Conclusion of my Journey

I would like to apologize to my readers for my last post.  While writing that Dante and I were still in the tenth circle of Hell so everything was still surrounding me.  It was very overwhelming to be there with Satan nearby.  I would like to thank  you all for keeping up with my blog throughout this journey.  It really does mean a lot!   I feel like writing a blog throughout the journey was good for me because it allowed me to tell you all what my experiences were like and also what my thought process was during this journey.  This journey has been very eyeopening for myself and for Dante as well.  I have seen Dante transform over time into a more brave and confident man.  If you were to have asked me at the beginning of this journey if Dante would have ended up the way he has I would have said NO!  However, I am very glad that Dante did change throughout the journey.  I can assure you that Dante and I both keep in touch pretty much on a daily basis.  After leaving the last circle of Hell, Dante and  I ended up on the Mount of Purgatory and continued on our way until we were able to see the stars of Heaven.  It was such a beautiful sight!  And just so you all know, we were able to finish our journey right before dawn on Easter Sunday.  I'd say that we made good timing.  While this journey was fun, I do hope that I never have to go on one like it again!  But if I do go on another journey, you all will be the first to know! 

-Until (hopefully not) next time-

Virgil

Circle Nine and Ten

Readers again I am sorry for my delay at getting you a blog post, but we have just journeyed through the last two circles of Hell.  Let me be the first to say that it was a rough journey through these.  Being this far down in Hell is a thing that I never want to do again.  There are so many unspeakable things that Dante and I witnessed.  I hope that you my readers never have to witness what we did in the last two circles of Hell... It seems that there are somethings that are hard to speak about my dear readers and this experience in the last two circles is one of them... 

Circle Eight

Getting into circle eight was interesting.  We had to ride on Greyon, the monster of fraud.  Trying to tell the monster what we were trying to do proved to be difficult.  It felt like it didn't speak English!  But finally once it was able to understand what I was saying I turned around to see if Dante was ready and he wasn't there!  Let me tell you I have never been more worried in all my alive and dead life!  I thought something happened to him but it turns out that he was just looking at the usurers closer.  The flight from Hell of Violent and the Bestial into the Hell of Fraudulent and Malicious was very fun in my opinion.  It was like being on a roller coaster or something.  Dante on the other hand, he didn't seem to like it too much.  Going through the eight circle of Hell took forever because we had to go through not one, not two, but TEN different Bolgias.  In each one Dante was exposed to more of Hell and got to see the different punishments which was good for him.  I think he is starting to get more of a backbone.  He definitely is not the same Dante who I started this journey with that's for sure.  

Circle Seven

Circle Seven had a lot within it!  One of the first things we saw was the River of Blood that marked the first round of the seventh circle.  Here Dante saw the Violent Against Their Neighbors souls.  While passing by, I pointed out that Alexander The Great is in this circle.  I think this made it become pretty real for Dante because Alexander The Great is such a well known name.  Oh yes! I cannot forget to tell you all about how I was challenged... So while we were in this round of the seventh circle, the Centaurs challenged us but being who I am, I won!  Because I won the centaurs had to guide us across the boiling blood safely.  When we got across the boiling blood, we entered the second round of the seventh circle.  Here we went through the Woof of the Suicides.  This section bothered Dante I think because the Harpies were constantly attacking and feeding upon the souls.  I'll admit this part is a bit gruesome but I think Dante was greatly disturbed.  Also, Dante seemed to be very upset during this round because one of his countrymen was there and he ended up replacing the torn leaves of this soul before we moved on.  In the third round of the seventh circle, we were almost exposed to the plain of burning sand and the constant rain of fire.  (I knew I should have taken my umbrella with me) In this round Dante saw the Sodomites and the Usurers souls.  While passing by these souls we came across a soul who was cursing God... like I really dont understand why that soul would be doing that, its not like his punishment is going to stop because he is cursing God.  In my opinion, his punishment should have gotten worse but that's just me. 

The Minotaur Encounter

Readers I am about to tell you something that you might not believe...While on our way to the seventh circle, Dante and I came across a Minotaur!  When we approached it, it began to chew on itself.  It was crazy!  Whats even crazier is that I was able to trick him well enough that Dante and I passed by him with ease.  

Circle Six

Circle six has been very interesting.  For a short minute, I thought that Dante and I had been lost because we didn't have the Divine Aid.  And of course while I'm worrying over Three Infernal Furies arrived and began to threaten us.  Medusa even showed up... I was so afraid that this would be the one time where I would not be able to protect Dante.  Once I realized that Medusa was there I immediately told Dante to cover his eyes and turn away.  Just out of maternal like instinct, I even put my hands over Dante's eyes in hopes of keeping him safe.  But luckily the Heavenly Messenger showed up and opened the Gate of Dis for us.  Once we enter Dante is introduced to the Heretics.  While walking through Dante recognized more people and was even called out because of his accent.  It amazes me that Dante knows so many of the souls here in Hell.  Even more so that many of them either know him or are open to getting to know him even though they are constantly being punished. 

The First Five Circles

Readers I am so sorry that I haven't posted in a while!  I've been so busy with Dante and keeping him safe that I have barely had a moment to myself.  Going through the circles, as Dante calls them has been very eventful!  Dante has already seen many different types of punishments the souls are having to endure.  In the first circle, Dante saw the virtuous pagans.  While in the first circle, I was welcomed back to my place in Hell.  To make it better, the greatest Poets of all time appeared.  It was so great to see them... On the way to the second circle, Dante saw the minos.  After seeing them, the judge in charge of placing the souls tried to get us to turn around ad leave but I ended up having a little talk with him that made him shut his mouth.  Once we got past him I showed the souls of carnal to Dante and pointed out many of them to Dante that I thought he would either know or know of.  There, Dante saw Paolo and Francesca, who I don't know too well, and began talking to them about their history.  After learning what happened to them I guess Dante was overcome with emotion or something because he fainted again.  The third circle was my least favorite to pass because of the smell, the whole place smelled like trash you just couldn't get away from.  Something interesting did happen in that circle with Dante.  One of the glutton souls recognized Dante and asked him about their hometown.  Apparently this soul, Ciacco said part of a prophecy but I wasn't listening well enough to hear what he said.  I only can hope that Dante didn't hear it as well.  In circle four and five I got to prove my self to be more powerful than the rages of Hell's monsters.  That was a really cool moment for me because I got to show off a bit for Dante.  Now who is the coolest guide?  While going through the fourth circle, I got to explain the function of Dame Fortune to Dante which was nice.  I always do enjoy explaining that to people.  In the fifth circle we came across the Marsh of Styx where there was slime everywhere.  I think Dante found this to be a bit on the gross side if I'm being honest here.  At the Styx we came across Phlegyas, who, for those of you who dont know, is the boatman of the Styx.  When we showed up he must have thought that we were souls that needed placing because he came racing towards us.  Once he found out that we weren't in need of placing, he started to wish us torment, well mainly Dante... To make things worse when we tried to go past him but he wouldn't let us.  That made me very angry so I ended up going off on him and with the power of my word we got passage.  Now one thing that I did NOT enjoy was when the Rebellious Angels appeared.  I didn't like it because Dante saw that I was powerless to them.  It was very embarrassing.  Because I am powerless to them, I said a quick prayer to try and get help.  So now were just waiting for a Heavenly Messenger to arrive.   

The Gate of Hell

My goodness the descent down here seemed to take a while.  However, my dear readers, Dante and I went through the Gate of Hell!  This has all become real now.  Once we entered the gate, Dante saw the opportunists inside the gate and began questioning everything it felt.  He wanted to know who they were, what souls were there, why they want to cross so badly.  Dante asks as many question as a young child, or at least it seems to be that way.  It is still early in our journey.  Today, Dante got to meet his first "person" in Hell, which was Charon, the guy in charge of taking the souls across Acheron, one of the rivers in Hell.  Trying to convince Charon to take us across the river was very difficult but I ended up being successful in convincing him.  During our ferry ride, an earthquake occurred which made Dante faint, so I had to take care of him.  Safe to say that its going to be a long journey if Dante faints every time he gets scared or thrown off guard.  I am worried about this journey for Dante's sake.  To me, he seems to be a little weak emotionally and mentally.  I guess time will only tell... until next time! 

The Descent

It's nighttime right now and Dante and I are just starting our journey.  He started to go on for a while about how he didn't think he was worthy enough to have me as his guide, which is flattering in my opinion.  Even though its flattering to hear that, I can see how Dante is upset. Seeing him like this is kind of upsetting, so I decided to tell him about how Beatrice was concerned with his well-being and decided to go into Hell herself to ask me to guide him.  Also I told him about how I promised her that I would lead him through Hell, but also lead him through Hell safely.  Telling him all of that did seem to lift his spirits which is good!  Once he was happier, we continued on our way down to the Gate of Hell. 

POINT OF REFERENCE

Just as a point of reference for all of my readers, Dante and I began our journey on the Friday during the Easter season.  This means that it is also the time of resurrection.

Meeting Dante

I'm back, and as promised, my first impression of Dante...so let me start with when I first got there.  I show up expecting Dante to be just walking around trying to figure out what to do next in order to get back to the True Way.  But no, he was cowering down on the ground trying to hide or something from a She-Wolf that had been trying to pursue him.  This tells me that Dante is more than likely going to be a handful during this journey.  But it will be ok, I hope at least.  It's funny, the first thing that Dante said to me was to take pity on him.  I guess what he didn't realize is that I am going to be helping him a lot.  After telling Dante who I was and why I was there he stated that I was his guide which was pretty cool because everything suddenly felt real.  He then said for me to lead him on to Peter's gate.  So with that, our journey began!

Post 1: Introductions

Hello to all! My name is Virgil, I was just assigned to a guy named Dante to help him through Hell.  This blog is going to be all about my journey through Hell with Dante.  He has apparently gotten off the path of the True Way and has now found himself in the Dark Wood of Error.  My job is to take this Dante through the different layers of Hell so he can see the different punishments the souls go through because of their decisions they made while they were alive.  Here's to hoping that Dante isn't too much trouble!  I better go and meet him and tell him how I am going to be helping the next few days.  I'll keep you guys updated the whole time, don't worry!  I'll be sure to even post about my impression of Dante after I meet him!  Wish me luck!