noonday Angelus and address. No, no pictures today. We couldn't see much of him anyway. He was just a couple centimeters high in the top window. Of what was said in Italian, I picked out that Jesus is the door to heaven. In case you wanted a synopsis. That probably covered it, I'm sure.

Desperate for some food we headed out into the crowd in no particular direction for food. Every other time we walked we passed by a ton of food places. Go figure, when we're starving in the heat of the afternoon with no water we walk right into the high end fashion street. We could have bought some swimsuits for 85 Euros, plenty of ties, and gotten our hair cut...but no food! We couldn't believe it. So, not quite faint yet (fortunately) we went all the way back to the touristy sandwich cart in the middle of St. Peter's Square and bought a bland over-priced ham and cheese "pizza" (it was a panini, really). We shrugged it off and I kept dreaming of one of the awesome sandwiches I saw the night before at a bar for half the price....mmmm roasted red peppers and lots of color :) 

Then we went home and napped. Cooked dinner with some fried potatoes, fried breaded chicken and spinach patties (pre-made and easy!) and carrots. Then after researching strollers for way to long we went back on the town for more exploring. And I remembered my camera this time! See!

My Bella Stella in front of an awesome church.
We stepped in and it was actually just finishing up mass.
It had automatic glass doors, which  was surprising considering its age of construction. 

Trying to figure out where to go.
"Um dad. I think I just wet my pants"

In front of some outside diners

A deserted alley...makes for good running for little legs

A Cellist performing in the Pantheon.
Great acoustics!

After exploring and grabbing gelato we walked back home. By the end of it, there was a small fraile looking gray haired woman who was walking about 10 times faster than me. Of course she didn't have a baby on her back.