I'm a tourist not a pilgrim ; )

23/08/11

Wind down, the cathedral and ‘real’ royal palace of Madrid.

Sunday night was the farewell and thank you soccer match between Spain and The World. The Spanish certainly know how to entertain the crowd. We were up dancing and the mc was encouraging the Mexican wave. They also showed the crowd and I finally got on the big screen – we were waving the Aussie flag and I was wearing my Australia shirt and waving the Spanish flag ; ). Spain scored first and the pace wasn’t too fast with the golden oldies. The World evened up the score and were predominantly attacking all second half and took the lead with ten minutes to go. The crowd went wild and we were up on our feet. Go the world!

Monday-we were finally tourist and not pilgrims! So we went to see the sites. The cathedral was very impressive, even the ceiling was decorated and the side chapel was very beautifully decorated with mosaic images of white and gold depicting some Gospel stories.

After some snaps and quiet time I ran into Chrissy and some of the girls in the line up for the royal ‘real’ Palace. Luckily she told me I needed my Wyd pass to get in for free and some other Queenslanders were walking past at the time. It was very extravagant. The ceiling frescos were breathtaking – especially the 3-D effects. The rooms were very opulent and each one in a different colour scheme and theme. One was even completed decorated with porcelain ornaments. The King’s dressing room was bigger than his bedroom and the throne room was very regal. Would hate to have to dust and clean the place though. We also looked at the armoury which had the armour of 2 kings over their lifespan on mannequins displaying it – they were very tiny, smaller than myself and very slightly built.

The pharmacy was also open for viewing and the shelves were stacked high with draws of chemicals and herbs.

We grabbed some ‘spanish’ churros with dipping chocolate – nice but no cinnamon. Did some more souvenir shopping before heading back and attending to my leg dressings. Teresa was great and patched it up for me and then we headed out for dinner to celebrate our last night of the pilgrimage and being in Madrid. We found this really nice part of the city, a square and authentic Spanish restaurant. The amazing thing is one of the other Queensland groups found it too. Ordered a roast lamb for dinner – although it looked more like a turkey hindquarter and a chocolate mousse dessert. There was a film crew filming the restaurant for an American documentary so we may see ourselves on TV some time. The musicians even played the chorus of Waltzing Matilda for us.

After finally packing and squeezing as much as I could into my bags I headed to the airport with the group and grabbed a taxi to my accommodation – only problem he ripped me off – the meter said 16 euro and he made me pay 29 – go figure!

Madness and mayhem in Madrid

21/08/11

An easy morning souvenir shopping followed by the big pilgrimage hike to Cuartro Ventis, madness, mayhem, poor organisation, rain, police blocks, an itchy pussy leg and finally the Papal mass.

Wanted to see some site seeing this morning before heading out for the sleep out so we Teresa and I aimed for the palace and cathedral. On the way their we got caught inbetween a huge police escort of at least 60 police officers – we should have worked out something big was going on. When we got the palace it was closed and at the cathedral there were thousands of people outside and on the opposite hill as Pope Benny was celebrating mass there. On the way back we stopped for some souvenir shopping – I bought some posties, a Enjoy Madrid shirt like coca cola, an apron and bandana maybe, some maracas, a Madrid bag and magnets of course.  

We set off for the pilgrim hike of 8-12 km just after 2. I was debating training it as my ankle is tender but I really wanted to do the hike so I strapped up my ankle. It was hot, some bus stop thermometres flashed 43 degrees – yikes. We cooled down in some garden sprinklers and some Madrid locals had their hoses out in high rises to cool us down too. Had a great chat with Archie along the way – not many 75 year old Archbishops made the trek with their flock. The Irish were most impressed with his efforts. John and I made up a limerick for the Irish form Limerick after they sang us the theme songs from Neighbours and home and Away and Waltling Matilda.

There was an Irish group in Spain,

who thought the long trek was a pain.

The sat under a tree

And met some Aussies

And decided to catch the train.

We were near the head of the Qld contingent and out fatal mistake was trying to go in the back way through gate 3 instead of 1 or 2,, I should have gone with my instinct. We entered the back section and followed the signs to gate 3 but were being held back by police on horseback. No one knew anything or could tell us anything but apparently it was already full even though we had assigned areas! After hours of wandering round aimlessly we ran into some Brisbane crew and then some of our Holy Land crew and settled down with them in the boom docks at the back.

Next set back – the lightning and rain came down – twice but not too heavily like Easterfest. Thousands started leaving and many seemed to get into gate three so around midnight we packed up and headed back up the hill to just be cut off again by police in vans this time. This was enough for some – they headed home to a warm bed and air conditioned comfort. 10 of us decided to stick it out and we regained a better position near a screen. We did some international souvenir trading and I finally got a Spanish flag. The ground was hard, we were in the back, very disappointed with Spanish organisation skills and ha to remind ourselves many a time; ‘we are pilgrims not tourists.’

The screens came on at 5am – sheesh and announcement started a

The screens came on at 5am – sheesh and announcement started at 7am even though the sun was yet to rise. Bertie complained of an itch – he found he had slept on 2 bull ant nests and suddenly I felt itchy on my leg. I checked my leg and was horrified. Where my strapping tape was it ws leaking with fluid, my whole bottom leg had huge rash welts all over it and it was painful. I used a baby wipe to clean it and put some paw paw cream on it. Doc Bertie and Nurse Teresa came with me to find the first aid tent. First 2 areas a bust until they told us to go to the chapel and finally some help. It stung lots when the nurse cleaned it, they asked me if I had had such a reaction before and gave my a huge antibiotic injection in my thigh! By the time we were done it was time for the culminating mass. Couldn’t  understand much in Italian but we had most of the English translation before the announcement of Rio De Janero for the next World Youth Day in 2013. The last battle – attempting to get back home- a huge line up but not to pushy or stuffy only took about 3 hours to get back! Hmm character building and memory making I say.   

Down town Madrid

19/0/11

A sleep in, arriving for public transport seconds late, the Prado Museum, locating a lost back pack, defending our square metre in the Cibeles Square and tapas.

I decided to sleep in and tag along with whoever was still around in the morning. I found Scottie, Keith and Michael and we kept just missing things- the bus and train and arrived at Goya quite late – luckily we just got in. Afterwards I met up with Emyr and Bertie to check out the Prado Museum and nearby church. One slight problem though – they didn’t have back packs and I did and the museum doesn’t allow back packs in!  I decided to risk it and hide my bag in the bushes and hope it was still there when I returned. We went in and weren’t allowed in most of the rooms without a special ticket. We found a floor we could go through and it had many 1500s pictures of Christ’s life. The only downside of visiting the Holy Land is now I now where things occurred and what it looks like when I see some of these images, I think – wrong, it isn’t like that, it was a t shaped cross, they look to European etc

 I preferred the statues especially some Greek and Roman ones 2000 years old. I was having trouble looking up as my neck is starting to give me trouble so we tried to bend back from the hips – we must have looked quite funny. Lucky we went when we did as when we came out there was a huge line up and I couldn’t go back to my back pack bush. When I walked around – my back pack wasn’t where I left it and I started to get a little anxious. I looked all over the side of the hill I placed it to no avail and then thought I will have to check all the ones on the other side. Thankfully someone had moved it to the other side and I just caught the end of the ‘Australia’ I wrote on the back pack. We quickly checked out the church before heading down to the Plaza Cibeles to attempt to get a spot for stations of the cross. We accidently stumbled write into the main area and found a spot. I tried to mark our territory with my Italian sheet, it was very hot but as it wasn’t too crowded I was coping and we survived. When Pope Benny finally arrived I went on Emyr’s shoulders to try and get a better pic but the waving flags in front of me and his little umbrella pretty much thwarted my attempts.

To avoid a jam packed train station we had dinner at a local pub and enjoyed some really tasty tapas, a Spanish omelette that was in a cup and egg plant fries that were really tasty.

I can’t believe how fast this week is going and tomorrow is the sleep out!

plaza de cibeles

18/08/11

Plaza Cibeles after the big event, Spanish dancing, a siesta – finally, awesome trading and adoration.

Went to the big catechesis session this morning however the fatigue was really setting in and several times I nearly nodded off. Afterwards I decided it was time to head back and have a siesta. Only problem was in our open the window air con it was too hot to sleep. After a rest I headed down to see what my fellow pilgrim’s plans were for the evening of the Pope’s arrival.  

After the crush experience of opening mass most decided to stay in air con comfort and watch it on TV. I asked if anyone was keen to watch it at a park or something on the big screen and Teresa, my pilgrim pal volunteered to come with me. So Teresa, Bertie and I headed off to Principe Pio. On the way we decided to grab some more Aussie flags to wear and trade (after 3 people had offered to trade for a flag – US, Brazilian and Italians). After the shop owner finally worked out the difference between Aussie and Kiwi flags we headed left and found the Spanish quarters and the park the Michael must have gone to last night instead of the one we were at. Did some great trading – pin for a Brazilian shirt and they wanted lots of photos with us. On our way up to the next park had some intense trading with Italians – got a hat, flag and flower, Teresa made their day giving them a flag, she was so excited! Then we followed the music and had a dance and congo line with to the fast paced music. Headed back to the station to grab more flags as we had traded them already and had dinner whilst watching the Pope arrive.  

Not ready to turn in yet we headed down town to the Plaza Cibeles where thousands had packed in for the Papal arrival earlier, all that was left now was a big mess of rubbish and plastic bottles – great opportunity to take some pics of the sites though. We found a church for adoration, was nice to spend some quiet time with room chatting to God and on our way out we even got snapped by an official press photographer! Maybe we will turn up in some random country’s paper like Mozambique or Argentina or something. On the way home some South Americans were singing some fun banana song and the train station platform is always loud and fun as hundreds of pilgrims wait to board. Today was a great mix of fun, dancing, trading, friends and faith

squished in the crowds at WYD Madrid

17/08/11

Catechesis in an overflowing church, waiting in the bumper crowd, again squished to see Christopher West and a flamenco depicting the Gospel story – the fatigue continues!

This morning we attempted to go to St Teresa’s for a catechesis session. When we arrived it was already overflowing and people were already sitting in all the spare ground space. We had our ticket in – the Archbishop with us! Although it was very tight – a little spot between the wall and pews. It was far too hot though and it was a struggle to hear and concentrate. The main message the Bishop gave was about names – how once we know someone’s name we can start to build relationship with them, you can also gain control of someone/thing (e.g. your pet, once you give it a name). God didn’t give us his name until Jesus, so now we can have a personal relationship with him.

We had a nice lunch in the park and then went to the Christopher West presentation. We arrived at around 3 pm for a 4 pm start and there was a little line, very spacious. We started chatting with some Canadians who had loved Wyd Sydney. Over the next hour the line became more and more busy and many people started pushing in from all directions. Then the sardining occurred. We were literally squashed in from all sides attempting to hang onto our group which became a long line with our heads pointed up for air most of the time. Somehow I ended up at the front of the line and after an  hour and a half got in – but only by myself, the others kept getting held back. Thankfully Maddie made it in and we got an end seat together down the front just in time for the start of Christopher West. As usual his talk was inspiring, whenever I listen to his talks I feel like I’m burning inside, it is always so profound and relevant. Some of his analogies today concerned choosing between  the starvation gospel – if it’s bad don’t think about it and supress it, the greasy chicken nuggets gospel – you know it’s not that good for you but it’s better than starving and it has quick reward or the banquet gospel – eating at the table of our Lord. He also had a guest sand artist that created the gospel story with sand images – was really impressive.

Later in the evening it was Spanish flamenco time – illustrating the gospel story. Craig, Abraham, Maddie and I set out to find it and did in the park with a rock backdrop. We even held pretty seated viewing positions. Unfortunately when it actually began we couldn’t  see over the taller people sitting in front so we retreated to the back and stood –much better view especially behind some short nuns. The flamenco was good but as we couldn’t really follow the Spanish we got lost a little in the story, and the tapping wasn’t as fast as flamenco in Barcelona. We spent half the night messaging Michael as we couldn’t spot him and he us even though we stood right under a lamp post. We eventually worked out that he was at a different flamenco.

Egypt to Madrid

16/08/11

Monday – up way to early, 4.30am to get our luggage out after trying to squash as much as we could in the main bag, have a slightly stale boxed cake breakfast then off to airport, through security and on our way to Spain. The last part of the flight was quite the extreme adventure – my gut went up many times as we seemed to duck and weave constantly. On landing Jenny ran to the toilet and some others were quite queasy and were suffering from travel sickness.  

Our accommodation is pretty good, a bed and shower is always good, WYD Sydney was just the floor in a hall. We went for a stroll down the street but pretty much everything was closed as it was a public holiday.

Tuesday – Australian pride, squished and hot and bothered in the streets attempting to get a seat for mass.

Worked out some of the Madrid train and bus network getting into town to the ‘Jesus palace’ where we held the Australian WYD gathering. Around 3000 Aussies- the atmosphere was electric and the New South Blues were really loud and in the spirit.

Afterwards we attempted to get in as close as possible to the opening mass – the streets, sidewalks and even traffic light posts were jam packed like a tin of sardines. Imagine that – no room for a mass ; ) among the thousands or hundreds or thousands. After 15 minutes of not hearing a thing and only just being able to see the big screen we decided to head back. We found a little café so we had a drink, chips and peanuts (on the house) and watched it in Spanish in comfortable surroundings.

We headed back to the Jesus palace for a concert and sang some old favourites with actions – trading my sorrows and others.

going back over 4000 years in Egypt - I'm loving it!

14/08/11

Up early with anticipation for our day exploring Egypt. Outside our balcony  watching the rising sun we could see the tips of the pyramids – yippee. We first went to the great Pyramids of Giza and learned about them- when they were constricted, the old Kingdom, over 25 years for the wet season every year, with over 10 000 stones of on average 3 tonnes each in weight. The latest theory is that they build mud ramps up each side of the pyramid, progressively becoming higher.

Took another Queensland Group photo, did some classic poses and some of the group took a camel ride too. Next we took the bus around the other pyramids and then too the pyramid that we were actually going to go into. We were very keen to go in and the first direction was very steeply down a wooden passage. We then came to another room with two directions – another steep descent down into the tomb and a room with cut out caves – maybe storage for the supplies for the next world. The other room had v, almost roof shaped stones that Craig and I were keen to climb through the narrow passage. After satisfying our daredevil antics we proceeded outside the pyramid for some photo time outside as were not allowed to take pictures inside.

To complete the Egypt ancient sites we went around to see the Sphinx. I was taken aback at the size of te Sphinx, for some reason I always thought it was larger – but for one piece of rock it is extremely impressive. Over 4000 years old and only missing the nose – supposedly blown off by Napoleon’s men and the beard – attributed to the British. The other tour guide gave a very detailed description of mummification and embalming before we were hounded with the souvenir sellers.

After seeing these ridiculously old monument we set out for the pilgrimage sites – Ben Ezra synagogue thought to be built over the site where Moses’ cradle was found. Next we went to the Abu Serga Church where it is though the holy family took refuge in the crypt. The roof was also designed like the ark – above the naïve of the church.

Onto our last church which had many relics of saints and an image of Mary where her eyes follow you wherever you are.

We then had to exit the church quite quickly as the tourist police wanted to go home so we had to leave whilst it was still safe and a spot of shopping at a reputable Egyptian antiquities shop. I bought a cartoush with the unc on it and my name in hieroglyphics. Earlier in the day we stopped off at a papyrus shop to see how it was made. I bought a family tree, the judgement day, an unc and the image of Jesus, Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt.