Why are people queuing to take selfies in front of a plywood panel in Rome?
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Inside the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, people are queuing to take selfies in front of an ordinary plywood panel used in construction sites.
As one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches in Italy's capital, the basilica features stunning 5th-century mosaics, a gilded ceiling and Baroque-era additions.
Considering this, it almost feels embarrassing – at a glance – that pilgrims, tourists and even Italians are paying attention to this oddly placed wooden slab instead of the historic relics surrounding.
Word has spread – this is where Pope Francis' body will be interred.
Yes, it may look like a building site at the moment – only missing a sign that reads 'Under Constriction' – but it will soon be a sacred place for Catholics.
There are less than 48 hours to the pontiff's funeral when Metro visited the Basilica of St Mary Major, located on the other side of Rome's Tiber River and near Termini Rail Station.
People from all corners of the world patiently wait in line to photograph the spot.
Some kneel, others pose with a smile stretching across their face, unsure of the tone.
Jose, a Mozambique-born priest now living in Canada, was among those stationed near the plywood. Unlike most, he quietly observed and prayed.
Joined by a group of pilgrims, he arrived in Rome on Monday as part of a scheduled trip for the Jubilee Year.
The death of Francis changed everything for him, leaving him in a state of shock.
Jose told Metro: 'I feel sad because it is a big loss for not just for Catholics but for the world.
'Francis was a pope of hop – his message was to bring the hope particle for those who were in need, for women and for people who suffer violence and war.
'We put our hope in his hands because he was speaking in a language that we hoped to hear.'
For Jose, it is almost a blessing to be in Rome at the time of the pontiff's death.
He says that the two 'have kept missing each other' over the years – once in his homeland Mozambique in September 2019 and then in Canada in July 2022.
The priest had planned to attend Wednesday's audience with pilgrims in St Peter's Square to finally meet the Catholic leader.
'After missing each other twice, I thought, 'finally, I will meet him in Rome', but that was not God's plan,' he said.
'I queued yesterday to see him and to say goodbye. I am so thankful for his teachings. What I do now as a priest is all inspired by him.'
Following the funeral procession on Saturday, Francis' coffin will be taken from St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City to the Basilica of St Mary Major. More Trending
In his will, he gave simple instructions for his burial: 'The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.'
Francis also said that throughout his life, he had always entrusted himself to the Virgin Mary.
'For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest – awaiting the day of the Resurrection – in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major,' he wrote.
Currently, the Basilica of St Mary Major is open to members of the public until the day of the burial.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: Pope Francis donated €200,000 to prisoners from his personal account before he died
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Back in Kunming, there's the Stone Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site about 90 minutes outside of the city. Wonder through the massive limestone rock formations, which were thought to have begun forming about 270 million years ago. In the main city, the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways were originally built during the Ming Dynasty. Both are near to various shops and restaurants for those keen to pick up souvenirs and try the local cuisine. Go at night for the best photo opportunities. And for some traditional Chinese street food, head to Nanqiang Street for its vibrant night market. Travellers say that 'the later it gets, the livelier it becomes' and that 'once you start eating, you won't want to leave.' In the west of Yunnan is the city of Dali, with its popular Old Town, which Lonely Planet call 'the original backpacker hang-out in Yunnan' and where you can find some of the best noodles in the region. It's also a good spot for the more adventurous type, as you can hike around the Cangshan mountains. For something a little more low key, Lake Erhai with its fishing villages and ancient temples is also worth visiting. Tom and Caroline have become pros when it comes to resourceful travelling. Caroline's top tip? 'Speak to the young,' she says. 'The younger people seem to want to talk.' 'The pure kindness of strangers surprised us both,' adds Thomas. 'Locals don't help… purely because they can, and it just gives you such a lovely understanding for the country as well. I I think the people make a country when you travel.' Caroline insists every traveler needs to pack two essential items. 'Packing cubes are fantastic in a rucksack. Everything just spills out of the rucksack all the time but they were fantastic. And sandals, because depending where you're going, it's not always the cleanest place, and the showers can be slippy.' 'We are planning on backpacking through Kazakhstan,' says Tom. 'It's going to sound stupid, but it's mainly because of Borat. 'It's not even filmed there but it's always tickled my pickle, and a couple of my mates have spoken about wanting to go there before, so I did a little bit of research and apparently it's brilliant.' They're are also keen to head back to Nepal, after spending such a short time there during their race. Tom says: 'It was just the most beautiful, peaceful and kind country. There's so much to see and do and learn and we obviously couldn't do it, but, but it just promised so much.' He's also keen to see a different side to China. 'I would love to go back and do some of the more rural options,' he says. 'I would love to go see a bit more of the Himalayas, more of the equivalent of village life here in China, the small towns and the history.' More Trending Of course, there are also destinations they're not hurrying to book flights back to. Caroline admits she had high hopes for the capital city Beijing, only to be underwhelmed. 'I think we had the idea of it, or I certainly had the idea that it was the capital, and it must be really nice and easy to get around, but we just ended up getting stuck,' says Caroline. 'I think that was more because of our experience, rather than Beijing itself but just from what we saw in Beijing, I'm not in a rush to go back there.' Race Across The World airs Wednesdays at 9pm on BBC One and is available to watch on iPlayer. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: 'He's not coming back': Casualty confirms death tragedies as BBC drops new trailer MORE: Race Across The World star Sam Gardiner died from 'devastating brain injury' after car crash MORE: Easyjet launches 11 new flights from major UK airport to Greece, Spain, Portugal and more
