WYD Day Two

Thursday 17th July

OMGAH. TIRED. BACK ACHING.

But damn was today interesting. I woke today absolutely exhausted had to run to church (NOT a good thing on three hours sleep and an empty stomach) to be there on time for the Catechesis and then Jay tells me that I have to bloody perform five songs (NEW SONGS WHICH I HAD NEVER HEARD BY THE WAY) in front of all the American Pilgrims! Can I hear you say, WHAT??? And THEN apparently I hear that I'm reading for mass! What! So of course there I am, empty stomach, completely paralysed with lassitude and I must be so invloved. THANKFULLY However, I managed to learn those songs quick snap and I pawned off my reading to Jeanette so I think I'm reading tomorrow (today, technically).

However the Catechesis session was enlightening and the Bishop was highly entertaining, very amusing man. :) Eventually we survived it, had lunch and travelled to the city via train at approximately 1:00. Man you've gotta love those Croatians! I love their music and their traditional dancing in Hyde Park. Seriously, Hyde Park. That's where I was ALL DAY. Primordially it was due to the youth activities in the area and we were registered to pay homage to the incorrupt body of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati (I think I got that right). However the line was SO EXTENSIVE. Any longer and it could have measured the cicrumference of the equator and then some! We were waiting tediously for approximately two hours (becoming bored enough to initiate a sort of Irish jig), we had to pass security and THEN we were able to enter the Cathedral. It was so peaceful in there, I could have spent the whole day in there in some meditative bubble of quiet reflection.

On other notes though, it was excellent unexpectedly meeting friends there and of course making thousands of new ones! In the terribly and exhaustingly long wait for dinner we lined the paths of Hyde Park and decided to treat EVERYONE that walked passed with a celebrity welcome, rushing to greet them and hi-fiving and hugging randoms. "Spreading the love" as it were. The nuns watched with amusement and loved what we were doing. Growing up a devout Catholic in such a diverse world, it's comforting to know that there's so many people who share what you believe! Seriously, this has been the best way to meet people - run up to them and hug them! They were all so lovely! I would speak more about it but I am so exanimate at the moment and I have to practice my reading for tomorrow!

Okay, really have to get to bed.

Oh yeah! OMG The train home! We were the loudest carriage! Singing and dancing with all these Iraqi pilgrims! They were so fun!! PARTY ON THE TRAIN GUYS!

I am VERY impressed with the CityRail. They're actually succeeding. I applaud them! :)

Until tomorrow!

Dana xoxoxox