Sunday mass at St. Peters & sight-seeing
Today was another busy day for the phenomenal Gunn choir. We began with a relatively late (for us) start, waking at 8:00 and leaving the hotel at 10:00 AM to arrive at St Peter's Basilica (plenty of info here) for the 12:00 mass. After standing in line to get through security and into the cathedral (alas, we had hoped that the choir's status as guests might have short-circuited security; but no such luck) the choir took its place to the north of the apse, where they provided the stirring and solemn musical portions of mass. The Alleluia entrance was especially moving. The mass was attended by a mix of visitors to St. Peter's from all over the world, and at the end of the service the choir was credited and exited in stately fashion down the main aisle. It was a terrific experience, and several family members were able to be in Italy for the service.
After the mass was over and a quick change into street clothes, the afternoon was free for sight-seeing and shopping in the neighborhood of the famous Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. The Rome weather we've been experiencing (HOT but sunny) held true, and several dozen gallons of bottled water (not to mention quite a few gelato) were dispatched by the hot but enthusiastic kids & chaperones. Dinner was again at a restaurant able to handle 125 dinners at the same time, a Sicilian operation that served pasta, veal & tiramisu (with some vegetarian entrees provided upon request). Tonight we've wound up fairly early, coming back to the hotel around 9PM for an early to-bed, resting from our time in Rome.
Tomorrow morning we depart by bus for Montecatini Terme, with a stop along the way to see the monastery of St. Francis of Assisi (of regional interest to Bay Area residents, as our city of San Francisco is named after this saint). The next couple of days will be sight-seeing & lots of rehearsal to begin preparation for the Mozart mass next weekend.
The combined photographers are pooling their photos of today's events, to be posted later here and at Don's page (here). As most of tomorrow will be spent on the road and I'm not sure of the internet status at our next hotel, it may be a bit of time until I can update. In the meantime, the choir will be having a great time!
After the mass was over and a quick change into street clothes, the afternoon was free for sight-seeing and shopping in the neighborhood of the famous Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. The Rome weather we've been experiencing (HOT but sunny) held true, and several dozen gallons of bottled water (not to mention quite a few gelato) were dispatched by the hot but enthusiastic kids & chaperones. Dinner was again at a restaurant able to handle 125 dinners at the same time, a Sicilian operation that served pasta, veal & tiramisu (with some vegetarian entrees provided upon request). Tonight we've wound up fairly early, coming back to the hotel around 9PM for an early to-bed, resting from our time in Rome.
Tomorrow morning we depart by bus for Montecatini Terme, with a stop along the way to see the monastery of St. Francis of Assisi (of regional interest to Bay Area residents, as our city of San Francisco is named after this saint). The next couple of days will be sight-seeing & lots of rehearsal to begin preparation for the Mozart mass next weekend.
The combined photographers are pooling their photos of today's events, to be posted later here and at Don's page (here). As most of tomorrow will be spent on the road and I'm not sure of the internet status at our next hotel, it may be a bit of time until I can update. In the meantime, the choir will be having a great time!
posted by Glen at 3:15 PM
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