Getting ready for Rome

St.Peter's Square (CNS/Reuters)

Getting ready for a trip abroad is challenging for someone like me who hasn’t been out of the U.S. since the last time my parents took me to Canada. And that was a long time ago. My more well-traveled friends have been willing to help me with suggestions – always be alert for pickpockets, take washcloths – and with equipment – electrical converters, passport holders.

For the trip to cover the canonization of popes John XXIII and John Paul II, our pilgrimage group from the Diocese of Rockford will arrive in time for the rainy month of April. Weather websites – I found are http://www.holiday-weather.com/rome/averages/april/ and http://www.accuweather.com/en/it/rome/213490/april-weather/213490 but there are others. These say we’ll have showers at least a couple of days during our stay, so the rain poncho and umbrella are going in my carry-on bag.

I’ve been doing some other research about traveling and I’ve actually found a couple of intriguing, and potentially helpful, web sites that might be useful for other novice travelers. Here are a few good articles:

To survive the flight, try some of these tips from Erica Ho. http://lifehacker.com/how-to-survive-a-long-haul-flight-with-finesse-1551468782

To pack better, read Lisa Lubin’s suggestions. http://www.llworldtour.com/how-to-pack-lighter/

For another take on packing – what to pack for women – here’s http://travelfashiongirl.com/10-piece-travel-essentials-packing-list-spring-2013/

And here’s a list for men that can be printed out on your computer. http://www.travelsmith.com/TravelSmith/US/TravelCenter/guide-packing-checklist/landing-path

This list also has some great packing reminders, though I know I won’t bring everything. http://www.vacation-lists.com/vacationpackingchecklists.html

I’m still looking for more information, but I believe the best advice I’ve heard so far comes from a frequent traveler to Italy who said, “You’ll love it.” 

I’m far from the only one getting ready for the canonization, though. According to this Catholic New Service story, the whole city it getting ready. http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1401346.htm

--Sharon Boehlefeld