Day 3 - Fri., 12/28/18 - Milan to Rome

A long day (longest bus day with nearly 9 hours) that wrapped up with a night walk through St. Peter's Square and then some Gelato at Old Bridge Gelateria just after midnight.  We started the day with a visit to the Basilica of St. Ambrose, which dates back to the fourth century, veneration of St. Ambrose and four other saints and morning Mass.  We then drove to Pavia to see St. Augustine and St. Boethius before starting the drive south.  We caught a late lunch at the infamous Autogrill and then continued the drive to Tuscania to visit the SSVM Monastery which houses sixty contemplative religious sisters, including our very own Sr. Corredemptrix Madden and Sr. Help of Christians Collins.  For most of the pilgrims, that visit was the highlight of the day.  After another couple of hours driving south, we finally made it to our hotel, which is a short 3 block walk to St. Peter's Basilica!  We dropped off our luggage and walked to a nearby restaurant for a delicious dinner before checking into the hotel and then walking to St. Peters and the Gelateria!  The pilgrims crushed the nine hours on the bus having a lot of fun, and catching some sleep -  proof below!  Tomorrow we visit several churches and saints and the Colosseum!

Our bus driver

 Still eating dinner