Happenchance

A few days after I returned from China, a client asked me to visit a project in Doha, Qatar.  Sure, I was eager to face the challange and travel to a new area so I set a trip based on time of arrival.  Had a connection in Rome.  After a 45 minute delay leaving Detroit, a long wait to get on the bus to the terminal in Rome, and a longer wait at customs, I missed my connecting flight to Doha. 

Stuck in Rome.  The next flight out was at 5:30 PM the next day and about 20 hours on the ground in some nondescript but pleasant hotel in Rome.  After trying, and no fooling but really trying, to get to the project for a Saturday meeting, the airline told me there was not a chance to leave on Friday.  So I took the bus to the nondescript hotel and signed in.  No baggage because it was on the way to Doha I was told (they fibbed, but thats a later story). 

There was really only one thing I could do after I ate and that was to figure out the train schedule and run off to the Vatican for the late afternoon and evening.  Growing up Roman Cathlioc I sometimes thought how nice it would be to see St Pete's Square and the Church.  I cannot describe the feeling I had when I actually realized that I was in Rome and on the way to the Vatican.  Never in a hundred million years I thought but now I was there.  Its not that I wear my faith on my sleeve and not that the Church has really pissed me off in the past decade, but this apparently was a big deal to me.

I made my way and finally figured out where the Vatican was and entered thround the Northern gate into the Square. I just couldn't belive that I was there.  Then I saw that I could go into the Church.  I went in the line and found myself standing amoung the most fastinating historical and faithfull spot on earth. What a feeling.  I was in a hurry becase I thought it was being closed for the evening so I did not let the faith and history seep into me.  However, the chance to even be there was more than I could ever asked for. 

The one thing that I'm disapponted in is that I was unable to call by parents while I was on the Square.  They gave me the faith and I though I could share in my excitement. 

The next day I figured I'd get up at 5:30 AM and visit the Colseuem and perhaps a few other sites before the noon check out (delayed until 1:00 PM).  The alarm went off and when I awoke at 9:00 AM, a quick brush of the teeth and off I was to figure out where to go.  It did not take much and I was in the ruins of this place.  I had about on hour on the site before the train rides back.  Litterally, I was trotting up the stairs, taking pictures along the way.  Over 150 photos to share with my family.  Then off again.

Now I'm in a business lounge in Doha waiting on a 1:30 AM flight to Milan Italy for a few days.  Who would have ever thought....