The coloseo & Palati Sept 24th 2009

Before I left for Europe Aviva's father gave me some good advice---take your time and less is more. After yesterday's walk around the city, I decided to go to one place and to get as much out of it as possible. I chose a big ticket item and did my homework this morning before setting off to explore. Yes, back to the roof top for inspiration.

My stay in the convent includes breakfast and I'm back to my old antics: Butter up a bun and kill it with Nutella and wrap it up for later, and I always end up being thankful for the yummy snack.

It felt pretty good walking down the street and knowing in which direction I was off to. This little fact enhanced my enjoyment of my walk greatly. I managed to spend quite some time at the colosseum, reading the tables and my travel book, marveling at the sheer size of the place, and concocting a list of must look into's to figure out how on earth this place functioned. It's amazing to see the 'floor' and hear so well in this place. I felt like an ant.

After this I decided it was time for an ice cream cone because it is summer here. There are a few people who are determined to uphold the 'fall' fashion and they are in jeans and boots---and scarves. The rest of us are stretching our time in our summer clothes, sandals, and dresses. Along the cobbled streets surrounding the colosseum, one is very likely to get approached by a Gladiator, offering to take your picture with him. I might consider if the guy looked like a Gladiator and was robust, and at least wearing leather sandals but the NIKE sandals and the smoke in hand deter all of my curiosities for such frivolities. You have to admire how tenacious they are with tourists and at how a few suave words gets them what they need---attention & euros---well somebody's gotta do it.

Next I went across the street to the ruins of the Palace. What a place. It is mindnumbing to walk on the very stones that the ancient Emporers used on a daily basis. I find it interesting to see the deep wedges of rope, forever engraved, in the tall massive marble pillars (I read that vinegar and ropes were used to cut them down but it is such hard work that the attackers gave up).

This world of theirs must of been beautiful and graceful. I know, they did harsh things, but for the sake of today, being amongst the ruins, I could only think of how enchanting the gardens and grounds of this palace must have looked in the begining years and then, later, how years of attention to detail created a seasoned landscape. The rubble and the tumble of the large pillars onto the earth does not detract from the glory of this place. All of it is impressive. I think it's funny that tourists sit on the broken pieces while carefully pouring over their books to look up at the fallen structures and their remains. We are so immersed in it that by the end of the day you end up walking over bricks and stones and not think much of it. If that same piece of brick were to be on display away from here, I'd probably look at it and think, wow---this is soooooo old. We all do similar things. We look up, touch prized pieces if able to, look down, and think about our existance here and now, and how neat it is to see this.

By 2:30pm I was full---my brain that is. I even packed my little back pack equipped with a water bladder to keep hydrated and I ate snacks (he he he) and I was still tired. I made my way back up the long street and back to the crazy bikes and fast drivers. You should see how gutsy the Italians are at crossing a major intersection. Without so much as a look of concern they just---walk---and walk in front of traffic---and the bikes speed up to pass them instead of having to stop---and the cars have to stop so they do at the last second. I have in my bag two pairs of gloves because I am sure one day somebody's gonna get smacked and I'm going to have to go and C-Spine them.

Yesterday I discovered a fabulous little restaurant which serves cold beer and tasty dishes. My waiter from yesterday greeted me with a nice smile and sat me in my spot. Today I tried another pasta and nearly fell off my chair it was sooooooooo good. France was about Wine & CHeese & Pastries and now I'm discovering Pasta for the first time. I may have to go back again tomorrow (oh I know---explore, broaden the horizons, develop the palate) but I like this place and I am trying new dishes---besides---what I am missing right now is a sense of something that is a bit familiar. It's nice to be incognito in a big city but I like it when I walk in some place and somebody knows you a bit and smiles at you in that way that says, hey you're back---nice to see you. I miss having a real conversation with someone. With Aviva and Claude it was wonderful, we had time to explore all sorts of subjects. And on your own, you first must meet people to do this and have time to talk. I bought more books---I'm reading more and I definitely am enjoying this.

OH-oH my bar tender is having a squabble with somebody on the phone, oh he's raising his voice and smacking his hand on the counter---he's calm now. THis is the Italian way---get irrate now and then you're done!

Pictures eh? Here they are

Dd