:P
Monday, August 08, 2005
Bike trails to Communism
We came. We biked. My butt hurts. Giorgio was nice enough to not only be the bike tour guide, but also the provider of a loaner bike to me. He, Alessandro and I went and it was a great experience on a lot of levels. For one, awesome views of the city and adjacent countryside. For two, a little more of the history of Rome for a different perspective. For three, I needed the exercise ;) We started out going through this huge park, Carafella? and going to this Egeria mineral springs where you can fill up your water bottles with this natural fizzy water. I have to say that I don't like fizzy water at all. Not even the lightly fizzy stuff they try to pass off as naturale there. It was cool though, because I am such a big fan of water. Maybe I should go to a water museum? Well after that, I stopped a traditional public water fountain, "fontanella" and got some good plain water. We then found ourselves on the Appia way. The Appia way is one of the original roads that eminate from Rome and go for a long way (all the way down to the southern tip of . It is made out of the same kinds of stone that most roads in town are made out of, but they are just inserted in the dirt and makes for a bumpy bike ride, hence the hurt bottom. The little stones are referred to as, San Piedrinos (little saint peters). We then made our way over to this park where all these aqueducts meet and cross. They were built at a steady slope of 1 to 2 degrees to allow the water to keep moving, but not too fast. I can't believe that these things are still around.
Well we made it back safe and sound. I didn't tell you earlier that I didn't ride with a helmet, because I didn't want you to get scared ;) but when in Rome.... Speaking of which, when we got back, we had this milk drink mixed with mint (kind of like what we do with chocolate milk). It was very good, and I am sure it would be better if it were warmed up.
Later, we rented "i cento passi" (one hundred steps) and watched that after we ate. We cooked pasta carbonara (pasta with a white bacon sauce). It was just an okay film. More about the Italian communist movement than about the mafia. After watching it, I definitely want to know more about Italian politics and it's communist party now (if you are reading this grandpa lewis, calm down, it's just research).
I went out to a piazza for a little bit, and caught a bit of the fascist architecture (eagle) that is still around.
Well we made it back safe and sound. I didn't tell you earlier that I didn't ride with a helmet, because I didn't want you to get scared ;) but when in Rome.... Speaking of which, when we got back, we had this milk drink mixed with mint (kind of like what we do with chocolate milk). It was very good, and I am sure it would be better if it were warmed up.
Later, we rented "i cento passi" (one hundred steps) and watched that after we ate. We cooked pasta carbonara (pasta with a white bacon sauce). It was just an okay film. More about the Italian communist movement than about the mafia. After watching it, I definitely want to know more about Italian politics and it's communist party now (if you are reading this grandpa lewis, calm down, it's just research).
I went out to a piazza for a little bit, and caught a bit of the fascist architecture (eagle) that is still around.
Finding the way without knowing the way
My rome day 2 was quite a religious day. I took the bus over near Vatican city and got off right before the Tevere bridges. I saw the Pope's castle and some of the statues along the bridge (see below). Then I just walked around and stumbled upon St. Peter's Cathedral, which is quite huge and I just got in line. To be honest, when I stumbled upon it, I didn't know what it was. I am continuing my trend of wandering blind and I don't know what these things are named or how they are supposed to look. I just saw a very long line of people and I stood in it. For all I know they were all just going to jump off a bridge, but hey, when in Rome, do as the hordes of Roman tourists, right? I was kind of hoping that it would be the Sistine Chapel, but eh, I still went in. On the way in I was reminded of the dress code a few times, and thankfully I had shorts that covered my knees (jen had warned me).
Once inside, it was even harder because there were two lines and I had to choose one of them without knowing what each were. Just to let you know, tomba is the tombs below of different popes and has the tomb of the recently deceased pope. It was a little foreign (pun not intended, but maybe intended) for me to see people stepping aside and crying. The guards kept trying to make people be quiet and move along and not take too long. I think it was one huge metaphor for how the church keeps trying to make people not do what they are inclined to do. Well, as I was in the line for the tomba, I saw that the other line was much longer, so I got jealous of what it might be. But I couldn't very well lose my place, so as soon as I finished snapping a photo of the pope's tomb, I went to the other line. I spent a brief period foolishly trying to communicate with some of the workers and try to figure out what this "cupola" thing is. I got that it was the dome, okay so we will walk into a huge dome, I don't get it. You see I wanted to know a bit more because I saw that line actually charged a few euros, but I figured, if the line is long, it had to be good. I am glad I did too. The cupola is actually the top dome of the cathedral and you can all the way up and look out. There are like 500 some odd steps, but the view of Rome is amazing. While up there, 2 girls that I had met on the bus earlier tapped me on the shoulder and we ended up talking some more. They had brand new scarves around their shoulders that they had to buy because of their bare shoulders. When talking with them, they warned me that the Sistine Chapel closed soon so I ran over there. The whole thing is the Vatican Museum and there is a lot of stuff there, not just the chapel. It was well worth the admission. This gold ball that you see below really reminds me of the ones that I have seen from the world trade center that have been ripped apart. They are on display in different parts of New York city.
But I would have to say that the Sistine chapel was probably built up too much for me. It was nice and all, just not my style of art and not that amazing. I guess though that I was surprised to see how dense it was. I spent around an hour just looking at one scene and then I would shift over to another scene. I know it is probably sacrilege to compare, but it was like one huge "Where's Waldo" and I wanted to take as much of each of the separate scenes in as possible. I must say that I was impressed that they let us take pictures at everywhere in the museum (except the chapel). In the chapel, all you kept hearing was "SHHHH! NO FOTOS! SHHHH! NO FOTOS!" It didn't add much to the ambiance though.
From there, I had to try and make it on my own to Alessandro's lab. I bought this week long pass for the buses and metros (which I highly recommend). I am getting pretty good now at being able to get around anywhere in the city center. I bumped into these 2 dutch girls and we talked for a while and I helped them with the buses. But then I was off to the research lab. And the cool thing is, as you get closer to the lab, there is a landmark to guide your way. I leave you with that and hope it helps you find your own way :)
Once inside, it was even harder because there were two lines and I had to choose one of them without knowing what each were. Just to let you know, tomba is the tombs below of different popes and has the tomb of the recently deceased pope. It was a little foreign (pun not intended, but maybe intended) for me to see people stepping aside and crying. The guards kept trying to make people be quiet and move along and not take too long. I think it was one huge metaphor for how the church keeps trying to make people not do what they are inclined to do. Well, as I was in the line for the tomba, I saw that the other line was much longer, so I got jealous of what it might be. But I couldn't very well lose my place, so as soon as I finished snapping a photo of the pope's tomb, I went to the other line. I spent a brief period foolishly trying to communicate with some of the workers and try to figure out what this "cupola" thing is. I got that it was the dome, okay so we will walk into a huge dome, I don't get it. You see I wanted to know a bit more because I saw that line actually charged a few euros, but I figured, if the line is long, it had to be good. I am glad I did too. The cupola is actually the top dome of the cathedral and you can all the way up and look out. There are like 500 some odd steps, but the view of Rome is amazing. While up there, 2 girls that I had met on the bus earlier tapped me on the shoulder and we ended up talking some more. They had brand new scarves around their shoulders that they had to buy because of their bare shoulders. When talking with them, they warned me that the Sistine Chapel closed soon so I ran over there. The whole thing is the Vatican Museum and there is a lot of stuff there, not just the chapel. It was well worth the admission. This gold ball that you see below really reminds me of the ones that I have seen from the world trade center that have been ripped apart. They are on display in different parts of New York city.
But I would have to say that the Sistine chapel was probably built up too much for me. It was nice and all, just not my style of art and not that amazing. I guess though that I was surprised to see how dense it was. I spent around an hour just looking at one scene and then I would shift over to another scene. I know it is probably sacrilege to compare, but it was like one huge "Where's Waldo" and I wanted to take as much of each of the separate scenes in as possible. I must say that I was impressed that they let us take pictures at everywhere in the museum (except the chapel). In the chapel, all you kept hearing was "SHHHH! NO FOTOS! SHHHH! NO FOTOS!" It didn't add much to the ambiance though.
From there, I had to try and make it on my own to Alessandro's lab. I bought this week long pass for the buses and metros (which I highly recommend). I am getting pretty good now at being able to get around anywhere in the city center. I bumped into these 2 dutch girls and we talked for a while and I helped them with the buses. But then I was off to the research lab. And the cool thing is, as you get closer to the lab, there is a landmark to guide your way. I leave you with that and hope it helps you find your own way :)
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