Craig's blog

This morning we got up early as usual, ate breakfast and then boarded the bus to drop the choir at a university where they are rehearsing with a couple of other choirs in preparation for the mass and gala.

Then the “adults” were bussed to Castle St. Angelo which was quite interesting.  We toured there and climbed to the top where you get a great view of the vast expanse of Rome and have a straight on view of the Vatican and St. Peter’s.  In fact, there is a raised walkway (ancient Roman aqueduct) that was used so the pope could get from the Vatican to the castle when under attack.

We then set out on foot following our guide, Francesca.  We weren’t sure where we were walking and eventually we all got tired and hungry.  We eventually went to a restaurant that Francesca had called and sat down.  It turned into quite the lunch, taking 2 hours and costing a lot because the other end of our table ordered lots of bottles of wine.  The food was good – salads and pasta.  I had eggplant parmesan.

We then walked to the Pantheon, where we met the choir.  The Pantheon was amazing, particularly the huge domed ceiling that is original from the second century and is one gigantic piece of concrete.  It looks perfect – like it was poured yesterday.  Amazing.

We walked some more, then were bussed to Castle Gandolfo which is the pope’s summer retreat.  It sits right above a pretty lake.  We walked to a dinner place where Elena insisted that the choir be very quiet to save their voices.  Quickly it was decided that they were to be completely silent, which they were.  Only the adults were talking – which I thought wasn’t quite fair, but at any rate, it was impressive and soothing to not have the roar of 75 people talking in a small, concrete room.

Finally, we walked out to the top of the hill where the outside concert was to take place at 9:15.  It was setup around the steps to a church.  However, there was a strong wind coming up the street which made it so that it would be very difficult to hear (and somewhat cold).  A few of us worked on moving to a slightly different location where the wind would be a little more blocked. The concert got started around 9:25.  The kids did well, under poor conditions (as did Cassie playing the electric piano with her husband holding the music).

We got back to the hotel at 11:30.  Another long day.