WYD - Day 1

Note: If Her Hotness was blogging World Youth Day, what would she write? Here's my attempt at guessing.

Dear Blog,

I got up at 5.00 and said lauds. It's always proper to start my day with prayers, meditation and the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy - prepares me for all the temptations of this world and keeps me centered in my spirituality. Speaking of temptations - my CNN colleagues and I met for breakfast at 8.00 to discuss today's schedule and Alessio was looking mighty as ever. Must. Focus.

It seems there are other more important news today and CNN is not going live in Cologne yet. Left me with plenty of time to walk around, be with the masses, experience this event with them. Walking around, I felt so proud to be a Catholic and American - especially after these young people from Michigan gave me one of their extra shirts (specially made for the jamboree). I know just which scarf goes with this colorful shirt! Anyway, I had plenty of time before the doors for the mass opened at 14.00, so I headed to the press centre to file my report and sent it to myself since I am not really writing for a daily newspaper.

Lunch was packed sandwiches with the Benedictine nuns who so graciously invited me to their tent. Alessio invited me to join him, but I did not really want to lead myself into temptation and have inappropriate thoughts. At least, lunch with the nuns was pretty innocuous.

The mass was... long. It's a good thing we had plenty of seats at the press section. Looking around, I saw all sorts of "youths", some of whom looked pretty old. And some younger folks seemed to be taking the spirit of love too literally during mass: I saw a lot of teenage boys hooked and slumped around similarly aged young girls, and a lot of mouths and tongues during the "Peace Be with You" segment... ah, these youths are very caring and demonstrative of their brotherly and sisterly love towards one another! I'm sure that's what it was!

The performances by the Bläck Föös and the Schäl Sick Brass Band & Co were uplifting and spiritual! Before I knew it, it was time for me to head back to the hotel and say my rosary and evening prayers.

XOXOXO,
D