Today was a challenge. Good, but a challenge.
Our group started the day with a visit to the center of the Vatican media operations. We spoke with Alessandro Gisotti (social media), Charlotte Smeds (Instagram,) and Roberto Romolo (international relations and broadcast.) They explained their mission of spreading the message of the gospel through the Vatican News channels to people all over the world. It was interesting to hear how everyone who works on contract with the Vatican must provide several documents proving their status as a Catholic. Papers such as baptism and confirmation certificates, a letter of recommendation from a priest, and if you have kids, proof of their baptisms.
It is really interesting but also unsettling to me how little of an ethical code Italian journalists seem to have, over the last two days I have realized just how different American media is. Let’s just say I’m glad to live in the country that I do.
After the media visit, we had lunch at Satricus where I waited 30 minutes for a very American-ized pepperoni pizza and discovered the disgrace that is a “service charge.” Italy, please accept separate checks, I beg you.
Then it was on to the Vatican. We took a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. The rain was flooding down from the sky and it was incredibly crowded (I love being stepped on incessantly) but everything we saw was breathtaking.
To be completely honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of the pageantry of the Catholic Church (and I was a practicing Catholic for the first half of my life) and the Vatican was such a prominent display of wealth and pageantry that I was honestly a bit uncomfortable. Christianity is supposed to be a religion of love and sacrifice and I did not get that feeling in Vatican City. Still visually stunning though.
After our long day at the Vatican, we attempted to catch a bus to our hostel but our guide accidentally led us to the bus going the wrong direction so we ended up taking three different modes of public transit back to our hotel which took about an hour and a half. My feet were so tired.
After a brief break to lament our wet and tired state, Em, Carrie, Emily and I went to Pizzeria Ai Marmi and I got what us Americans would call a white pizza with zucchini flowers and the best red wine I’ve ever had. 
Today was long and tiring but I just keep reminding myself that I may never be in Rome again and I need to actively savor these days, no matter how challenging they may be.