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Published: June 17th 2006
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The Statue of the Rivers
An unbelieveable statue by Bernini, the four figures represent the four major rivers of the time. Hello Everyone!
I dont have much time, for some reason I only get a minimum amt of time on this computer, but Italy is amazing. Its hot and humid, and the whole city of Rome smells like Tonys Pizza... its almost paradise... I got in late last night and have spent the whole day today just being a complete tourist. There are times when you are in a new city where you try to blend in and "be cool" and there are other times when seeing the sites is worth it and you just suck it up, put the camera strap around your neck, pull up your white tube socks and put on your short shorts, and go for it. Today was one of those days... In fact, Im such a tourist in this city that as I was taking a picture of one of the sites, this man stopped so he wouldnt get in the way. I told him to go ahead, and he goes, "no, thats allright, im from here and your not, take your time" I was ashamed for a second, then I looked around and realized everyone here is from someplace else!
Old Rome is an amazing
The Pantheon
This is from the plaza on the outside site. Im sure most of you have been here, but as a first timer, its an unbelieveable experience. First off, the drive in with my driver "Aldo" was an event in and of itself. Rome has no freeways, since the city is so old it wasnt laid out properly, so everyone drives like maniacs... Once here, I started with the major sites first, and one of the real treats of traveling alone is that if you dont particularly find a monument, or a ruin, interesting, you can move on. Luckily, my first stop was the Piazza Navona en route to the Pantheon, and I spent almost 2 hrs there just at these two spots. The Piazza Navona is now a big plaza that is in the shape of a stadium, since thats what it once was. Its dominated by the Fountain of the Four Rivers, sculpted by the master Bernini himself. The picture to my left is a glimpse of this magnificent structure. Their are four giant men, each representing the Nile, Ganges, Danube and the Rio De La Plata. An interesting subtext to this fountain is that Bernini included a coded mesg, one of the men has a Catholic
Rafaels Tomb
the Italians consider him the greatest of the Renaissance Artists. Hence such a place for him. stricture device wrapped around his leg, to signify Catholicism. That man has a shirt pulled over his eyes so he cant see. Sly Bernini! The Piazza Navona leads you to probably the single most famous, and structurally most significantly intact monument in Rome, the Pantheon. Built by Agrippa in 27 BC! It was initially dedicated to the Gods of the ancient times. It was built as a pagan temple, and still maintains some characteristics of that period. However, in 609 A.D. Pope Boniface decided it was time the temple became Christian, and shipped the bones of many Christians from the Catacombs and re-buried them under the Pantheon. He dedicated the structure to "St. Mary of the Martyrs".
One of the most interesting things about the Pantheon, besides the fact that inside the roof is always open, rain or shine, since the original bronze roof was removed so the bronze could be used to build St. Peters Basilica. Raphael is buried inside the Pantheon (died 1520a.d) A picture of his crypt is to the right. His Fiance is also buried inside the building, she died three months before he did and legend has it that he died of a broken heart.
Raphaels Tomb
the Italians consider him the greatest of the Renaissance Artists. Hence such a place for him. On his crypt is the inscription in latin that when translated says " Here lies Raphael. Living, great Nature feared he might outvie her works, and dying, fears she herself may die" Amazing.
I could go on and on, but I only have 2 days here! Today I went to the Vatican and into the Vatican Museums, thats a whole nother journal entry though! Last night I tried out a Trattoria that Shelley Recommended, and I have to say it was fantastic, Grazi Shelley! I hope everyone is doing great, tomorrow morning I pick up Holly at the airport and we are heading down to the Amalfi coast for a few days, then back here to Rome for the weekend. Im excited to see her. Im also so grateful to all the emails!! Keep em coming!
For now, its time to put the Zinc oxide on my nose, put on my disneyland t'shirt, strap my camera around my neck, pull up my tubesocks, gather my guidebooks, and head out to the Castle St. Angelo, where supposedly there is a secret passageway that the Popes used to use to scurry back and forth from the Vatican... Im going to try and
Your Resident Tourist
hello, Im from America! find it.
Ciao!
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MOM
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ZINC OXIDE ON YOUR NOSE!!!
It is so thrilling to read your enthusiasm!! If only "W" could have had the intellect to realize how much other people have to teach us... Am equally thrilled to learn that Mom's lessons don't go unheeded...keep up the zinc on your nose on the Amalfi coast!! Hugs!