Saturated and Orientated.

Captain’s Log 09 June 2010

Today was a rather long day. We got up at nine and immediately headed south to the castle of St. Angelo which is built on top of Hadrian’s mausoleum. It was a cool castle. I mean literally when it was 90+ outside already, the inside was a cool 70 something. Also I mean figuratively. We walked around saw some old guns and cannons. We got to see a panoramic of Rome from the top. There was a café at the top of the structure. (I don’t know what to call it. There are so many layers and previous uses, it is hard to say which one is the most important) It was weird seeing a café on the top of a castle. What was once used as a place to survey incoming invasions was now a quiet place to survey the city. This is where I started to complain a little less about all the kitsch shops. If it wasn’t for the tourist paraphernalia and small establishments like this café, this whole city would suffer. These people do have a rough existence, they have no room to expand because all the space is taken up by tourists, hotels and old old old stuff. They have to do these things otherwise the city will lose its life. (Though it hasn’t wait for my trip back from the Ara Pacis.)

Next we headed east down a road built by Mussolini. One of the few things he did that was nice was clearing the space for this road. We walked straight to the Vatican with its domineering structures in the distance. We made it to the line and after a stout wait, we made it inside. Our professors basically said, “see you at the hotel at 4:30” and we all went through at our own pace. I had been there before and, much like my past experience, I was saturated with history and art. Thousands of statues and busts and paintings had to be examined. After the first 25 minutes my brain went into the equivalent of a sugar coma. It couldn’t take anymore of this delicacy. I forced myself to see everything I could, even though I was being cramped and crowded like cattle in a train car. Some 20,000 people see the Vatican a day. Pope’s gotta eat you know what I be saying?! I went and saw some Etruscan and Egyptian art, things that when I was a high school student seemed less interesting, but after my college education I was giddy like a school girl.

After walking some 2 estimated miles me and my three crewmen made the long walk to the Sistine Chapel. I love that room. It was a lot like I had remembered, maybe a little clearer seeing as I have grown since then. It is spectacular. I don’t quite know how to explain the experience you have when you are in there but it is special. Maybe the blood pooling at the back of your head from staring straight up causes a euphoria but you just marvel and awe at the paintings before you. The narrative, the color, the emotion and the movement of the room is just calming and thought provoking.

Lastly, my favorite part of my wanderings in the Vatican was St. Peter’s Cathedral. I walked in and it was much larger than I remembered. Again, it is one of those experiences that is hard to describe. If I was a gangster I would say “pump you brakes and do a double take” but since I am a pirate I’ll say “cease yer walkin’ and use your spyglass from this point on!” So much to see and so little energy left, but you must persevere. Michelangelo’s Pieta is to your right as soon as you walk in. The throne of St. Peter sits all the way down the corridor. You see the dome right in front. All around are paintings and marbles that had seen the faces of so many pilgrims coming to see their Mecca. The foot of St. Paul’s statue was worn to the “bone” from people walking by and touching it. The line was 50 people long at all times I would say. Though I am not Catholic, I definitely felt honored being able to see this place again.

We broke for lunch, well Ryan, Jason, Billy and I broke for lunch. There were some stragglers still taking in the city, but we are growing boys and had to get some sustenance. We grabbed some pizza from a nearby pizzeria. Delicious. I also grabbed some fried mashed potato thing. I don’t know what it was, but I loved it. I totally burned my mouth though. I did not expect it to be so creamy and so lava like.

After an hour to recharge we were off to the races again. The Ara Pacis was in our eyesight and we hustled over there. The Ara Pacis is altar that shows the ideal Rome that Augustus claimed to have achieved after his defeat of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. It was nice, mainly because it is in an air conditioned building and 5000 people are pushing and shoving you. It was originally open-air but they moved it inside because so many people had been walking around it over the centuries that they were wearing a trench around it. As you walk around it, you mimic the movements of the procession displayed on the outer relief. It is quite nifty. We all exited more educated thanks to Will giving his presentation over the Ara Pacis and walked towards the Spanish steps. On the way out we saw perhaps my favorite exhibit ever. Pieces of trash with signs next to them.

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The social commentary and puns and creativity was just awesome. I have some video of the guy who did it talking with Conor, it was awesome. He gave him an original piece of art.

Then a group of about 8 of us strolled the streets going to the piazzale of someone and headed home. I had the chance to do two good deeds once we got home. I helped Connor find his room key, and I helped Ryan work out his lost luggage situation. Mostly, I was just there to offer an ear and encouraging words. I walked around and helped Connor find his key. He had left it in his room, so I wasn’t much of a help. Ryan just needed a phone to call the airline and I let him use mine. Sorry dad. I felt good about it, not because of my pride. I always feel good about myself. I felt like I had gotten to know people all day, but at that point I got to bond with them a little more. Get a little chance to be Christ-like.

Ryan is a cool guy. He is a grad-student at Tech. Me and him know eachother from various classics events. Symposiums mostly. We have similar taste in video games and television shows. He is really intelligent and very interesting. Most of all he is just a real chill guy and really kind. I hope to cheat off of him soon. He owes me after all. =P

Love y’all. (Some NY girls like my Texas accent, I think I’ll milk that for some attention =))))

End Transmission.