Once we worked our way around the outside of the Basilica to the level underneath it both got cooler and moved quite nicely. Many different Popes are buried down there.
John Paul's grave is very simple,
probably because they anticipate his being raised to "Blessed" status soon. He would then be moved upstairs and placed under one of the many altars.
I'm just sorry that we didn't know about the Scavi tour then.
It was almost noon when we emerged so we decided to get some lunch before deciding what to do next. Just as we emerged from the Portico into the daylight a gun boomed (the "noon gun", I suppose--or was it the Angelus gun?) and a large audience clapped--the Piazza was filled with pilgrims looking to our left. We had emerged just in time for the Sunday Angelus.
So we rushed down into the crowd and tried to find a spot where we could see the Pope.
That tiny white speck in the open window is him.
After receiving our Papal Blessing, we went back into the Basilica and attended Mass at a side altar. We then sought out a restaurant in the vicinity. Our waitress was a Filipina. We noticed that we were half-way to Castel Sant'Angelo so we decided to visit there.
After thoroughly enjoying this,
we walked along the Tiber for awhile,
then crossed over, walked up the Via del Corso, gawking at the upscale stores along the way. We ended up at the Spanish Steps (for the last time, sigh). We boarded the Metro, changed at Termini and ended up at Metro Garbatella, our home stop. Momma's notes, which I have been relying on throughout the travelogue posts, ends here.
As was our custom, we ended our day at Il Ristorante Cinese, our favourite Italian restaurant. We said good-bye to the staff and "Momma", the proprietress, posed with us for a picture:
We finished packing that night. Tomorrow Arrivederci Roma.
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