The Guest of Honor arrives!

I really had to laugh at this picture. I mean, time after time I tried to get a clear shot of the stage and the Pope. I would get clouds, or people's heads, or just nothing at all. I finally managed a quick shot when the crowd thinned for a millisecond - and after I looked at the picture, I saw this heart in it - RIGHT where the Pope is standing! As it turns out, it was someone's sign they were holding, but how funny that it is positioned RIGHT there!

Somehow, we got this bright idea that one of us might be able to see better or capture more pictures if one was taller in some way. Hmmm, I left off the pictures of how she even GOT on my shoulders. All I can say is...I lived to tell about it!

The dusky sky was perfect for the ambiance of the moment.
All raised their candles in honor of the song that was being sung.

Words in Polish I couldn't understand. A crowd, faithful to this man that stood before them. Beautiful rhythmic songs in Polish. Candlelight. Blessings were given, faith was shared in the crisp spring air. Hundreds of thousands, sharing the moment. The Pope was here!

On the way...

A perspective with Krakow in the background. Almost one million approach the Pope!

People, flags, the field where the mass would be on Sunday.

We made it, amongst the many!

These are the smoked cheese they were selling. Looks like just-baked novelty bread, doesn't it? It was soooo good.

Magda shows her invitation ticket to get in.

I don't know why I found this quite humorous!

Who would have thought, Longaberger, Poland, and the Pope could all be used in one sentence? You work WHERE?

Here is Magda, wondering what the heck is going on with that handbasket.

And, it just keeps building!

Whew...okay! I took over 100 pictures the day that we attended the Pope's town meeting. This was quite an adventure.

As we strolled toward the place of meeting, many questions entered my mind. Was this a mass? Were we to be close, since we had tickets? How many people are here all around me? (the answer was close to ONE MILLION!). Would I understand a word? What would we do until the time of his arrival?

The day had turned brisk, and I had on my only jacket - a denim jean jacket. It looked like rain. What would we do, waiting there for hours in the rain?

As we walked further, they were handing out pamphlets and leaflets of all kinds. Free bottles of water were gathered in pods for the people to take. Concessions selling flags and post cards were all along the route. I just couldn't get over the throngs of people, in front of us, beside us, behind us.

There was one concession along the way that really caught my attention. It looked like warm baked bread in all shapes and kinds! It looked so interesting. After I got a closer look I was told that it wasn't bread at all. It was so hard to believe I had to try it for myself. Yum, it was really really great....CHEESE! Look at the picture, you won't believe it!

There were monks, deacons, priests and clergy of all kind everywhere.

The more I walked the more I realized that this was a very unique experience. One that not everyone has. In fact, when else would I have a ticket in hand in Polish, to see the Pope, with people that were watching out for me that I had never really met or known before in my life??
And one who I had been friends with for a long time? What a blessing.

I didn't care what to expect. I just enjoyed the moment.

A pause in the action...

TEMPORARILY

I am so very, very sorry to my faithful blog-checking companions. This WILL be back in order this weekend, please check back on Saturday and things should theoretically return to a normal schedule! Until then...the kids start school tomorrow, their new sitter starts tomorrow, I made home-made spaghetti sauce tonight to surprise them, Ian is fighting ragweed allergies, Megan is figuring out all of her back-to-school outfits (Justice, of course!), Ian is in MIDDLE SCHOOl this year! And the world keeps on spinning...

The excitement builds!

View of Krakow from Bartosz' house.

News that the Pope has arrived in town for his visit! Bartosz' house was about 10 minutes from town where he was shown on the news.

Preparations in front of the Warwel castle. The 3 tall banners have a picture of Pope Benedict on them.

Krakow's downtown was all but shut down in preparation for the Pope's visit.

On our way with the rest of the crowd! Bartosz, Jenny, and Magda walk among the 500,000.

On the road to...the Papal visit

Bartosz holds up a ticket and invitation to attend the visit by Pope Benedict. The invitation asked that you bring a rock and a candle.

After our visit to Auschwitz, we drove back to Bartosz' house and spent a quiet evening checking e-mail and calling home. There is this thing called "Skype", where you can call for free over the internet on your computer. It's pretty cool!

Then it was Saturday. You could feel the excitement in the air everywhere, this was the day that Pope Benedict was making his official visit to Krakow! And WE had tickets (well, we did, and about 500,000 others)...thanks to Bartosz and Magda!

This particular day, I took about 200 pictures, so I am still organizing them and preparing them to post. We began the day at Bartosz' early, since the streets were closed in town. We watched much of the preparation and procession (which we later learned passed right outside our hostel!) on TV. Bartosz showed me the tickets to get in. We then parked close to town and walked - and watched and joined the throngs of people gathering to see their Pope make his first official visit. It was a bit cool and very damp that day but nothing deterred the pilgramage.

We walked among thousands. Most carried flags, indicating their country or their Pope. We spent many hours sitting and waiting, watching the people and singing songs. It was amazing to be part of this very faithful people!

Everyone was preparing...