It was a little tedious but fascinating nonetheless to see the teams of 204 countries parade in last Friday at the Olympic stadium. I was wondering if any countries were missing. Only 3 apparently - South Sudan, Kosovo (both pretty new countries) and,unsurprisingly Vatican City (although I hear the Pope is working on his pole vaulting). There are officially only 196 countries in the world, the other 11 are only territories (American Samoa, Aruba, Bermuda, etc) but have separate Olympic status. I noticed a few indepenednet athletes under the Olympic flag. Apparently Netherland Antilles is no longer a country.
A blog featuring whatever I fancy, often on the Christian faith but not exclusively
Showing posts with label Vatican City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vatican City. Show all posts
Cruise 04
On the Tuesday we reached Citavecchia, an hour and a half from Rome. We took a guided tour of Rome and the Vatican. Rome wasn't built in a day and you can't see it in a day either but we made a stab at it beginning on the coach with some of the most ancient ruins (Colosseum, etc) and then moving onto the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, etc. We had an excellent ravioli lunch with red wine followed by tira misu before making an assault on the Vatican and St Peter's basilica, site of the pieta and supposed resting place of the apostle himself. Fascinating stuff. one had mixed feelings being at the lair of the Antichrist himself. My sons enjoyed getting pictures with various nuns and priests. What St Peter's has remotely to do with the gospel is hard to see.
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