For my last morning in Rome, I walked leisurely through the Borghese Gardens. It’s a very large, beautiful park which is very well kept. It was cloudy, so the greens were soft. By mid afternoon, the sun had broken through and the contrast between light and dark bounced alive. There were very few people early this morning, mostly joggers and folks walking their dogs. By afternoon it was full of people completely enjoying the park. A person can can rent a bicycle, golf cart, pedal bike, and those things you stand on, ride a train that is double the size of the Storybook train or ride a pony. As fun as it all sounds, I didn't do any of those things. It was enjoyable to watch the reaction of people as they first saw the view from the PIncio Hill. (The header photo today).
The Bernini, in the photos below, sits in the midst of Baroque chaos but it is a beautiful Bernini. The Ecstasy of Theresa, as recommended by Mary - Wow - what a sculpture! It’s funny, I was in this church two days ago, but brushed it over because it is intensely Baroque and I couldn't tell where one item ended and the next started, and the amount of blue and gold was nauseating so by the time I was to get to the side of the church where the Bernini is (that I didn't know was there) I had enough and left the building. Thank you Mary for telling me it is there, I went back yesterday. (Church: Sta Maria della Vittoria) This church is a fine example of why an iPad app is needed; so you can skip the horror and go to the good stuff straight-away!
Yesterday was Wilson’s day… I headed off to the bike shop about 2 km away to pick up Wilson who is packed nicely in a box with air holes for breathing, ready for the next part of the trip. I creatively attached the curtain repair strapping that I purchased just outside of Assisi, to the box to make handles. I also jammed some other things in the box so I don't have to carry them. I hope the car that Britt and I get at the Palermo airport is big enough for a bike and us!
I have decided that I am ready not to be alone anymore on this trip and am looking forward very much to Britt arriving tomorrow. I am okay on my own, and I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but, I get boring after awhile. No new jokes, same conversation, or even worse NO conversation! I haven't started talking to myself yet, well, no more than usual, but I don't do it while I am walking through a busy intersection at say, Piazza Pubblico or the Coliseum! (Although I could get away with it at the Coloseum!) Anyhow, Britt’s flight arrives at 11:40. We meet at the Rome airport then fly together to Sicily.
At 6:00 tonight I went over to Sta Pudenzia to take a look at the mosaics one last time before I leave town. I went inside and the pews were filled with people and a young man was speaking at the front of the church. I slipped into a seat close to the back to see what was going on and to stare at the Mosaics (which were lit beautifully and I needed my camera!). The sound system came alive with Celine and that tenor guy (sorry I forget his name) singing that prayer song. ~Technology against mosaics - an interesting concept~ Well was I surprised to find out that it was a memorial service and dinner in honour of Rodolfo Gautane. The movie was his life, his funeral, his dog at the funeral trying to get up to the coffin and the party afterwards. (They finally held the dog up beside the coffin so she could see inside). The funeral was huge and they showed every bit of it; all of them marching down the street behind the coffin, lowering into the ground; the works. It was quite moving! The dog was at the memorial service tonight too. I patted the dog on the head and left just before dinner.
Exciting news flash: Enzo Ardovini at La Casa di Amy stopped me tonight to talk about the app. He wants to post a link to it on his web site (www.enzosplace.com). He is quite excited about it. His web site gets 1500 hits a day. (He said he doesn't put "just anything" on his web site.) They have been extremely nice to me. Tonight they have given to me their network internet connection to use since the regular one is down.
The Bernini, in the photos below, sits in the midst of Baroque chaos but it is a beautiful Bernini. The Ecstasy of Theresa, as recommended by Mary - Wow - what a sculpture! It’s funny, I was in this church two days ago, but brushed it over because it is intensely Baroque and I couldn't tell where one item ended and the next started, and the amount of blue and gold was nauseating so by the time I was to get to the side of the church where the Bernini is (that I didn't know was there) I had enough and left the building. Thank you Mary for telling me it is there, I went back yesterday. (Church: Sta Maria della Vittoria) This church is a fine example of why an iPad app is needed; so you can skip the horror and go to the good stuff straight-away!
Yesterday was Wilson’s day… I headed off to the bike shop about 2 km away to pick up Wilson who is packed nicely in a box with air holes for breathing, ready for the next part of the trip. I creatively attached the curtain repair strapping that I purchased just outside of Assisi, to the box to make handles. I also jammed some other things in the box so I don't have to carry them. I hope the car that Britt and I get at the Palermo airport is big enough for a bike and us!
I have decided that I am ready not to be alone anymore on this trip and am looking forward very much to Britt arriving tomorrow. I am okay on my own, and I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but, I get boring after awhile. No new jokes, same conversation, or even worse NO conversation! I haven't started talking to myself yet, well, no more than usual, but I don't do it while I am walking through a busy intersection at say, Piazza Pubblico or the Coliseum! (Although I could get away with it at the Coloseum!) Anyhow, Britt’s flight arrives at 11:40. We meet at the Rome airport then fly together to Sicily.
At 6:00 tonight I went over to Sta Pudenzia to take a look at the mosaics one last time before I leave town. I went inside and the pews were filled with people and a young man was speaking at the front of the church. I slipped into a seat close to the back to see what was going on and to stare at the Mosaics (which were lit beautifully and I needed my camera!). The sound system came alive with Celine and that tenor guy (sorry I forget his name) singing that prayer song. ~Technology against mosaics - an interesting concept~ Well was I surprised to find out that it was a memorial service and dinner in honour of Rodolfo Gautane. The movie was his life, his funeral, his dog at the funeral trying to get up to the coffin and the party afterwards. (They finally held the dog up beside the coffin so she could see inside). The funeral was huge and they showed every bit of it; all of them marching down the street behind the coffin, lowering into the ground; the works. It was quite moving! The dog was at the memorial service tonight too. I patted the dog on the head and left just before dinner.
Exciting news flash: Enzo Ardovini at La Casa di Amy stopped me tonight to talk about the app. He wants to post a link to it on his web site (www.enzosplace.com). He is quite excited about it. His web site gets 1500 hits a day. (He said he doesn't put "just anything" on his web site.) They have been extremely nice to me. Tonight they have given to me their network internet connection to use since the regular one is down.
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