Inside the VATICAN @ The World's Largest Church!

So here goes my train ride adventure from Civitavecchia to San Pietro Station where the St. Peters Square, Vatican City is located. Thanks to Frommer's for making it manageable to go there on my own and not to mention there's a large number of Kababayans pretty scattered around Italy. The phenomenal experience of being in this most-sought after European destination and hearing mass with the Pope send chills down to my spine... that remarkable feeling that just gives you so much HAPPINESS and TRANQUILITY.

My Ticket from Civitavecchia Port to San Pietro Station

This way going inside the Vatican with hundreds of tourists from around the world

Entrance to the Magnificent Vatican

Vatican, the World's second-smallest sovereign independent state which only have a few hundred citizens and is protected by its own militia, the curiously uniformed Swiss guards.

The only entrance to the Vatican for tourist is through one of the glories of the Western world: Bernini's St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro).

As you stand in the huge piazza, you'll be in the arms of an ellipse partly enclosed by a regal Doric-pillared colonnade.

 two 17th  Century Fountains flanking the Egyptian obelisk

 Straight ahead is the facade of St. Peter's Basilica (St. Peter and Paul are represented by statues in front, with Peter carrying the keys to the kingdom),

Atop it stands a line of 140 crowd depicting saints, martyrs, popes, and the founders of the religious orders of the Catholic Church.

and, to the right, above the colonnade, are the dark-brown buildings of the papal apartments and the Vatican Museums. 

At noon on Sunday, the pope speaks briefly from his study window and gives his blessing to the visitors and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. 

Hearing an actual mass from the Pope send chills down to my spine

The Militia or Swiss Guards

St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square are used to accommodate a large attendance. Anyone is welcome, but you must first obtain a free ticket from the office of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, accessible from St. Peter's Square by the Bronze Door. 

  

hundreds of tourists who wishes to go inside the Vatican Church

 The reasons for Martin Luther's criticism of the Catholic church of "extortion," excessive hoarding of wealth, and constant donations as the key to Heaven are easy to see: a tour through the Vatican renders a visitor literally mind-boggled, stunned, and senseless at the unfathomable wealth, beauty, and majesty of the Vatican.

 Almost no building on earth holds comparison with the lavish and ornate qualities of St. Peter's Basilica. Although other cathedrals are similar and superior in many ways (such as Esztergom Cathedral in Hungary and St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna), no such masterpiece is so meticulously perfected, shined, honed, and maintained as St. Peter's.

An Armenian Saint statue outside the Basilica with small American  scripts at its bottom

 Almost every square meter of the small nation has the ability to amaze every visitor. Each room holds treasures of such incalculable value that one can barely comprehend the previous room before entering the next.

 There are the corpses of at least two former popes inside visible for public viewing, and many more "tombs" dedicated to the popes with no bodies inside.

  

 Other rooms offer interesting visuals: massive halls and corridors are adorned atop with glorious hand-painted murals dating back some more than 500 years.  

All of these massive painted murals are not simply attractive fillers to decorate the hallways; some if not most of these are far more impressive and intricate than the famous Sistine Chapel. 

Golds, Gems, Marbles and Jewels are just everywhere.

There are an endless amount of scenes drawn by Michaelangelo in the chapel, ranging from Adam and Eve to the creation of Man by God, to the life of Mary, John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Disciples. All of the figures seem very muscular and firm, including the women considering the fact that Michaelangelo couldn't paint women.

 The basilica certainly is an architectural, economic, religious, and visual wonder almost without comparison or comprehension. SIMPLY BREATHTAKING! The Vatican was one of the greatest experiences in my life that I will surely visit again in the near future. 

West Indies: Caribbean Adventure

The Caribbean, long referred to as the West Indies, includes more than 7,000 islands; of those, 13 are independent island countries and some are dependencies or overseas territories of other nations. 

Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer began his exploration of the Caribbean, becoming the first European to venture into the area. After reportedly landing in the eastern Bahamas, Columbus named these islands the Indies, because he thought he had finally reached Asia (and the East Indies). 

Great military powers continually fought for control of the islands, and finally, a blended mix of African and European cultures and languages transformed this large group of islands and its peoples into one of the premier tourist destinations on the planet. Long called the West Indies, the overall area is now commonly referred to as the Caribbean, a name that became popular after World War II. 

Now, let me show you around you around the Caribbean Islands: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bay Islands, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Croix (briefly), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Bridgetown, Barbados

Anguilla has become a popular tax haven,
having no capital gains, estate, profit or other forms of direct taxation
 on either individuals or corporations.

Ziplining Adventure is St. Lucia...longest and highest one in the Caribbean

Moon Hole in Bequia, Grenadines

Pirates of the Caribbean

Mayreau, Grenadines

A hardworking man selling his handmade crafts at the same time fishing

My First Yellow Submarine Experience c",)

Skeletons found under the sea

Submarine Adventure in St. Barths

Water Sports Marina Adventure with the Ladies

Mardi Gras in Dominica

The Tobago Cays Catarmaran Adventure 

A very deep hole at the top of the Fort

British Virgin Island of limestone and corals

Lovely Kids from Mayreau, Grenadines

There's much more photos to share, so much to enjoy and so much to be amazed at in here. Overall the Caribbean is a magical place of palm trees, white sand beaches, turquoise waters and sunshine, all blessed with a climate that consistently offers a much-needed break for those stuck in the cold weather doldrums of the north. 

If you haven't been, you should, and if you've been here more than once, you will come again, as these islands, these beach-ringed, jungle-covered rocks are home to thousands of historical surprises and activities galore. 

Wish Crafted, Your Wish Is My Craft

As Peter Drucker once explained living a “total life” with diverse interests, relationships, and pursuits; what he called “living in more than one world.”.One unique idea he advocated was creating a “parallel career” as he encouraged developing a second career and becoming the CEO of your own life. All these have inspired me to pursue Wish Crafted! 

Apart from my duties at the court side, events organizing and being a campaign manager, I was able to go back to school in the field of Fashion where I learned to create my own accessories, bags, recycling old clothes and personalizing some souvenirs and crafts. 

It was a dream come true for me as I slowly started on my own: WISH CRAFTED, Your Wish Is My Craft! Everything hand-made (no sewing machine used for the fabric) and customized from your choice of colour, style, size, design, and others with my desire to fabricate products that is innovative yet practical.

Wish Crafted became an opportunity from a different World but definitely where my passion for crafts, arts and fashion will be displayed. Coming from a Pre-Medicine Course and shifting to Fashion was nevertheless OVERWHELMING considering that being resourceful, innovative and artistic is something innate in me.

Take a look at some of my toil:

You can check out some more in my fb account:  wishcrafted.rmv@gmail.com . And here’s my way of saying: Never limit what GOD wants to do through your life...Rise Up and Work...MAXIMIZE YOUR YOUTHFUL LIFE... because truly only a person with passion, courage and determination will find their bliss at work.
-Wish Crafted-