Rome,fast-tracks,John-Paul,sai travel,insurance Rome fast-tracks John-Paul IIs sainthood
Torres del Paine is among the biggest of Chiles national parks, occupying almost 600,000 acres (242,000 ha) of land in the south on the border with Argentina. It is also among the most important, receiving a significant proportion of domes Like any American, traveling occasionally is just what I love doing and I bet you share the same stuff with me. But traveling does not mean that you would be safe. Escaping from our job and other stressful activities is just something that w
Suchwas the Polish Popes popularity that during the course of it,cries of Santo subito! (sainthood now!) were heard, so itsnot surprising that the Vatican seems to have bent its own rules andput the Pontiff on the fast track to sainthood, starting with thebeatification announced in January this year.Beatificationfollows proof of a miracle, which in his case involved a French nuncured of Parkinsons disease (from which John Paul himself sufferedof course). Sister Marie Simon-Pierres condition disappeared twomonths after the Popes death after she and fellow nuns had prayedto him, and according to some reports written his name on a piece ofpaper.Asecond miracle will need to be proved for sainthood to be conferred,but in the meantime the faithful will gather again in the CircusMaximus the evening of 30 April for a vigil and a mass will be heldin St Peters Square on 1 May to celebrate the beatification andre-interment of the Popes body. Tradition has it that Popes whoare beatified are moved from the crypt to the nave of the basilica.The coffin will not be opened.Romeis hosting the 13th FINA (International Swimming Federation) WorldChampionshipsRomebecomes quite warm during the months of July and August, but thinkingabout something cool and refreshing like a nice swimming pool is agood way to forget it.Everybodyvisiting Rome during the summer should know that on July 17th the13th FINA World Championships (the swimming World championships) willbegin. The nearby Foro Italico has been enlarged with theconstruction of Roma09, a purpose-built village to house participantsand visitors.Alldisciplines will take place at Foro Italico except for open waterevents which that will take place in Ostia.Forlast minute travellers who want to attend this event, Dolce VitaVillas offers VillasIn Tuscany for rent in the heart of Rome, the perfect startingpoint both for the championships (the Foro Italico can be reached in10 minutes from the city centre by tram) and to visit the splendidand eternal city.Venicehas joined Rome and LakeComo rentalsin imposing a tourist tax on visitors to Italys most popularcities. It was in 2006 that the Italian government first allowedlocal governments to impose a tax on those using tourist facilities,but the first to break ranks was Rome at the beginning of 2011, witha maximum tax of 3 for those staying at the very bestestablishments per night for a maximum of 5 nights. The authoritiesexpect the tax to raise 80m, which thankfully will be spentexclusively on the much-needed upkeep of the citys wonderfulmonuments. Good to know that those few euros it costs you will begoing to help maintain for example the currently free-of-charge RomanForum.Florence started on 1 July this year with a bit morepainful 5 per night, but at least those staying at the restingplace of choice in my youth, the Michelangelo camp site, only have topay 1 to enjoy as near as it gets to city centrecamping.Although Venice joined the party late, only 24 August(too late for the main season, methinks), it must be the city ofcanals and gondolas that is the longest-running candidate for thetax. Venice has a particular problem over and above other Italian andindeed world cities its sinking into the sea. I remember theVenice in Peril appeal of the 1970s when the idea of a tax was muchdiscussed, but I can only think that people then were so generous intheir giving we even had lessons on it at school that theidea was not then acted upon then. We live in more austere timesnow.
Rome,fast-tracks,John-Paul,sai