My Christmas in Italy

Just got back from my Italy trip. It was tiring but an adventure nonetheless. Met a lot of new people along the way. Strangers at first but our common love for travelling and the fact that we are living (in Europe) away from the people we love made us friends right away. Specially at a time where you should be with family, Christmas.

Christmas wasn't all that bad. Aside from the drama of missing being away from my family and being torchured by seeing families during the season, I was having the time of my life.

I started in Rome. Stayed there for 5 days. In hindsight, I should have tried taking a train somewhere else since 5 days was too much for Rome. The highlight was seeing the Pope and attending the Christmas Eve mass INSIDE the St. Peter's Basilica. How awesome it that? Thanks to P, for getting me in. The experience was so surreal, words cannot explain. Also followed the Angels and Demons trail which made me feel like Robert Langdon. I Spent 2 days with the merchants of Venice and made an impromptu day trip to the land of  Romeo and Giulietta in fair Verona. I missed out on Pisa and Florence. I should do that next time.

Spent a few hours in Brussels. Checked out the peeing statue and had my hair cut. I have yet to taste Belgian chocolate and drink Belgian beer. Maybe next time.

Blog Traffic because of Veronika Decides to Die

I just noticed that people have been landing to my blog because of my post about Veronika Decides to Die. Sorry guys to disappoint you because I do NOT have any links to its OST.

Just like you, I am a fan of the book, SMG and the upcoming movie. Nothing more.

Roma

Im spending Christmas here in Rome. In a few hours I will be seated inside St. Peters Basilica for the Christmas Mass. I feel so blessed and lucky to be able to get that chance to be in His Holinesss presence. First it was Notre Dame in Paris, now this. It couldnt be any better than this. Though Im so sad that Ill be so far away from my family and loved ones this Christmas, Im still happy to be here. Only if I can be in two places at once, Id be the happiest ever.

Prayer Time

Just something to ponder on.

If we do not want to hear what God is saying to us through the people and situations in our life, we can so easily rationalise and reject the bearer’s frailty and in the process reject the Gospel as well - which is actually quite illogical. "A priest shouted at me in confession so I don’t go to church any more." It would be like rejecting democracy because of the corruption of a democratically elected official.

http://sacredspace.ie/livingspace/a1026g/