Finally! I've just managed to put together a little slide show of the boys' pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It was very difficult to choose a few shots from the hundreds that had been taken and also try not to include shots of people. I don't think it's fair to put pictures of other people in the public domain without asking their permission first and especially as I don't even know most of the other pilgrims.
Anyway, I managed to choose a few shots from each day so hope you enjoy it.
As the Holy Father has been too busy to text me on his latest movements, I'll have to make do with updates from 'the boys' who seem to be having a great time and a wonderful pilgrimage.
They appear to be following in the Holy Father's footsteps - literally. They checked in at Notre Dame hotel in Jerusalem yesterday after Pope Benedict himself left the same hotel in the morning.
I didn't hear on the news whether His Holiness had also been in a cable car over Mount Masada like 'the boys'! (Thanks to Danny who's been uploading photos to Facebook religiously (pun, intended!) so that I can be with them 'virtually' if not in person, and for allowing me to pinch the odd shot until the 'boys' get home and I can see their photos).
The Holy Father ended his visit today and here is a clip from the Vatican YouTube site of his final address. Poor man, can you imagine, you're all packed and ready to board the plane and you still have to stop and chat to the press. You never have that problem on a Thompsons holiday!
Yes, I did get the words of the title of this post the correct way round!
The 'boys' are busy packing for their trip which begins tomorrow. I have been 'advising' the paterfamilias what to take and I use the word 'advisedly'.
Number one son is no problem. He just reads the guidelines offered by the pilgrimage organisers and makes his decisions accordingly - so simply really!
I'm sure they'll be fine as they'll manage with whatever's available and I'd rather not be held responsible for all the wrong advice anyway!
The paterfamilias has spent a large part of his working life travelling to foreign parts on business and can pack his own case for business trips in a matter of minutes, with only a few minutes' notice too (and probably could do it in the dark, if necessary!) Probably quite a useful skill knowing some of the places he travels to.
