WHERE IN
THE WORLD IS—

The Vatican

Officially, State of the Vatican City, the governmental capital of the Catholic Church, is a walled enclave of 108.7 acres entirely within the city limits of Rome, Italy.

Created in 1929, it is the smallest independent state in the world.

It is the official residence of the Pope and has an estimated population of 783.

Its form of government is an elective monarchy with the Pope being chosen by a College of Cardinals. The Pope has total legislative, executive and judicial power over The Vatican; making him the only absolute monarch in Europe.

Its security force, the Swiss Guard, is recruited solely from male citizens of Switzerland. They currently number just over 100 men and are the smallest and oldest army in the world.

The Vatican; or Holy See in a broad context, remains in the news as it seeks to resolve the sordid affair of deviant libido in its priesthood.
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BOOK REPORT—

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

Bryson and his enthusiastic but woeful sidekick Katz set out to hike the Appalachian Trail, all 2,100 miles of it (more or less) from Georgia to Maine. The author, described by one wag as capable of “wringing humor from a clammy sleeping bag,” takes us along for a hilarious, informative and compelling look at this challenging trek.

They almost achieve their goal, well, sort of. Regardless, the book is a treat!