A slightly irreverant reflection on Rome

Rome, where to begin? This is unlike any place I've visited before. I think categories will help to sort out all the facets of this place.

History
To wrap your mind around the history of this city is challenging. There are buildings that have stood for 2000+ years, biblical characters likely walked many of these streets, and the art and architecture point to a time where perspectives and values were so different. For example, there's a statue in the square outside our apartment to commemorate a man that was burned alive because he thought a bit differently from everyone else. Then they changed their minds and honoured him a few hundred years later with the statue. Yikes!

The view from our apartment. There is a market in the square, Campo De Fiore, everyday.

Chillin' at the apartment. Note the huge terrace that is just for us. We've enjoyed our breakfast out there in the sun most days.

No asphalt anywhere, and the Roman women walk around in their stilletos on this!

Religion
The cathedrals and basilicas are amazing in their opulence, and yet I wander around wondering what any of it has to do with Jesus. The art and sculpture exonerates an elect few, and then warns the rest of us to be wary of our future in the afterlife. Yikes again!

Art
The art is amazing, even for these untrained eyes. It's impossible not to appreciate works that took the artist years or even decades to complete. The girls are getting an education about human anatomy to be sure, and yet so many of the figures have this mysterious bit of clothing draped around certain parts. It just seems to hover over them in just the right places. Interesting.

The architecture is equally fantastic. I find it curious that in a time when they had no power other than their own or that of a beast or slave, they managed to build things that we would not attempt today. The pillars on the front of the Pantheon are 60 tonnes of granite, hand-hewn from a mountain, floated across the Mediterranean, brought to Rome and erected with slaves and ropes. How many people died in the process I wonder. They are magnificent, but how on earth did they do it? Today, we have machinery powered by fuel or electricity, tools and technology galore and what do we build? Boxes.

The Pantheon. Aria is in the bright green jacket to give some perspective on the size of those pillars.

"Pull my finger!" See how that bit of cloth just hangs in mid-air?

The People
Romans are warm, friendly, demonstrative in their communication, stylish, helpful, and sometimes pushy! These polite Canadians have had to learn to stand our ground in line ups and while crossing the street. However, they are lots of fun to talk with and they are usually ready to help.

The sea of people waiting to get into the Vatican Museum where we learned that it's every man for himself.

The Food
The food is perfection in Rome, and it's available EVERYWHERE! It's awesome. There are stands and restaurants everywhere and it has all been tasty. Gelato is probably the biggest hit with our girls, but the pizza isn't far behind.

Gelato in Piazza Navona

Breakfast on the terrace