Archive for May 2025
Rome Day Three. A Walk Around The Vatican Before An Emotional And Solemn Mass Honoring Pope Francis
I was up early Saturday morning during my recent visit stay in Rome. I traveled to the Eternal City to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. The funeral would begin at 10 a.m. I wanted to receive the Sacraments of Confession and Communion during my stay and at the funeral. I was raised Catholic but…
Read MoreRome Day Three. An Afternoon Exploring Rome With The Crowds After Pope Francis’s Funeral
I was in Rome last week to pay my respects to Pope Francis. I walked past his coffin as he lie in state on Friday and attended the funeral mass Saturday morning. The solemn and emotional funeral mass ended around noon. It was a very moving spiritual experience for me. It was a warm sunny…
Read MoreI Love May. A Beautiful May Day Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands And River Lands
I was anxious to return to the Susquehanna Wetlands on Thursday , the first day of May. I was gone for almost a week. And a week is a long time in the Spring, I made a last minute trip to Rome last week to attend Pope Francis’s funeral. ( More on that trip in…
Read MoreRome Day Four: Exploring Rome. A Hike In Villa Ada Park And A Return To The Vatican.
I was only in Rome for a few more days after the funeral of Pope Francis. I had explored many of famous historic sites in Rome on my two previous visits to the Eternal City. There were countless more to explore but , it was Spring and I wanted to hike in some of the…
Read MoreI Love May. Another Beautiful May Afternoon And Hike, This Time On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails.
It was another beautiful sunny and mild May afternoon Friday. And, once again, I wanted to enjoy it. So I decided to hike on another one of my favorite trails, the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails located a few miles from my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County, As I noted in my previous blog, every…
Read MoreRome Day Five: A Visit To Pope Francis’s Humble Tomb And A Hike In Another Park In The Eternal City
It was my last full day in Rome after attending Pope Francis’s funeral. I was up early and was going to hike in another of the city’s parks, this time in Pineto Regional Park, located near Vatican City. First I decided to walk to Basilica of Mary Major where Pope Francis, breaking with tradition, was…
Read MoreAnother May Hike, This Time On The Deleaware And Lehigh Trail At River Drive in Lehigh County
It was another beautiful day in May when I awoke Saturday morning. And, like the previous two day I couldn’t wait to get outside and enjoy it. I decided to hike on the D & L trail in Lehigh County, starting at the River Drive trail head. I had hiked here twice before, in the…
Read MoreA Coudy And Windy Afternoon Hike In The South Cape May Meadows
I returned to Cape May New Jersey last weekend, my third visit to this quaint little shore town. I was here last October for the first time in 25 years, when I came for the Fall bird migration. I was here on Friday for the Spring song bird migration. Cape May is located along the…
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