Tasty breakfast this morning at 7:30 - was surprised to see Nutella in tiny packages like jam, thinking my larger jar back home is a little jealous.
On the itinerary for today was (in order, so I can at least have some semblance of a timeline): the Vatican Museums; the Raphael Rooms; the Sistine Chapel; St. Peter's Basilica; the Colosseum; the Roman Forum; and the Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli. Dinner was on our own then - which included about a 3-hours walk since we got quite lost. ...But I learned that milk cartons make comfy pillows (and that I've been in the suburbs too long, and have only seen approximately 10 homeless people in my life).
Anyway, the Vatican was interesting. We had a fainter, though I can't blame her, it was hot standing in the sun for the Sistine Chapel explanation. The museums - at times, like with the tapestries, dark and cool - were lovely. A lot more pagan-like objects than I'd expected. The Raphael Rooms made me squee like a little girl, even though "The School of Athens" was actually smaller than I was expecting it to be. So, so, so amazing. I just find the expressions so engaging - especially those figures who make eye contact. It's like looking at a real person then, bridging that interpersonal gap. Except this time the gap includes decades upon decades upon decades of time that you can feel pulling at you with that one single look. Or maybe that's just me. Or maybe the chain link "allegory of painting" model is more a web now, and that's just another chain link in place - but those looks! Oh! I forget sometimes what an illustrious heritage we seek to uphold.
And there I go being all art-sappy. Again. I hope the spark that fires that sappiness never dies.
I'll try to be less poetic from here on out, but no promises.
The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica were next. ...The Sistine Chapel, while quite a bit shorter than I'd expected, was still ...magnificent. From the painted curtains along the lower part to the ceiling ...every bit as majestic as I'd expected, and I'd have sold my soul to stay, but would have regretted it the moment I saw St. Peter's.
I think I finally understand what the phrase "the vault of heaven" is trying to explain. Our tour guide said that St. Peter's is the size of two football stadiums. It's like being the last half of a crayon in the box. Like being an ant. But much more important, and definitely much more uplifting.
I'm not religious by any means, but I, at times, can envy people their faith. I see now why they can have that faith. ...I remember something from the Hindu Temple visit Shamp and I did - that someone (the example was Newton and gravity) may do/discover something, but there has to be inspiration first. If something this glorious can be created, how is it created? The mind of man has limitations, the mind of ...whom or whatever else that may be, does not. It's the Dresden church conversation all over again. I wonder how many other tears have been shed at St. Peter's because of the shear beauty of its enormous heights or Michelangelo's "Pieta?" Ether way, mine have joined them.
It's late, so I'll speed this up, though there's not much else to say. The Colosseum was amazing, and the marble smooth as velvet. I wasn't feeling too well by then, so I must admit I did not enjoy it as much as I would have otherwise, I think. The information about that, and the Roman Forum was very interesting - more interesting than the ruins of the latter, actually. Excellent tour guide. Sad she has to leave us today.
And, finally, the Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli for Michelangelo's "Moses" and the chains of St. Peter. I love the hand and that beard. So real and ...dynamic.
Dinner was tastier than breakfast. We - after getting horrendously lost - ended up at RomAntica. Yep, I saw what they did there. Penne with red sauce with vodka. Mmmmmm.
...Casey's snores are telling me its been time for bed for an hour or so. Ooops. BED.
REMINDERS:
*Forgotten from 5/24/2010:
+Architecture not art? Um, what?
*Forgotten from 5/25/2010:
+To-do list [Museo E Galleria Borghese]
+Checked Off Life's To-Do List
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