Day 3 - Saturday

Damian, Peggy and I got up early again and made our way back to St Peter's for 7am mass on the feast day of St Michael, the Archangel.  Fr Mark very kindly offered Mass that morning for Dad, and has added him to the list of faithful departed, prayed for in the Vatican each day - how wonderful. As Mum said beautifully, how amazing that such a humble man has had a mass said for him at St Peters! 
After Mass we walked home and had a coffee on the way, before finding the kids at home had made it out of bed at last - sleepy heads with sore feet and legs, all of us! We had about an hour of shopping in the little lanes in our area before going to the Vatican museum where Fr Mark had again organised a tour through the museum and Sistine Chapel. I can't believe how much more we were able to get out of this visit again, with the guidance and knowledge of someone in the know.  We were so lucky, though nothing could help with the crowd - it was just as I remembered and completely packed. Damian and Joseph stayed in the Vatican Museum for an extra hour or two, and also went to Jesu church, but Emily, Alice, Finbarr and I walked home through all the lanes near Piazza Navono and found the best gelato ever - all natural, home made and a long queue that was absolutely worth the wait.  Fr Mark and Lewy told us later it was the best one to find so we'd hit the jackpot.   We went home eventually to pack for the flight out of Rome on Sunday and got ready for our last dinner in Rome. After all of their kindness and generosity of time, we offered to take Fr Mark and Lewy out for dinner, and this turned out to be a good move - Fr Mark asked around the Curia for a good dinner recommendation in the Trastavere area and an archbishop suggested Romolo - just delicious.  Good to have people in the know.  Peggy decided to miss dinner and catch her breath - smart lady!  We got some traditional favourites; stuffed zucchini flowers, bresaola (air dried beef with Parmesan, rocket), melon and ham, carbonara, lamb, gelato - even gluten free pasta!    It was such a great night - so wonderful to have such engaging and interesting,  young religious people - great company, and good fun!  Thank goodness we'd packed already because we didn't get home until after midnight (again).  The partying in the Trastavere area was in full swing and also in our street when we got home. We had one last night time sit on the rooftop to see the full moon - perfect! It rained at about 4am so the party crowd went home - in backpacking days I'm sure we would have been out with them - but I was glad for some sleep!!