The New York Times just reported that the Vatican is now offering airline trips for religious pilgrimages. Does anyone else find this too wierd? I don’t know about you, but if I suddenly felt called to visit Lourdes, I think I would grab my St. Christopher medal and book my ticket on the airline with the cheapest flights and best arrival times. I wouldn’t call the Vatican. They may have expertise in lifting up souls, but not in the physics of uplift. This is a bit of stretch don’t you think? Is it the hubris of an ancient faith or will the experience really be more sacred under the guidance of the divine right of the Pope? Does the flight take wing on a prayer? Are priests on board for the more earthly act of confession? I hope so. Airlines usually only offer passengers a religious experience under severe weather conditions or engine malfunctions. Surely, the Holy See can do better than that.
Still, years of kneeling on a pew taught me that miracles do happen. I can’t forsake years of religious training. Maybe, this new expansion effort on the part of the Vatican will result in a boost in service from competing airlines. There is room for improvement and inspiration may need to come from Above and not from Virgin Airlines. As we take to the heavens, we could really use some sacred space. More legroom, anyone?
Filed under: Africa, Children, Motherhood, Parenting, bay area, beaches, camping, dining, travel, weekend getaways
As a full-time working mom, I often wish I could travel with my kids more often. I am limited by the American standard of two weeks vacation (who came up with that?) and by money or lack thereof. Traveling with a family of four is expensive unless we go camping and my husband refuses to have anything to do with tents. I dream of taking my family on safari to Africa, a historical tour of Boston or even just a long weekend a few hours drive away. For the past few months, I have felt trapped. I live in an affluent community and often hear of my neighbors far-flung adventures to France, Italy and Costa Rica. One family I met recently actually owns an island off the coast of Spain. I am not trying to compete with that, but how can I give my kids the experience of foreign shores when it is completely out of my reach. Sometimes National Geographic just does’t cut it. I recently took a few days off work to explore my own backyard, we went kayaking (SeaTrek.com), to three beaches (Stinson, Muir Beach and Pt. Reyes) and had some friends over for dinner. Not Africa, but a start. At least I got of the house and out of my routine. I am now looking for adventures around every corner. Chinatown, the Mission District, volunteering at a homeless shelter they are all in the bay area and it is time to explore. My kids won’t be able to talk about Parisian pastries but they can surely try a new cuisinejust around the corner. So I wonder, do any of you have tips for getting out without going broke, weekend getaways on the cheap or even how to get your husband to camp.
