Day 1

We left for Washington at 5am. It was a fairly quick trip, we arrived around 11am. The hotel was once a Holiday Inn but now it's very contemporary. We dropped off our gear, picked up credentials and headed to the USCCB. They were hosting a media tour of all the sites. It was a reunion of sorts as I saw former co workers waiting the lobby. We boarded a bus for the Basilica of the National Shrine, it was an amazing church. We interviewed a spokesperson from the Secret Service and the Rector of the church. He was excited about giving the Holy Father a tour of the shrine and also said he was nervous. He said it was an honor to be his tour guide, but hoped he didn't fall on the steps! At the National Mall, we put together our stories...I have to admit it was pretty cool standing in front of the Capital reporting for News 14. It was at that moment I realized how lucky we are to be a part of this historic trip. All the planning and finally...the week is here. Tomorrow he arrives.