Cruising the Med with Mickey and the Crew **Updated 11/25** COMPLETE - Page 19 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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After everyone made it through security, we gathered at the entrance of St. Peter’s and Moon told us about the Jubilee doors – they are only opened on a Pope’s (??) Jubilee – I think that means every 25 years?? Maybe?? They are impressive though.
Looking back at the Square from the secure area Jubilee Doors Ceiling of the area near the Jubilee doors - gold inlay and ornate work surrounds you and pictures do not do it justice : Detail inlay /Detailed marble work
The artwork in this place was overwhelming. Every nook, every cranky… art, gold, tile, statues… you name it. Just too much to take in. And then there was remembering that you are in the largest Catholic church in the world. They had some of the chapels (? – more like alcoves in my opinion) set aside for prayer – with monitors to tell you not to take photos in those areas. I did most of my photos without flash since I did not want to disrupt anyone… but there were SO many people with flashing cameras….
The main altar. The floor is blocked off - but on the floor it has markings measuring the length of other churches in the world - St. Patrick's in New York, Westminster Abbey in London, etc to show that they could all be placed in St. Peter's.
Looking up at the Dome of St. Peter's
I wish I had taken Latin in high school instead of French…. I would have found the text written on the walls and floors interesting – but since this chick took 4 years of high school French and 2 years of college French… Latin is not my strong suit. I can tell you the meanings of many Latin roots for English words (don’t believe me? Ask my students how many Latin word roots they know when they leave my class).
One thing I did do – I touched St. Peter’s foot. Now I don’t mean the real guy (although he is supposedly buried under this building…) the statue. This was he disciple that Jesus referred to as “the rock on which I build my church”. Supposedly it either brings good luck or your prayers are answered. His foot has been touched by SO many people – the details of the statue have been worn away.
People in line to touch St. Peter's left foot We were all wearing ear pieces, so we could wander away from Moon, and still hear her commentary. One thing I saw and did not get a good photo of was La Pieta - carved by Michaelangelo - and the only piece of artwork he ever signed. It depicts Jesus laying in his mother's arms after the crucifixion. The statue is behind a protective barrier since someone tried to destroy this magnificent piece of art in 1972 - and is hard to get a photo of due to lighting and the barrier.
Seal of Pope John Paul II in front of the chapel of Mary (I learned that Mary was his favorite Saint..)
After about an hour – it was time to gather ourselves up and meet outside to walk to the bus, to catch the train, to meet the ship. Following me here?
Better photo of the Swiss Guards. Historically they were the Pope's mercenaries (since the 15th century) and now server as ceremonial guards.
We met in the entrance of the Cathedral and started to walk through St. Peter’s Square.
Me in front of St. Peter's
We came across some of the Disney photographers so I ran to them and had my photo taken – the standard “me on vacation” one – and then the photographer told me to jump???? What the?? “Jump!!!” He yells – so I jumped.
After thanking the photographer – I ran to catch up with the group. We hiked awhile, including an area under the city – like an underground walk area, to an underground garage – where I saw this poster. I had planned to see HP5 before I left for Spain – didn’t happen (still haven’t see it yet… hoping the DVD hurries up!). After getting on the bus, we drove back to St. Peter’s station, said goodbye to Moon and headed for the little train back to the port. On the ride back – we had our own Gladiator instead of Peter Pan.
I really wish we had 2 days in Rome - maybe a hotel stay in there.... so that I could have seen the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican's museums, the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon... so many things I did not get even a glimpse of - looks like I will be adding those to the "Italy 2010" trip plans.
Next - back to the ship and Dad and I do dinner, solo
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Wonderful updates Terri - I really had forgotten how beautiful St. Peter's Basilica is inside. It's a shame that you didn't get a chance to see the Vatican Museums - definitely 2010.
I can tell you the meanings of many Latin roots for English words (don’t believe me? Ask my students how many Latin word roots they know when they leave my class).
haha! that reminds me of the dad in my big fat greek wedding!!! i wish my instructors were as cool as you!
Your pictures are awesome! TheColosseum is really interesting, and Constantine's arch is beautiful. I love the architecture.. Thanks for taking us along to Rome. Deb
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Hate to sound like a parrot but .... amazing photos. Loved the bit about touching Saint Peter's left foot. Interesting. Thanks for all your hard work writing this TR.
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Terri - let me start by saying I don't usually like TRs. Yours however, I have found very enthralling.
Your excursion to Rome brought back such great memories. We spent a week there with the 3 girls and some friends with 4 kids. DH, the father of the other family, and their oldest son took turns carrying Samantha around everywhere!! We spent hours exploring the Forum. Imagine - all that historic construction and they just let the kids climb all over it! And, Samantha still talks about the fact that as a disabled person, she was taken "the back way" to the Sistine Chapel - where the artwork NOT on public display is just astronomical. And, the doors to the pope's apartment are green and very, very tall. Just like the doors into Oz.
Anyway - you have a gift for saying a lot without more words than necessary. Thank you for taking us all along on your trip.
I'm really enjoying your TR Terri, I have read all of it so far this morning. What a great time you are having! Jolene is so lovely and really seems like she is enjoying herself. Looking forward to reading more.
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