Migration of Wild Hordes is Never Ending in Rome

Roamin in Rome or Roman in Rome, Because When in Rome...

(Must be the "in" thing to do)

Of all the wild animals on earth that migrate, that sub-species of homo sapiens called touriste interuptus is by far the most destructive. Drawn by increased mobility on a shrinking planet with an inexorable drive to check off boxes on their bucket list, they are easy to spot; even though many would tell you they would like to blend in. While yours truly portends to prefer the non-touristy environs, he too feels the pull and obligation to do the dirty deed! As a citizen of the current and shortest-lived of all this world's empires, I get to see what remains of the greatest and longest lived - The Roman Empire! Ah Rome, the eternal city, founded some 2,750 years ago and continuously inhabited. Not built in a day, of course, but a monumental city by any accounts, past and present. So, in the parlance of the day and place: Friends, Romans Countryman, lend me your ears and let us Carpe diem (Seize the Day - Horace) and forgive me Errare humanum est(To err is human - Seneca the Younger) as I, of a much later genration, will do my best Kilroy. I was there, using photography, not graffiti, although modern Rome is resplendent with that form of written expression also. Is it really true, Amor vincit omia(Love conquers all - Virgil) or are we just blowin in the wind (Bob Dylan). And now, without further ado, my homage to the rulers of the world, - the large corporations and their business:

One Days Business







It's a gorgeous day and I'm feeling great. There's the Castel Sant' Angelo. Must be getting close to the Vatican now.

It's an arch - looks like an entrance to me!








You know when your getting close to the meat of the situation, when you see all the large tour buses lined up. That's St. Peters, in the background, the center of the Roman Catholic faith. The first shrine on this site dates from 349AD; current structure completed in the 16th century. The Dome designed by Michelangelo though not completed in his lifetime.

Where the Pope speaks to the people on Sundays.

In front of St. Peters:
The Piazza San Pietro was laid out by Rome's influential artist - Bernini, between 1656 and 1667.

Kilroy

Let's take another pic, shall we!





More outside pics











Who doesn't want to mail something home with a Vatican postmark? Ok, so the outside is under construction.














Then you enter; so massive in scale, how can you not be impressed.








So you keep looking and looking and you stand in awe; over and over again.

More inside pics

What light through yonder window breaks - (Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 2) is what crepted into my feeble mind at this point. I remember reading somewhere about the great light, in the early AM; so at least I made it by late morning and it was special.

It took some waiting to get this pic without the crush of tourists dominating the shot. No one seemed to notice how the fresco fit the eye just so, if you took the time to look. After two hours of intense herd interplay, inside and out, I was exhausted. So, seeing the line leading to the museum and Sistine Chapel as a fork in the trail, I retreated to the peace of a wandering loner.

By leaving the Vatican without standing in line for the museum and Sistine Chapel, I ended up looking out the window of the third floor of the Palazzo Corsini and a delightful interlude filled with such magical properties still being felt today. (Hint: only the second floor is open to the general public) But, that's a story for another day...