ROME!
Just after I had the Camino idea, my mom asked Michael and I to go to Rome. Actually, she asked me if I would plan the trip and act as tour guide. You see, it has been on her bucket list for over 20 years, and now she wanted to make it a priority before her health declines. Knowing that trip planning is overwhelming and that I do that for our ministry all the time, Michael and I cleared another two weeks on our calendar and I started researching details.
Although our trip to Rome was just one month after our pilgrimage on the Camino, the two were completely different! In Spain, we walked with backpacks and slept in bunkbeds in quaint mountain villages. In Rome, we were sightseeing in a bustling modern city with an ancient heritage. Our favorite experiences were the Scavi tour under St. Peter’s Basilica, the amazing food, and our day-trip to Assisi. The Scavi tour allowed us to go beneath Vatican City to see the necropolis and the actual bones of St. Peter. All of our meals were amazing and Assisi was a peaceful break from the crowds. It was awesome to walk through St. Francis’ hometown and places where the Saint actually prayed on retreat. We are so thankful for the ability to say yes when both of these pilgrimage opportunities arose. They will be cherished memories for us and have invigorated our faith.
