The looming storm was timed beautifully
(These two photos are 14meg if you want them.)
Old gods under a big sky
Scored a giggle or two
Love this stuff
Our neighbours.
Man's desperate struggle for the perfect video clip.
(this guy would have drowned for sure)
Biggus Diccus
Soaking up the Ducati Caffe
Sartorial splendour from the latest shiny suit craze
Big sky over Ruin Nation
No toilet blocks in Rome,no room.
The last caffe of the night
Playing Spotto.
Tonight's targets:
1. Americans
2. Australians
3.Ducatis
4.Foot-dragging riders
5. Unmatched couples
6. Shapely bums
Sorry to report of another fantastic day of wonders and childish giggling.
We went for a wander and ended up taking a guided tour of the Collosseum (its real name is "Anfiteatrum Flavium" (Flavian Amphitheater)) with Max the suave Italian tour-guide. He was very funny and his voice was such a pleasure to listen to that one could forget to pay attention to what he was saying.
We were glad of his informative monologue, because looking at ruins is a little underwhelming sometimes. It's the first tour we'd done and we decided to take the follow-up tour of the huge Palatino area behind the Collosseum. We had David, an Englishman who had two distinct voices, the Stentorian and the Likely Lad. It was funny to hear him shift from speaking to the crowd to a personal chat.
A thunderhead storm was coming in from the west and it looked like we might have to shelter in the Cloaca Maxima. As it turned out we were only hit by a few drops but had an incredible background for our pictures. I was really quite affected by the scene around me as we made our way towards the exit.
We learned that most of the marble from the ruins has been scabbed up by the church to build the bloody vatican. They melted it down to make mortar. So not only are they mass-murderers (witness their active fight against the prevention of the spread of AIDS), pedophiles and manipulative hypocrites, they also rank as vandals of the highest order.
Oh well. George W Bush and Dick Cheney will never be brought to justice either I suppose.
Another idea is to tear down the Vatican and put all the marble back into the ruins.
Anyway, we went on into Rome to find a good restaurant, which wasn't too hard. It's as difficult to get proper nutrition in Europe as it is in the USA tough. Vegetables seem to be a very foreign concept. We managed to get a few platefuls of greenery though and we could almost feel our bodies extracting the vitamins as the food met our lips. two months without regular vegetables is a cruel thing to do to oneself.
We were out looking for nightlife after dinner but settled on sitting outside a 'caffe' playing Spotto. Jane came up with the game early on and we change the rules to suit the day. I'm only suposed to punch her very gently apparently. We used to watch for Fiat 500s (old or new), Lancias (a popular domestic-only brand now) and very unusual sights (like Hummers or three-legged dogs). It's a great drinking game and people wonder why you are both staring at them and why you are having so much fun.
We went for a wander and ended up taking a guided tour of the Collosseum (its real name is "Anfiteatrum Flavium" (Flavian Amphitheater)) with Max the suave Italian tour-guide. He was very funny and his voice was such a pleasure to listen to that one could forget to pay attention to what he was saying.
We were glad of his informative monologue, because looking at ruins is a little underwhelming sometimes. It's the first tour we'd done and we decided to take the follow-up tour of the huge Palatino area behind the Collosseum. We had David, an Englishman who had two distinct voices, the Stentorian and the Likely Lad. It was funny to hear him shift from speaking to the crowd to a personal chat.
A thunderhead storm was coming in from the west and it looked like we might have to shelter in the Cloaca Maxima. As it turned out we were only hit by a few drops but had an incredible background for our pictures. I was really quite affected by the scene around me as we made our way towards the exit.
We learned that most of the marble from the ruins has been scabbed up by the church to build the bloody vatican. They melted it down to make mortar. So not only are they mass-murderers (witness their active fight against the prevention of the spread of AIDS), pedophiles and manipulative hypocrites, they also rank as vandals of the highest order.
Oh well. George W Bush and Dick Cheney will never be brought to justice either I suppose.
Another idea is to tear down the Vatican and put all the marble back into the ruins.
Anyway, we went on into Rome to find a good restaurant, which wasn't too hard. It's as difficult to get proper nutrition in Europe as it is in the USA tough. Vegetables seem to be a very foreign concept. We managed to get a few platefuls of greenery though and we could almost feel our bodies extracting the vitamins as the food met our lips. two months without regular vegetables is a cruel thing to do to oneself.
We were out looking for nightlife after dinner but settled on sitting outside a 'caffe' playing Spotto. Jane came up with the game early on and we change the rules to suit the day. I'm only suposed to punch her very gently apparently. We used to watch for Fiat 500s (old or new), Lancias (a popular domestic-only brand now) and very unusual sights (like Hummers or three-legged dogs). It's a great drinking game and people wonder why you are both staring at them and why you are having so much fun.
We made it home dry and happy. Tomorrow is a rest day. We each plan to head off on our own for three hours or so. It will be different to just wander by oneself.
Cheerio and sorry if I've offended any religious or political nonsensibilities.
You are right about the pending storm for the background of your pics. Couldn't have been any better! I like the way you captured the Collosseum. It has an eerie sense of the blood thirst or the ancients. Sounds like you and Jane had a good day. I like your self made game of spotto! Sammy and I will have to use that one next time we are off on a trip. I usually play fashion police. It's seems nicer to critique someones fashion faux pas than to critique their natural given bodies or faces. The guy in the shiny suit seems to have some insecurity issues!
ReplyDeleteHe is just at the vanguard of something very seventies. Let him go!
ReplyDeleteSpotto has been a saviour for our nightlife. It manufactures a sense of solidarity and a fun-bubble that little can penetrate. I'm sold.
The experience of the ancient mixed with the immediate was palpable. Very energizing.