Smallest Country in the World: Travel Writing

Vatican City: the smallest country in the world, population 800, 0.2 square miles in size, home of the Pope and religious capital of Catholics. The walk up to Vatican City from Rome is almost fairytale perfect. White statues line the one entrance to Saint Peters Square on either side portraying the Stations of the Cross then hundreds of columns make up the barrier dividing Rome from Vatican City. The moment you pass through the barrier you see a huge statue in the center with fountains on either side and hundreds of hand carved statues on top of the barriers conveying the faces of all important saints, apostles, and other religious figures. Chairs filled Saint Peters Square in preparation for Palm Sunday mass and two huge screens to show the popes mass to those not close enough to view him face to face.

But almost just as magnificent as the outer façade was what lay underneath Saint Peter’s Basilica: the scavi. Beneath the basilica were ancient mausoleums that had been uncovered; it was described as a separate town for the dead. As you walked down the flight of stairs underground the temperature got very cool and humid, to correctly preserve the ruins. I felt a little bit like a spy because of the controlled temperatures, dark atmosphere, and automatic glass doors that slid open the moment you were about to walk through them, not to mention the red lasers beams that were in some of the rooms to ensure nothing was touched.

There was such a sense of serenity and peacefulness whether it be the perfectly controlled temperature or the silence, probably a combination of the two. The tour guide spoke in a soft rhythmic tone; just enough to keep you listening but still stay completely peaceful. She didn’t say much, the story almost told itself in the paintings, tiles, bricks, and urns that had so perfectly been home to the dead years ago. It seemed a bit morbid initially to have such a haven for dead bodies, even to the point where they had holes in the caskets to be able to pour liquids to let them drink. But, it was their beliefs and part of their customs and to be able to witness the area where these events took place hundreds of years after the fact gave me goose bumps.

From the scavi I climbed up another flight of stairs and found myself in the middle of Saint Peters Basilica, the most massive Catholic Church in the world. It almost seemed too big to be a church, there were numerous altars, my eyes didn’t even know where to look. It went from peaceful serenity underground to complete and utter amazement beyond words to the ornate design of this massive structure that so many travel halfway around the world to step foot in. I didn’t even know where to begin the silence was filled now with cameras snapping, flashes, people crying, people praying out loud, people chatting about the ceiling paintings, it was chaotic I needed to step back and remove myself from the noise to focus on the amazement. So, I lit a candle and said a prayer for my Dad. At the time all I could think about was how amazed he would be at this place. As we walked back outside I couldn’t help but think about the differing feelings from the scavi to the basilica resonating within me- peacefulness to chaotic amazement. I almost wished I could enter the basilica at 2am alone when no one else was crowding the room trying to capture the moment on film or read in their guidebooks which painting was by who. I wished I could go back and sit in silence with no one around and appreciate the grandeur of the building everyone in my faith has talked about for years. I feel so grateful to have been able to visit, but I think I more appreciated the scavi for it’s peaceful and quiet depiction of religious history.

Travel Writing: Luxembourg Brings Laughter

Since arriving in Belgium seven months ago, I have constantly suggested a weekend day trip to Luxembourg, one of the smallest countries in the world. I knew it was the land of greenery and bridges, picturesque for photo taking and a beautiful day. It was in fact the perfect day, 70 and sunny, but what most excited me about our day trip yesterday was not any view or picture in specific, but the overall experience, conversation, and laughter shared with some of my best friends. People I perhaps wouldn’t have had the pleasure to get so close with had I not been abroad, but now cannot imagine my life without.

I intended on writing about the trip, but that’s so generic and kind of what I always write about so I will rest my case in saying Luxembourg was amazing, pictures are attached below and I would suggest anyone who is in train distance to go for the day, it was worth it. Instead, I would like to write about the individuals who were with me yesterday, the ones who have affected me so strongly the past few months. Is it funny that I have made such strong bonds in such a short time? Not at all, the experiences we have gone through have surpassed years. The challenges of traveling: this includes but is not limited to, bad food, getting lost, dirty hostels, language barriers, delayed train rides, sleeping in buses, homesickness, not being able to shower and being over exhausted. These trying times bring you closer together, but also those magnificent moments like sunsets, the taste of a foreign food or beverage and the wow factor of a monument you have only seen in pictures but are now standing directly underneath. There were six of us yesterday: myself, Maggie, Peter, Dan, Duke, and Justin. Each personality is so unique but together we make such a great group. I laugh so hard when I with them.

I’ll start with Maggie she is a sweet, genuine, down to earth, tell you what you need to hear not what you want to hear, makes you work to gain your trust but once you’ve earned it she’d trust you with her life kind of friend. The kind you could call if you were stranded on the side of the road at 3 o’clock in the morning and needed someone to pick you up and wouldn’t whine about it. In fact, she would pick you up with a cup of coffee waiting in the car for you ready to hear the whole story of what happened. She knows the inner most workings that compromise me of who I am. She constantly praises me for my strength, willingness to help others, and activeness in the community but allows me, when need be, to run to her with a vulnerability or issue.

Peter, Maggie’s boyfriend, would do anything for me as well, including saving me from a burning building, literally. He is a fire fighter, EMT, and marine, three things I greatly respect about him. I feel very safe with him in my presence and he is the best listener. One of those friends you start off talking about what you’re having for dinner tonight and an hour later just walk out of a very deep, yet motivating conversation that was completely unplanned. When I’ve been sick he’s made the doctors appointment, picked up the soda and ice pops, and made sure I was staying hydrated and medicated. That’s a combination of the training he’s had but the strength of his friendship as well.

The truly comical individual though is Justin. One of the wittiest individuals I have encountered, he is like my older brother. He makes fun of me like it’s his job, but also looks out for me like it’s his job as well. I admire him for his novel writing, hunger to be a voice actor, and courage to join a football team in a foreign country. Justin doesn’t have friends, he only has best friends, and seriously he is really a best friend. He doesn’t only remember your birthday but makes you your favorite dinner and picks up the most delicious chocolate cake in the world.

Duke and Justin play on the same football team, Duke too is hysterical and jokes around with me often. I knew Duke prior to this experience, he was one of the first people I met at college. From early on he had such high respect for me, he constantly praises my ability to sew a button on his shirt, get out a stain, make a home cooked meal, correct a paper, or give “motherly” advice. While he does come around for these favors often, he repays them ten fold with his almost cliché, but very kind gentlemanliness and is always looking out for my safety.

Last but not least is Dan, like all the other guys loves to make fun of me, whether it be for my poor sense of direction, a word I made up, or some incidental and innocent sexual innuendo that slipped out of my mouth unknowingly at dinner conversation, but he always follows up making fun of me with one of those “oh common, I didn’t mean it smiles.” I’ve never met anyone who had a qualm with Dan, he is just like your All American Guy; parades around Leuven, Belgium in his Levi’s and flannel shirt.

There was a moment yesterday walking past the Adolphi Bridge at sunset in Luxembourg where all six of us were hysterical laughing at peter the paparazzi man. He was taking photos of the sunset at every angle, while Justin, Duke and Dan mocked him by taking photos of him. Meanwhile, Maggie and I were posing the whole time thinking they were taking photos of us. At that moment, I didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world except in Luxembourg with six of my best friends.