The Smallest Country In The World

Vatican City, I have found my heart between your pillars.

Christmas morning 2007, what a day. I arrived at Rome, Italy for the first time of my life. The first thing that I thought was how fresh the air the is. Aaaah, it felt like I've been holding my breath for years. After enjoying the sight of the Colosseum (which was ah-ma-zing by the way), we went straight to the smallest country of the world, Vatican City. I'm still confused, it's a country but a city, blah blah. But whatever, that's how it is hahaha. Well it is certainly small for a country, it's a country within a city, Rome. But man, nothing can't describe how I felt when I first put step in Vatican City.

As a catholic, it really felt like a spiritual trip for me. Only a few of my family members are christians or catholics, or whatever you call us. We were so excited!

St. Peter's Square - The first photo from ©Flickr.

Firstly, we entered the town square, St. Peter's Square. Yet again, AH-MA-ZING! Wow, I was really stunned. There were huge pillars surrounding the square, and because it was Christmas, it was full of people from all over the world! We had to be careful because I guess it would have been so easy to get lost in between all those people. As we walked across the square, I couldn't stop being amazed by the lovely architecture, it was sooo beautiful. The town square was decorated with fountains and sculptures, just perfect architecture! Michelangelo is certainly a genius.

I was overwhelmed when I first came into St. Peter's Basilica. The largest Roman Catholic Church in the world! Everything was so golden, as far as my eyes saw, all I saw was gold colors all across the hall. The church was filled with beautiful sculptures and statues. The main altar was undeniably breath taking, it was so huge and so beautiful. I learned that the basilica was first meant to the the final resting place for the tomb of St. Peter, and yes, I saw the tomb. Oh this is funny, I was staring at an unfamiliar box everyone was staring at. It had big block letters on it that wrote "St. Peter" or something like, I can't remember exactly. And I thought it looks nice, but I can't understand why people are staring at it. And then a little later, I found out there was a body in it, the corpse of St. Peter. And I suddenly freaked out and walked away. Hahahaha. I was shocked hihihi.

Too bad I missed the Christmas Mass, I was too busy looking around and taking photos. But I didn't missed seeing the Pope though! Pope Benedict XVI. He was really old, he walked sooo slow. Not that it is important, I was just fascinated to see how old the Roman Catholic leader was. Everyone was standing together at the St. Peter's Square waiting to hear a speech from the Pope. And there he was, standing up high on the center balcony of the basilica. He waved, and smiled. He looks so friendly. After delivering a long speech that I didn't understand at all (I think it was in Italian, not sure hmmm), then he gave his blessing to everyone, by saying "Merry Christmas" in 60 languages! And when he said "Selamat hari natal" which is Indonesian, me and my family clapped as hard as possible, we were just so so happy to hear him say that. Everyone in the square was cheering for Pope Benedict, it was really a magical feeling.

Pope Benedict XVI

I felt like home standing there. I might be in the smallest country of world, but I share a wonderful common thing with the hundred thousands of people there. We shared the joy of Christmas and the liberty of enjoying the most beautiful scenery of the roman catholic history. Even though we were all strangers and came from different sides of the world, we were one. it was really the best Christmas day in my life so far. I couldn't ask for anything better.


Do you travel? Tell me about your favorite travel experience! :)